Bhagavad Gita 8.8

Verse 8

अभ्यासयोगयुक्तेन चेतसा नान्यगामिना | परमं पुरुषं दिव्यं याति पार्थानुचिन्तयन् || ८ ||

Transliteration

abhyāsa-yoga-yuktena cetasā nānya-gāminā paramaṁ puruṣaṁ divyaṁ yāti pārthānucintayan

Synonyms

abhyāsa-yoga—practice of yoga; yuktena—engaged in; cetasā—by the mind; na anya-gāminā—without deviation; paramam—the Supreme; puruṣam—Person; divyam—divine; yāti—attains; pārtha—O son of Pritha; anucintayan—constantly meditating upon.

Translation

O son of Pritha, one who meditates upon the Supreme Divine Person with a mind engaged in the practice of yoga and not deviating toward anything else, attains that Supreme Person.

Multi-Tradition Commentary

Swami Gambhirananda (Advaita Vedanta)

Abhyāsa (repetitive practice) and non-deviation (nānya-gāminā) are the two pillars of successful meditation. Repetition builds the groove (saṁskāra) in consciousness, and non-deviation means the mind is not allowed to scatter into sense objects. Together, these create the conditions for the mind to dissolve into its source.

Practical Application (Modern Life)

Choose one focal point for meditation and return to it every day without negotiation. The key is 'nānya-gāminā'—not going elsewhere. When the mind wanders, bring it back without self-criticism. Consistency over years, not perfection in any single session, is what builds the spiritual foundation.

Chapter Content

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