In Bhagavad Gita 8.28, the last verse of Chapter 8, Krishna says that the yogi who knows this goes beyond the merit of Vedic study, sacrifice, austerity and charity, and reaches the supreme primal abode.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
वेदेषु यज्ञेषु तपःसु चैव
दानेषु यत्पुण्यफलं प्रदिष्टम्
अत्येति तत्सर्वमिदं विदित्वा
योगी परं स्थानमुपैति चाद्यम् ॥ ८-२८ ॥
vedeṣu yajñeṣu tapaḥsu caiva
dāneṣu yatpuṇyaphalaṃ pradiṣṭam
atyeti tatsarvamidaṃ viditvā
yogī paraṃ sthānamupaiti cādyam
English transliteration vedeshu yajneshu tapahsu chaiva
daaneshu yatpunyaphalam pradishtam
atyeti tatsarvamidam viditvaa
yogee param sthaanamupaiti chaadyam ॥ 8.28 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Whatever meritorious fruit is declared for the Vedas, sacrifices, austerities and charity, the yogi who knows this goes beyond it all and reaches the supreme, primal abode.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| वेदेषु vedeṣu | in the Vedas |
| यज्ञेषु yajñeṣu | in sacrifices |
| तपःसु tapaḥsu | in austerities |
| च ca | and |
| एव eva | also |
| दानेषु dāneṣu | in charity |
| यत् yat | whatever |
| पुण्यफलम् puṇyaphalam | meritorious fruit puṇya (merit) + phalam (fruit) |
| प्रदिष्टम् pradiṣṭam | is declared |
| अत्येति atyeti | goes beyond |
| तत् tat | that |
| सर्वम् sarvam | all |
| इदम् idam | this |
| विदित्वा viditvā | knowing |
| योगी yogī | the yogi |
| परम् param | supreme |
| स्थानम् sthānam | abode |
| उपैति upaiti | reaches |
| च ca | and |
| आद्यम् ādyam | primal |
Word-wise Chanting
- ve–de–ṣu ya–jñe–ṣu ta–paḥ–su cai–va 11 syllables ve-de-shu ya-jne-shu ta-pah-su chai-va
- dā–ne–ṣu yat–puṇ–ya–pha–laṃ pra–diṣ–ṭam | 11 syllables daa-ne-shu yat-pun-ya-pha-lam pra-dish-tam
- at–ye–ti tat–sar–va–mi–daṃ vi–dit–vā 11 syllables at-ye-ti tat-sar-va-mi-dam vi-dit-vaa
- yo–gī pa–raṃ sthā–na–mu–pai–ti cād–yam || 8-28 11 syllables yo-gee pa-ram sthaa-na-mu-pai-ti chaad-yam
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 28
Context
The final verse of Chapter 8 concludes the teaching on the imperishable Brahman.
Meaning
Study of the Vedas, sacrifice, austerity and charity each bring puṇya, merit, and its fruits. But the yogī who understands this teaching goes beyond all such merit. Their aim is not a reward but the param sthānam ādyam, the supreme and original abode, the Divine itself.
Good works are valuable, but they are steps, not the destination. Knowledge and devotion carry the seeker beyond the economy of merit into the freedom of the Divine.
In Practice
Do your good works today as offerings, not as investments for future reward.
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.