The Yoga of the Eternal Spirit 8.28

Chapter 8 · Verse 28

🪈 Krishna speaks

वेदेषु यज्ञेषु तपःसु चैव दानेषु यत्पुण्यफलं प्रदिष्टम्। अत्येति तत्सर्वमिदं विदित्वा योगी परं स्थानमुपैति चाद्यम्॥

vedeṣu yajñeṣu tapaḥsu caiva dāneṣu yatpuṇyaphalaṁ pradiṣṭam | atyeti tatsarvamidaṁ viditvā yogī paraṁ sthānamupaiti cādyam ||

Word by Word 19 words

वेदेषु

vid to know) — veda (sacred knowledge

in the study of the Vedas

यज्ञेषु

yaj to worship, to sacrifice

in sacrifices, in acts of worship

तपःसु

tap to burn, to glow with effort

in austerities, in disciplined effort

च

ca and

and

एव

eva indeed, surely

indeed, surely

दानेषु

dā to give

in gifts, in acts of charity

यत्

yad which, what

which, whatever

पुण्यफलम्

puṇya merit, goodness phala fruit, result

the fruit of merit, the reward of good deeds

प्रदिष्टम्

pra forth diś to point out, to indicate

is declared, is promised, is laid down

अत्येति

ati beyond i to go

he goes beyond, he surpasses

तत्

tad that

that

सर्वम्

sarva all

all, the whole

इदम्

idam this

this (teaching)

विदित्वा

vid to know

having known, having understood

योगी

yuj to join, to unite

the yogi

परम्

para highest, supreme

supreme, highest

स्थानम्

sthā to stand, to abide

the abode, the place of resting

उपैति

upa toward, near i to go

he attains, he reaches

आद्यम्

ādi beginning, first

primal, original, the first of all

Krishna closes the chapter with a promise. There are many good rewards in the world — for studying the holy books, for worship, for hard and honest effort, for giving generously. But the yogi who truly understands all that Krishna has taught here goes beyond every one of those rewards, and reaches the supreme, first, original Home — the source from which everything began.

कथा

Past Every Reward, to the Source

From the Puranic (the seeker and the King of gifts)

There was once a seeker named Suvrata who set out to find the very best thing a person could possibly gain. He had heard the teaching of the two roads, of remembering God at the last, of the one unchanging Home — and now he wanted to see for himself whether anything could be greater.

First he came to a hall where scholars chanted the Vedas day and night. "Stay with us," they said. "Learn every sacred word, and you will earn a place among the wise in the bright heavens." Suvrata bowed. The words were beautiful. But he walked on.

Next he came to a great sacrificial ground where priests fed a golden fire with offerings, and the smoke rose sweet into the sky. "Stay," they said. "Perform the rites, and you will earn long ages of joy among the gods." Suvrata bowed. The fire was lovely. But he walked on.

Then he came to a cave where lean ascetics sat unmoving through heat and cold, glowing with the strength of their discipline. "Stay," they said. "Master this, and great powers will be yours." Suvrata bowed. Their courage amazed him. But he walked on.

At last he came to a king famous above all others for his giving — a king whose gates were never shut, whose hands were never empty, who gave away gold and grain and cattle to everyone who asked. "Stay," said the king. "Give as I give, and you will be honoured in every world." Suvrata bowed very low, for this was the kindest place of all. But, gently, he walked on.

"Why?" the king called after him, astonished. "You have refused knowledge, worship, discipline, and charity — the four great roads to every reward there is. What more can you possibly be seeking?"

Suvrata turned at the gate, and his face was quiet and bright.

"All of these are gifts," he said. "And a gift, however great, is still something received — and what is received can one day run out. I am not looking for the best gift. I am looking for the One who gives all gifts. The Source. The first Home, from which everything came and to which nothing that arrives there ever needs to return."

And it is said that Suvrata, holding that single longing in his heart, walked past every reward the worlds could offer — straight on, into the supreme and original Home that Krishna had promised: the place beyond all places, where the long road of remembering finally comes to rest.

चिन्तनम्

Some good things are gifts you receive, and one is the Giver behind them all. As this chapter ends, what do you think it means to want the Source of everything, more than any single gift?