Shloka 8

अक्षरब्रह्मयोगः | Akṣara-Brahma-Yoga

The Yoga of the Imperishable Brahman

Devanagari script

ज्ञानविज्ञानतृप्तात्मा कूटस्थोः विजितेन्द्रिय: । युक्त इत्युच्यते योगी समलोष्टाश्मकाउ्चन:

Transliteration

jñāna-vijñāna-tṛptātmā kūṭastho vijitendriyaḥ | yukta ity ucyate yogī sama-loṣṭāśma-kāñcanaḥ ||

Translation

Ang may loob na nasiyahan sa tunay na kaalaman at natamong pag-unawa (jñāna–vijñāna), na nananatiling di matinag at di nagbabago, na lubos na nagapi ang mga pandama, at para sa kanya ang tipak ng lupa, bato, at ginto ay magkakapantay—siya ang yogin na tinatawag na “yukta,” ang tunay na nakipag-isa (sa Banal).

Word by Word

• {'jñāna': 'knowledge

• understanding of truth', 'vijñāna': 'realized knowledge

• direct discernment/insight', 'tṛpta-ātmā': 'one whose inner self is content/satiated', 'kūṭastha': 'steadfast

• abiding like an anvil (unaffected by change)', 'vijita-indriyaḥ': 'one who has conquered the senses', 'yuktaḥ': 'yoked

• disciplined', 'ucyate': 'is said/called', 'yogī': 'practitioner of yoga

• one established in spiritual discipline', 'sama': 'equal

• same-minded', 'loṣṭa': 'clod of earth', 'aśma': 'stone', 'kāñcana': 'gold'}

Speaker

अर्जुन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• yogī
• loṣṭa (clod of earth)
• aśma (stone)
• kāñcana (gold)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse defines the ‘yukta’ yogin: one who is inwardly fulfilled by knowledge and realized insight, steady amid change, self-controlled, and free from value-obsession—treating earth, stone, and gold with equal regard. Ethical maturity is shown as non-attachment and even-mindedness.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Bhīṣma Parva’s Bhagavadgītā setting on the battlefield, the teaching describes the qualities of a spiritually integrated person. It is not a battlefield action but a characterization meant to guide Arjuna’s understanding of disciplined life and right conduct amid crisis.