Chapter 8 Verse 3

The Blessed Lord said, "Brahman is the Imperishable, the Supreme; its essential nature is called Self-knowledge; the offering (to the gods) that causes the existence and manifestation of beings and sustains them is called action."

Core Meaning

This verse points to two levels of reality. The first is Brahman—the unchanging, imperishable ground of all. Recognizing this is to know your deeper Self (adhyatma), the inner presence that is steady beneath change.

The second is the world of action. The creative power that makes beings appear, grow and change is called visarga, and the processes by which this happens are called karma—our actions and their results. Karma shapes experience but is not the ultimate reality.

The practical teaching is to live from the inner Self while accepting that action happens. Know the imperishable within, and understand that your deeds shape the life you and others live.

Life Application

• Begin tasks with a brief inward reminder of your deeper Self (a moment of breath, prayer, or silence) so actions arise from steadiness rather than reactivity.
• Do your duties carefully and responsibly, but let go of clinging to results; treat outcomes as part of the world's unfolding.
• Notice how your choices create future conditions; choose actions that nurture others and reduce harm.

Reflection Question

When do I act from a calm inner center, and when from anxiety or desire?