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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
8.279.1

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 8.28

Devotional service surpasses ritual rewards

Īśvara · God

वेदेषु यज्ञेषु तप:सु चैव

दानेषु यत्पुण्यफलं प्रदिष्टम् ।

अत्येति तत्सर्वमिदं विदित्वा

योगी परं स्थानमुपैति चाद्यम् ॥ २८ ॥

vedeṣu yajñeṣu tapaḥsu caiva

dāneṣu yat puṇya-phalaṁ pradiṣṭam

atyeti tat sarvam idaṁ viditvā

yogī paraṁ sthānam upaiti cādyam

Translation

A person who accepts the path of devotional service is not bereft of the results derived from studying the Vedas, performing sacrifices, undergoing austerities, giving charity or pursuing philosophical and fruitive activities. Simply by performing devotional service, he attains all these, and at the end he reaches the supreme eternal abode.

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

Devotional Service Gives All Results

  1. 1

    Devotional service gives all the benefits of Vedic study, sacrifice, austerity, charity and other pursuits, and leads to the supreme eternal abode.

  2. 2

    Prabhupāda explains that service to Kṛṣṇa surpasses all Vedic rituals and reaches its perfection in love for Kṛṣṇa and eternal happiness in His abode.

  3. 3

    Learn Bhagavad-gītā from a devotee of Kṛṣṇa. Hearing in devotees’ company helps you understand it and grow in devotional service.

Key points from the purport

Explains the knowledge that fixes the devotee in the path of devotion

Such a devotee automatically and effortlessly achieve all the results of Jnana, Yoga and Karma and all the Vedic forms of purification

This verse is a summation of Chapter 7 and Chapter 8 which particularly deals with Krishna consciousness and devotional service

a

Path of Vedic Literatures

Brahmachari life – study Vedas under Spiritual master, many austerities and penances, trained in celibacy and menial services, beg alms, take food only under master’s order

Vedic study not meant for – recreation of armchair speculators, but for building a perfect character

Householder life – Sacrifices and, charity according to time, place and person.

Retired life (Vanaprastha) – tapasya

Sannyasa

Purpose of Vedic path – gradual elevation to perfectional stage

b

Beauty of Krishna Consciousness — by one stroke of Devotional services, one surpasses all the rituals of different ashrams.

c

Idam viditva — it implies one should understand the instruction of Krishna very scrutinizingly

Which? – those in Bg. Chapters 7 and 8

How? – By hearing in the association of devotees

How not? – Academic scholarship/mental speculation

Great fortune? – To understand middle 6 chapters in the association of devotees

Why fortune? – Because, life becomes glorified beyond all yajna, dana, tapa etc., and all the results of such activities are automatically achieved simply by Krishna Consciousness 28 SRADDHA Starting point: Little faith in Bhagavad-gita SADHU-SANGA Sign of faith: Learn from only qualified devotees/not from mental speculators Service in association dispels BHAJANA-KRIYA all misgivings about God & ANARTHA-NIVRITTI NISTHA One becomes fixed in ones study about Krishna Relishes the study – Attains a state of RUCI feeling always Krishna conscious & ASHAKTI Advanced stage – falls completely in love with Krishna (Highest BHAVA perfectional stage) & PREMA Transfer to Krishna’s abode: Eternal Happiness

End of chapter 8

Bhagavad Gita Notes 1 Chapter 8 Appendix CHAPTER 8 Appendix Selected Texts extracted from “Surrender unto Me”

Further reading

Supremacy Of Pure Devotion In Attaining Krishna

To attain Krishna’s abode, yogis must pass from this world according to mystic formulas

Devotees need only remain fixed in devotion

Chapter 8, section VI: Supremacy Of Pure Devotion In Attaining Krishna
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. vedeṣuin the study of the Vedas
  2. yajñeṣuin the performances of yajña, sacrifice
  3. tapaḥsuin undergoing different types of austerities
  4. caalso
  5. evacertainly
  6. dāneṣuin giving charities
  7. yatthat which
  8. puṇya-phalamresult of pious work
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 8.28 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.

BG 3.30Offer every action to KrishnaBG 6.47The highest yogi is devoted
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.

  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
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