In Bhagavad Gita 8.24, Krishna describes the path of fire, light, day, the bright fortnight and the six months of the northern course, by which knowers of Brahman go to Brahman.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
अग्निर्ज्योतिरहः शुक्लः
षण्मासा उत्तरायणम्
तत्र प्रयाता गच्छन्ति
ब्रह्म ब्रह्मविदो जनाः ॥ ८-२४ ॥
agnirjyotirahaḥ śuklaḥ
ṣaṇmāsā uttarāyaṇam
tatra prayātā gacchanti
brahma brahmavido janāḥ
English transliteration agnirjyotirahah shuklah
shanmaasaa uttaraayanam
tatra prayaataa gachchhanti
brahma brahmavido janaah ॥ 8.24 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Fire, light, day, the bright fortnight, the six months of the sun’s northern course: departing by this path, people who know Brahman go to Brahman.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| अग्निः agniḥ | fire |
| ज्योतिः jyotiḥ | light |
| अहः ahaḥ | day |
| शुक्लः śuklaḥ | the bright fortnight |
| षण्मासाः ṣaṇmāsāḥ | six months ṣaṭ (six) + māsāḥ (months) |
| उत्तरायणम् uttarāyaṇam | the northern course of the sun uttara (northern) + ayanam (course) |
| तत्र tatra | there |
| प्रयाताः prayātāḥ | departing |
| गच्छन्ति gacchanti | go |
| ब्रह्म brahma | to Brahman |
| ब्रह्मविदः brahmavidaḥ | knowers of Brahman brahma (Brahman) + vidaḥ (knowers) |
| जनाः janāḥ | people |
Word-wise Chanting
- ag–nir–jyo–ti–ra–haḥ śuk–laḥ 8 syllables ag-nir-jyo-ti-ra-hah shuk-lah
- ṣaṇ–mā–sā ut–ta–rā–ya–ṇam | 8 syllables shan-maa-saa ut-ta-raa-ya-nam
- tat–ra pra–yā–tā gac–chan–ti 8 syllables tat-ra pra-yaa-taa gach-chhan-ti
- brah–ma brah–ma–vi–do ja–nāḥ || 8-24 8 syllables brah-ma brah-ma-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 24
Context
Krishna describes the first path, of non-return (8.24–8.26).
Meaning
The path of light is marked by fire, light, day, the bright fortnight of the moon and the sun’s northern journey. Traditionally these are understood as presiding deities that guide the soul. Those who know Brahman travel this path and reach Brahman, not to return.
Symbolically, the path of light is the path of knowledge, clarity and openness. A life lived in the light of wisdom naturally leads upward.
In Practice
Choose clarity and openness in one situation today, a small step on the path of light.
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.