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Complete learning edition. The Sanskrit source remains separate from attributed word meanings, translation, explanation and commentary witnesses. Diagrams and memory aids are study tools, not replacements for the source text.

BG 8.11

यदक्षरं वेदविदो वदन्ति विशन्ति यद्यतयो वीतरागाः। यदिच्छन्तो ब्रह्मचर्यं चरन्ति तत्ते पदं संग्रहेण प्रवक्ष्ये।।8.11।।

yad akṣharaṁ veda-vido vadanti viśhanti yad yatayo vīta-rāgāḥ yad ichchhanto brahmacharyaṁ charanti tat te padaṁ saṅgraheṇa pravakṣhye

Verse translation

Now, I will briefly speak of the imperishable goal, proclaimed by those who are versed in the scriptures, which the mystic attains when free from passion, and for which they are content to undergo the vow of continence.

English rendering by Shri Purohit Swami. Each source voice remains named.

A sepia engraved study panorama for BG 8.11, centred on remembrance and destination
Chapter 8 memory scene
Word by word

Build the sentence from its parts

Read across once, then cover the meanings and recover them from the Sanskrit forms.

17word links
Sanskrit formMeaning here
yatwhich
akṣharamImperishable
veda-vidaḥscholars of the Vedas
vadantidescribe
viśhantienter
yatwhich
yatayaḥgreat ascetics
vīta-rāgāḥfree from attachment
yatwhich
ichchhantaḥdesiring
brahmacharyamcelibacy
charantipractice
tatthat
teto you
padamgoal
saṅgraheṇabriefly
pravakṣhyeI shall explain
Explanation and elucidation

The Supreme Being which is symbolised by the sacred monosyllable Om or the Pranava is the highest step or the supreme goal of man. The same ideas are expressed in the Kathopanishad.

Attributed explanatory witness: Swami Sivananda. Chapter lens: Track Arjuna’s questions and Kṛṣṇa’s answers about Brahman, action, remembrance, destination and cosmic time.

Commentary perspectives

Three named reading witnesses

Sources stay separate

Śaṅkara edition witness

Swami Gambirananda

I will briefly tell you about that immutable Goal which the knowers of the Vedas declare; those who are diligent, free from attachment, and aspire for it, enter into it. People practice celibacy for it.

Rāmānuja edition witness

Swami Adidevananda

I will briefly speak to you of that immutable Goal, which the knowers of the Vedas declare; into which diligent ones, free from attachment, enter, and for which people practice celibacy, aspiring.

Sivananda commentary witness

Swami Sivananda

The Supreme Being which is symbolised by the sacred monosyllable Om or the Pranava is the highest step or the supreme goal of man. The same ideas are expressed in the Kathopanishad.

These are concise, attributed reading witnesses from identified editions. They are presented for comparison and are not merged into one anonymous interpretation.

Diagram

Meaning map

Flow chart

Follow the thought

  1. 1

    Now, I will briefly speak of the imperishable goal, proclaimed by those who are versed in the scriptures, which the mystic attains when free from passion

  2. 2

    for which they are content to undergo the vow of continence

  3. 3

    yat: which

A sepia engraved visual memory cue for BG 8.11
Easy way to remember

Look, link, cover, teach

1

Look

Picture remembrance and destination.

2

Link

Use the line starts: yad akṣharaṁ / viśhanti yad / yad ichchhanto / tat te.

3

Cover

Hide the verse and rebuild one line at a time.

4

Teach

Explain the flow to another person without looking.

Notice

Circle repeated sounds, names, or grammatical endings before consulting a meaning.

Attempt

Read one line aloud, cover it, and reconstruct as much as you can from memory.

Verify

Compare with a checked edition and record the source before adding any translation.

Complete source-study lessonAutosaves locally

Build meaning without hiding the work

Track Arjuna’s questions and Kṛṣṇa’s answers about Brahman, action, remembrance, destination and cosmic time.

Observation before explanation

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These are visual tokens, not a reviewed sandhi split. Select repeated forms, endings, compounds, particles or speaker markers; verify segmentation with the Sanskrit tools or a checked edition.

Chapter inquiry

Three questions for this verse

  1. 1

    Which technical term is being defined?

  2. 2

    What moment or destination is in view?

  3. 3

    What practice connects them?

Transfer task

Write the verse into a question–answer glossary with its context.

Learner rendering

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Correction and teach-back

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  2. 02Recall
  3. 03Apply
  4. 04Discuss
  5. 05Teach
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