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Chapter 8 · Attaining the Supreme · 28 verses

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How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Remember who is speaking. Kṛṣṇa is speaking. Take the verse as He directs.
  2. 2Say the verse and its words. Read the Sanskrit, then each word with its meaning.
  3. 3Read the translation as it is. Let the translation say what it says, without adding your own meaning.
  4. 4Read the purport. Hear the verse through the disciplic succession.
  5. 5Bring your own question. Ask: where does this verse meet my life, my trouble, my doubt?
  6. 6Act on it, remembering Kṛṣṇa. Carry one instruction into your work today.
Read the full guide: how to read the Bhagavad-gītā ›
Bhakti & surrenderChapter 8 · Attaining the Supreme

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 8.22

The supreme destination through devotion

Īśvara · God

पुरुष: स पर: पार्थ भक्त्य‍ा लभ्यस्त्वनन्यया ।

यस्यान्त:स्थानि भूतानि येन सर्वमिदं ततम् ॥ २२ ॥

puruṣaḥ sa paraḥ pārtha

bhaktyā labhyas tv ananyayā

yasyāntaḥ-sthāni bhūtāni

yena sarvam idaṁ tatam

Translation

The Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is greater than all, is attainable by unalloyed devotion. Although He is present in His abode, He is all-pervading, and everything is situated within Him.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

What this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.

3 study points

Reaching Kṛṣṇa Through Devotion

  1. 1

    The Supreme Lord is reached by pure devotion. He remains in His abode, yet He is everywhere, and everything rests within Him.

  2. 2

    Prabhupāda explains that Kṛṣṇa’s abode is full of spiritual bliss. Only devotional service leads there, and those who reach it never return.

  3. 3

    Practice devotional service to Kṛṣṇa as the way to reach His supreme abode.

Key points from the purport

How to attain that abode of Lord?

The Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is greater than all, is attainable by unalloyed Devotional Service – Ananya Bhakti

Although He is present in His abode, He is all pervading, and everything is situated within Him

a

Bg. 2.22 clearly states that the Supreme destination, from which there is no return, is the abode of Krishna, the Supreme Person

b

Lord as all pervading by “Spiritual and material energies”

c

Variegatedness of Spiritual energy — Ref. Brahma Samhita (“ananda chinmaya rasa...”)

d

Material energy — Although the Lord is always in His Supreme abode, He is nonetheless all pervading by His material energy,

e

“yasyantah sthani bhutani...” — This phrase in Text 8.22 means that everything is sustained within Krishna, within His spiritual or material energies

f

Importance of the word ‘bhaktya’ — To enter Krishna’s Supreme abode or any of the Vaikunta planets is possible only by bhakti

g

Vedic description of “Supreme abode” — “Supreme Personality of Godhead” resides in the Supreme abode and has millions of plenary expansions

Ref. Gopala-Tapani Upanisad 3.2 – Describes that Supreme Abode and the Supreme Personality of Godhead

Analogy: Vedas compare the Lord with a tree bearing many flowers, fruits, leaves etc. Similarly the Lord expands into many plenary expansions

Ref Brahma Samhita 5.37 – "Goloka eva...” – Although the Lord resides in the Supreme Abode, He is all pervading

Ref Svetasvatara Upanisad – “parasya shaktir...” – Supreme Lord although residing far away, systematically conducts everything in the cosmic manifestation by His all pervading energies

Further reading

Comparing The Material & Spiritual Worlds /

Glories of supreme abode

Material world is continually being created and destroyed

Beyond this ocean of creation and destruction lies Krishna’s abode, where He is present and can be attained only by unalloyed devotion to Him

Chapter 8, section V: Comparing The Material & Spiritual Worlds /
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. puruṣaḥthe Supreme Personality
  2. saḥHe
  3. paraḥthe Supreme, than whom no one is greater
  4. pārthaO son of Pṛthā
  5. bhaktyāby devotional service
  6. labhyaḥcan be achieved
  7. tubut
  8. ananyayāunalloyed, undeviating
3

Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Key ideas: bhakti, śaraṇāgati.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 8.22 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to bhakti & surrender?

Practice

Offer one act today with devotion.

5

Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

Live this todayUse Human Life for DevotionA practice from BG 8.19, close to this verse

Study notes are editorial summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport.