24. agnir jyotir ahah
suklah sanmasa uttarayanarn
tatra prayata gacchanti
brahma brahmavido janah
(24) Fire, light, day, the bright (half of the month), the six months of the northern path (of the Sun), then going forth the men who know the Absolute go to the Absolute.
25. dhunno ratris tatra krsnah
sanmasa daksinayanam
tatra candramasam jyotir
yogi prapya nivartate
(25) Smoke, night, so also the dark (half of the month), the six months of the southern part (of the Sun), then going forth, the yogi obtains the lunar light and returns.
Our dead ancestors (pitrs) are said to live in the world of the
moon and remain there till the time of their return to earth.
26. suklakrsne gati hy ete
jagatah sagvate mate
ekaya yaty anavrttim
anyaya 'vartate punah
(26) Light and darkness, these paths are thought to be the world's ev rlasting (paths) By the one he goes not to return, by the other he returns again
Life is a conflict between light and darkness. The former makes for release and the latter for rebirth The author here uses an old
eschatological belief to illustrate a great spiritual truth, that those who are lost in the night of ignorance go by the path of ancestors and are subject to rebirth and those who live in the day of illumination and tread the path of knowledge obtain release from rebirth.
27. nai 'te srti partha janan
yogi muhyati kagcana
tasmat sarvesu kalesu
yogayukto bhava 'rjuna
(27) The yogin who knows these paths, 0 Partha (Arjuna), is never deluded Therefore, at all times, 0 Arjuna, be thoi .firm in yoga.
Whatever work you undertake, do not lose the thought of the Eternal.
28. vedesu yajnesu tapahsu
cai 'va danesu yat puvyaahalarh
pradistam atyeti tat sarvam dam viditvã
yogi pram sthanam upaiti ca 'dyam
(28) The yogin having known all this, goes beyond the fruits of meritorious deeds assigned to the study of the Vedas, sacrifices, austerities and gifts and attains to the supreme and primal status.
The states which result from the study of the Vedas, sacrifices austerities and gifts are all lower stages to be passed over by the Yogi who soars beyond them to the final goal.
ity . . . ak.sarabrahmayogo nama 'stamo 'dhyayah
This is the eighth chapter entitled The Yoga or the Imperishable Absolute.
