In Bhagavad Gita 8.17, Krishna says that those who know that a day of Brahma lasts a thousand yugas, and his night another thousand, truly know day and night.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
सहस्रयुगपर्यन्तम्
अहर्यद् ब्रह्मणो विदुः
रात्रिं युगसहस्रान्तां
तेऽहोरात्रविदो जनाः ॥ ८-१७ ॥
sahasrayugaparyantam
aharyad brahmaṇo viduḥ
rātriṃ yugasahasrāntāṃ
te’horātravido janāḥ
English transliteration sahasrayugaparyantam
aharyad brahmano viduh
raatrim yugasahasraantaam
te’horaatravido janaah ॥ 8.17 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Those who know that the day of Brahma lasts a thousand yugas, and that his night also ends after a thousand yugas, are people who truly know day and night.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| सहस्रयुगपर्यन्तम् sahasrayugaparyantam | lasting a thousand yugas sahasra (thousand) + yuga (ages) + paryantam (lasting) |
| अहः ahaḥ | day |
| यत् yat | which |
| ब्रह्मणः brahmaṇaḥ | of Brahmā |
| विदुः viduḥ | know |
| रात्रिम् rātrim | night |
| युगसहस्रान्ताम् yugasahasrāntām | ending after a thousand yugas yuga (ages) + sahasra (thousand) + antām (ending) |
| ते te | they |
| अहोरात्रविदः ahorātravidaḥ | knowers of day and night ahaḥ (day) + rātra (night) + vidaḥ (knowers) |
| जनाः janāḥ | people |
Word-wise Chanting
- sa–has–ra–yu–ga–par–yan–tam– 8 syllables sa-has-ra-yu-ga-par-yan-tam-
- a–har–yad brah–ma–ṇo vi–duḥ | 8 syllables a-har-yad brah-ma-no vi-duh
- rāt–riṃ yu–ga–sa–has–rān–tāṃ 8 syllables raat-rim yu-ga-sa-has-raan-taam
- te–‘ho–rāt–ra–vi–do ja–nāḥ || 8-17 8 syllables te-‘ho-raat-ra-vi-do ja-naah
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 17
Context
Krishna describes the vast cycles of cosmic time (8.17–8.19).
Meaning
Cosmic time is immense. A single day of Brahmā, the creator, spans a thousand cycles of four yugas, and his night is equally long. Those who grasp this scale truly understand ahorātra, day and night, the rhythm of creation and dissolution.
Seen against these immense cycles, our personal concerns appear in their true proportion. This perspective does not diminish life but frees us from anxiety about small things.
In Practice
When a worry seems overwhelming today, imagine it against the vast span of cosmic time, and let it take its proper size.
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.