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Chapter 8 • Verse 17
The Yoga of the Imperishable Absolute
MEANING & CONTEXT
Krishna describes the vast time scales: 'Sahasra-yuga-paryantam ahar yad brahmano viduh'—those who know (viduh) the day (ahar) of Brahma (brahmanah), which lasts (paryantam) a thousand (sahasra) yugas (yuga). 'Ratrim yuga-sahasrantam te 'horatra-vido janah'—and the night (ratrim) which also lasts a thousand yugas (yuga-sahasra-antam), those (te) people (janah) are knowers (vido) of day and night (ahoratra). This verse introduces the cosmic time scale: Brahma's day lasts a thousand yugas, and his night also lasts a thousand yugas. This is the vast cycle of creation and dissolution. Understanding this helps you realize the scale of material existence—even the highest material worlds exist within these vast cycles. This sets up the teaching about the cycles of creation and dissolution (verses 8.18-8.19).
Explore Human Experiences
How this ancient wisdom applies to your daily life
Key Takeaway
This verse introduces the cosmic time scale: Brahma's day lasts a thousand yugas, and his night also lasts a thousand yugas. This is the vast cycle of creation and dissolution. Understanding this helps you realize the scale of material existence—even the highest material worlds exist within these vast cycles. Everything material is subject to these cycles—creation, existence, dissolution, repeat. This is the nature of material existence: vast cycles within cycles. Understanding this transforms your perspective: you're not aiming for material existence within these cycles, but for the eternal beyond them. This is why liberation is important—freedom from these vast cycles.
Personal Reflection
Do you understand the vast cycles of material existence? Are you caught in cycles, or are you aiming for the eternal beyond them? What does it mean to transcend these vast cycles?
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