In Bhagavad Gita 8.25, Krishna describes the path of smoke, night, the dark fortnight and the six months of the southern course, by which the yogi reaches the lunar light and returns.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
धूमो रात्रिस्तथा कृष्णः
षण्मासा दक्षिणायनम्
तत्र चान्द्रमसं ज्योतिर्
योगी प्राप्य निवर्तते ॥ ८-२५ ॥
dhūmo rātristathā kṛṣṇaḥ
ṣaṇmāsā dakṣiṇāyanam
tatra cāndramasaṃ jyotir
yogī prāpya nivartate
English transliteration dhoomo raatristathaa krishnah
shanmaasaa dakshinaayanam
tatra chaandramasam jyotir
yogee praapya nivartate ॥ 8.25 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Smoke, night, the dark fortnight, the six months of the sun’s southern course: by this path the yogi reaches the lunar light and returns.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| धूमः dhūmaḥ | smoke |
| रात्रिः rātriḥ | night |
| तथा tathā | also |
| कृष्णः kṛṣṇaḥ | the dark fortnight |
| षण्मासाः ṣaṇmāsāḥ | six months |
| दक्षिणायनम् dakṣiṇāyanam | the southern course of the sun dakṣiṇa (southern) + ayanam (course) |
| तत्र tatra | there |
| चान्द्रमसम् cāndramasam | lunar |
| ज्योतिः jyotiḥ | light |
| योगी yogī | the yogi |
| प्राप्य prāpya | reaching |
| निवर्तते nivartate | returns |
Word-wise Chanting
- dhū–mo rāt–ris–ta–thā kṛṣ–ṇaḥ 8 syllables dhoo-mo raat-ris-ta-thaa krish-nah
- ṣaṇ–mā–sā da–kṣi–ṇā–ya–nam | 8 syllables shan-maa-saa da-kshi-naa-ya-nam
- tat–ra cān–dra–ma–saṃ jyo–tir– 8 syllables tat-ra chaan-dra-ma-sam jyo-tir-
- yo–gī prāp–ya ni–var–ta–te || 8-25 8 syllables yo-gee praap-ya ni-var-ta-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 25
Context
Krishna describes the second path, of return (continuing 8.24).
Meaning
The path of smoke is marked by smoke, night, the dark fortnight and the sun’s southern journey. Those who travel it, usually people who performed good works with desire for reward, reach the lunar realm, enjoy its fruits and then return to rebirth.
This path is not evil; it leads to heavenly enjoyment. But it is temporary. Good deeds done with desire bring good results, yet they keep us within the cycle.
In Practice
Do one good act today without any wish for reward, and notice its freedom.
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.