Gita Bhashya (Sri Ramanujacharya) 8.26
Gita Bhashya (Sri Ramanujacharya) 8.26 · 8 · Verse 26
Sanskrit Original
।।8.26।।शुक्ला गतिः अर्चिरादिका कृष्णा च धूमादिका। शुक्लया अनावृत्तिं यान्ति कृष्णया तु पुनः आवर्तन्ते। एते शुक्लकृष्णे गती ज्ञानिनां विविधानां पुण्यकर्मणां च श्रुतौ शाश्वते मते।तद्य इत्थं विदुर्ये चेमेऽरण्ये श्रद्धां तप इत्युपासते तेऽर्चिषमभिसंभवन्ति। (छा0 उ0 5।10।1)अथ य इमे ग्रामे इष्टापूर्ते दत्तमित्युपासते ते धूममभिसम्भवन्ति (छा0 उ0 5।10।3) इति।
8.26 The bright path is characterised by the terms 'starting with light.' The dark path is characterised by the 'terms starting with smoke.' By the bright path a man goes to the plane of no-return, but he who goes by the dark path returns again. In the Sruti both the bright and dark paths are said to be eternal in relation to Jnanis and doers of good actions of many kinds. This is corroborated in the text: 'Those who know this and those who worship with faith do Tapas in the forest etc., they go to the light' (Cha. U., 5.10.1), and 'But those who in the village perform Vedic and secular acts of a meritorious nature and the giving of alms - they pass to the smoke' (ibid., 5.10.3).