Chapter 8अक्षरब्रह्मयोगःAkshara Brahma Yoga

Seven questions and their answers (8.1–8.4). Arjuna: what are Brahman, adhyatma, karma, adhibhuta and adhidaiva; who is the adhiyajna and how; and how are you known at the time of death (8.1–8.2)? Krishna: Brahman is the supreme imperishable; one's own nature is adhyatma; the offering (visarga) that brings beings into existence is karma (8.3); perishable existence is adhibhuta; the Purusha is adhidaiva; I am the adhiyajna in this body (8.4).

The final remembrance (8.5–8.7). One who departs remembering me at the last hour attains my state (8.5); whatever state one remembers while leaving the body, that is what one attains — because the mind was always steeped in it (8.6); therefore remember me at all times and fight (8.7).

Three kinds of worship (8.8–8.16). Meditation on the supreme divine Person through the yoga of practice (8.8); the seer, the ancient, the ruler… beyond darkness (8.9); at the time of death, with an unmoving mind, devotion, the strength of yoga, prana between the eyebrows (8.10); the imperishable goal (8.11); the gates closed, the mind in the heart, prana at the crown of the head (8.12); Om and remembrance (8.13); to one whose mind turns to nothing else, I am easy to reach (8.14); having attained me, there is no rebirth (8.15); everyone up to Brahmaloka returns (8.16).

The cycle of the cosmos (8.17–8.22). Brahma's day and night — a thousand yugas each (8.17); creation in the day, dissolution in the night (8.18); beings, helpless, again and again (8.19); beyond that unmanifest, the eternal unmanifest (8.20); that is the imperishable, the supreme goal, my supreme abode (8.21); the supreme Person is reached through undivided devotion (8.22).

The two paths (8.23–8.28). In which "time" (path) those who depart return, and in which they do not (8.23); fire, light, day, the bright fortnight, the northern course of the sun — towards Brahman (8.24); smoke, night, the dark fortnight, the southern course — coming back (8.25); the two eternal paths (8.26); one who knows does not fall into delusion — be steadfast in yoga at all times (8.27); knowing this, the yogi goes beyond all fruits of merit and attains the supreme, primal abode (8.28).