In Bhagavad Gita 8.1, Arjuna asks Krishna to explain the terms he used at the end of Chapter 7: Brahman, adhyatma, karma, adhibhuta and adhidaiva.
Sanskrit Verse
अर्जुन उवाच · Arjuna said
किं तद् ब्रह्म किमध्यात्मं
किं कर्म पुरुषोत्तम
अधिभूतं च किं प्रोक्तम्
अधिदैवं किमुच्यते ॥ ८-१ ॥
kiṃ tad brahma kimadhyātmaṃ
kiṃ karma puruṣottama
adhibhūtaṃ ca kiṃ proktam
adhidaivaṃ kimucyate
English transliteration kim tad brahma kimadhyaatmam
kim karma purushottama
adhibhootam cha kim proktam
adhidaivam kimuchyate ॥ 8.1 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Arjuna said: What is that Brahman? What is the Self? What is action, O Supreme Person? What is said to be the principle of beings, and what is called the principle of the gods?
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| किम् kim | what |
| तत् tat | that |
| ब्रह्म brahma | Brahman |
| किम् kim | what |
| अध्यात्मम् adhyātmam | the Self |
| किम् kim | what |
| कर्म karma | action |
| पुरुषोत्तम puruṣottama | O Supreme Person puruṣa (person) + uttama (highest) |
| अधिभूतम् adhibhūtam | the principle of beings |
| च ca | and |
| किम् kim | what |
| प्रोक्तम् proktam | is said |
| अधिदैवम् adhidaivam | the principle of the gods |
| किम् kim | what |
| उच्यते ucyate | is called |
Word-wise Chanting
- kiṃ tad brah–ma ki–madh–yāt–maṃ 8 syllables kim tad brah-ma ki-madh-yaat-mam
- kiṃ kar–ma pu–ru–ṣot–ta–ma | 8 syllables kim kar-ma pu-ru-shot-ta-ma
- a–dhi–bhū–taṃ ca kiṃ prok–tam– 8 syllables a-dhi-bhoo-tam cha kim prok-tam-
- a–dhi–dai–vaṃ ki–muc–ya–te || 8-1 8 syllables a-dhi-dai-vam ki-much-ya-te
How to read this
How to chant: each line is one pāda (quarter-verse); chant it in one breath. The hyphen (-) divides the syllables, inside a word and across a sandhi join, so every pāda shows its 8 syllables (11 in triṣṭubh verses). A consonant cluster is divided after its first consonant (kar-ma, vet-ti): that syllable is held longer. Mark above a syllable: guru, long (two beats); laghu, short (one beat). | closes the half-verse, || the verse; the number is the syllable count of the pāda.
Deeper Explanation – Chapter 8 Verse 1
Context
Chapter 8, the Yoga of the Imperishable Brahman, opens with Arjuna’s questions about the terms Krishna introduced in 7.29–7.30.
Meaning
Arjuna is an attentive student. Krishna has used several technical words without explaining them, and Arjuna asks directly what each one means: Brahman, adhyātma, karma, adhibhūta and adhidaiva. He addresses Krishna as Puruṣottama, the highest Person, showing that he now sees him as more than a friend and charioteer.
The verse models the right attitude toward spiritual teaching. Rather than nodding along, Arjuna asks for clear definitions. Clarity of terms is the first step toward clarity of understanding.
In Practice
When you study a spiritual text, note any word you do not fully understand and look for its meaning before moving on.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 8: Akshara Brahma Yoga (The Imperishable Absolute). Read the chapter overview, browse every verse of the Gita, or return to the chapter-by-chapter guide. For a reading plan, see how to study the Bhagavad Gita and the study resources.