BHAGAVAD-GITA 8:1

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BHAGAVAD-GITA 8:1

 

arjuna uvaca

kim tad brahma kim adhyatmam

kim karma purusottama

adhibhutam ca kim proktam

adhidaivam kim ucyate

 

WORD FOR WORD

 

arjunah uvaca--Arjuna said; kim--what; tat--that; brahma--Brahman;

kim--what; adhyatmam--the self; kim--what; karma--fruitive activities;

purusa-uttama--O Supreme Person; adhibhutam--the material

manifestation; ca--and; kim--what; proktam--is called; adhidaivam--the

demigods; kim--what; ucyate--is called.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Arjuna inquired: O my Lord, O Supreme Person, what is Brahman? What is

the self? What are fruitive activities? What is this material

manifestation? And what are the demigods? Please explain this to me.

 

PURPORT

 

In this chapter Lord Krsna answers different questions from Arjuna,

beginning with "What is Brahman?" The Lord also explains karma

(fruitive activities), devotional service and yoga principles, and

devotional service in its pure form. The Srimad-Bhagavatam explains

that the Supreme Absolute Truth is known as Brahman, Paramatma and

Bhagavan. In addition, the living entity, the individual soul, is also

called Brahman. Arjuna also inquires about atma, which refers to body,

soul and mind. According to the Vedic dictionary, atma refers to the

mind, soul, body and senses also.

 

Arjuna has addressed the Supreme Lord as Purusottama, Supreme Person,

which means that he was putting these questions not simply to a friend

but to the Supreme Person, knowing Him to be the supreme authority

able to give definitive answers.

 

Copyright 1983 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International. Used with

permission.