Chapter 8: Akshara Brahma Yoga – Comprehending the Imperishable Reality: Verse 23
यत्र काले त्वनावृत्तिमावृत्तिं चैव योगिन: ।
प्रयाता यान्ति तं कालं वक्ष्यामि भरतर्षभ ॥
yatra kāle tv-anāvṛttimāvṛttiṃ
caiva yogina:
prayātā yānti taṃ kālaṃ
vakṣyāmi bharatarṣabha – 8.23
I shall now speak, O Arjuna, about the period of time, departing in which the yogis will return to this worldliness, and also that departing wherein they will not return.
Chapter 8: Akshara Brahma Yoga – Comprehending the Imperishable Reality - Verse 23
Ma Gurupriya
Krishna leads the dialogue to a critical note by discussing a strong belief and cultural association about when should one’s body fall to deserve the most desired outcome. Of the two halves of the year, one is held to be relieving and elevating, while the other is deluding and enervating.
People in general accept this belief and are governed by it. None is inclined to think about what is said, to find out what is the real aim of presenting and fostering such a belief. Vedanta warrants rational study, analysis and evaluation of every proposition.
The belief is so widespread and strong that some special rituals are performed if one drops his body in the unfavourable period, avoiding all thoughts of their relevance and utility. The dialogue thus marks a very important mission to probe the psychological realm of the human and identify and correct beliefs and adherences, which in this case appear to border superstition.
