In Bhagavad Gita 8.21, Krishna says that this unmanifest is called the imperishable, the supreme goal; reaching it, none return; that is his supreme abode.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
अव्यक्तोऽक्षर इत्युक्तस्
तमाहुः परमां गतिम्
यं प्राप्य न निवर्तन्ते
तद्धाम परमं मम ॥ ८-२१ ॥
avyakto’kṣara ityuktas
tamāhuḥ paramāṃ gatim
yaṃ prāpya na nivartante
taddhāma paramaṃ mama
English transliteration avyakto’kshara ityuktas
tamaahuh paramaam gatim
yam praapya na nivartante
taddhaama paramam mama ॥ 8.21 ॥
Translation / Meaning
That unmanifest is called the Imperishable; it is said to be the supreme goal. Those who reach it do not return. That is My supreme abode.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| अव्यक्तः avyaktaḥ | unmanifest |
| अक्षरः akṣaraḥ | the Imperishable |
| इति iti | thus |
| उक्तः uktaḥ | is called |
| तम् tam | that |
| आहुः āhuḥ | they call |
| परमाम् paramām | supreme |
| गतिम् gatim | goal |
| यम् yam | which |
| प्राप्य prāpya | reaching |
| न na | not |
| निवर्तन्ते nivartante | return |
| तत् tat | that |
| धाम dhāma | abode |
| परमम् paramam | supreme |
| मम mama | My |
Word-wise Chanting
- av–yak–to–‘kṣa–ra it–yuk–tas– 8 syllables av-yak-to-‘ksha-ra it-yuk-tas-
- ta–mā–huḥ pa–ra–māṃ ga–tim | 8 syllables ta-maa-huh pa-ra-maam ga-tim
- yaṃ prāp–ya na ni–var–tan–te 8 syllables yam praap-ya na ni-var-tan-te
- tad–dhā–ma pa–ra–maṃ ma–ma || 8-21 8 syllables tad-dhaa-ma pa-ra-mam ma-ma
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 21
Context
Krishna identifies the eternal unmanifest of 8.20 with his own abode.
Meaning
The eternal unmanifest is the akṣara, the Imperishable spoken of in 8.11. It is the paramā gati, the supreme goal, and reaching it there is no return. Krishna calls it dhāma paramaṃ mama, my supreme abode, the Divine’s own home.
The goal is described both impersonally, as the Imperishable, and personally, as the Lord’s abode. Both describe the same reality from different angles, inviting both knowledge and love.
In Practice
Think of the Divine as your true home today. Let a sense of homecoming accompany your practice.
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.