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Bhagavad Gita Chapter 8 Verse 25 (8.25)

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 8 Verse 25 (8.25)

धूमो रात्रिस्तथा कृष्णः षण्मासा दक्षिणायनम् । तत्र चान्द्रमसं ज्योतिर्योगी प्राप्य निवर्तते | | ८-२५ | |

dhūmo rātristathā kṛiṣhṇaḥ ṣhaṇmāsā dakṣhiṇāyanam tatra chāndramasaṁ jyotiryogī prāpya nivartate

Word-by-word guide:
Line 1:
  • धूमः (dhumah) — धुआँ(smoke)
  • रात्रिः (ratrih) — रात(night)
  • तथा (tatha) — तथा(and/also)
  • कृष्णः (krishnah) — कृष्ण पक्ष/अंधकारमय(dark/waning fortnight)
  • षण्मासाः (shan-masah) — छह महीने(six months)
  • दक्षिणायनम् (dakshinayanam) — दक्षिणायन(southern course)
Line 2:
  • तत्र (tatra) — वहाँ/उस मार्ग से(there/by that path)
  • चान्द्रमसम् (chandramasam) — चंद्रलोक संबंधी(lunar)
  • ज्योतिः (jyotih) — प्रकाश(light)
  • योगी (yogi) — योगी(yogi)
  • प्राप्य (prapya) — प्राप्त करके(having reached)
  • निवर्तते (nivartate) — लौटता है(returns)

English: But if he departs in gloom, at night, during the fortnight of the waning moon and in the six months before the Southern solstice, then he reaches but lunar light and he will be born again.

💡 Commentary Note

The path of darkness is symbolized by smoke, night, the waning moon, and the southern course of the sun (Dakshinayana). This path represents attachment and ignorance, leading the soul to temporary rewards and rebirth.

Learnings from Shloka 25:
  • Path of Attachment:: The symbols of darkness represent a mind still clouded by material desires and attachments.
  • Inevitability of Return:: Actions done for temporary personal gain only lead to temporary heavens and eventual rebirth.

Gita/Sanskrit Language Quiz

Practice this shloka vocabulary

Match Sanskrit words from shloka 8.25 with their Hindi and English meanings.

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