Chapter 8: Akshara Brahma Yoga, verse 21
अव्यक्तोऽक्षर इत्युक्तस्तमाहुः परमां गतिम्।
यं प्राप्य न निवर्तन्ते तद्धाम परमं मम ॥
Say itavyakto ’kṣhara ityuktas tam āhuḥ paramāṁ gatim
yaṁ prāpya na nivartante tad dhāma paramaṁ mama
Translation
What is known as the Unmanifested and the Imperishable, That is said to be the highest goal. Those who reach It do not return (to this Samsara). That is My supreme abode (place or state).
Swami Sivananda
They call Him who has been mentioned as the Unmanifested, the Immutable, the supreme Goal. That is the supreme abode of Mine, from which they do not return once they reach it.
Swami Gambirananda
Follows the commentary of Shankara (Advaita).
They call Him who has been mentioned as the Unmanifested, the Immutable, the supreme Goal. That is the supreme abode of Mine, from which they do not return once they reach it.
Swami Adidevananda
Follows the commentary of Ramanuja (Vishishtadvaita).
The scriptures speak of This as Unmanifest and Changeless, and declare This to be the highest Goal. Having attained it, people do not return; this is My highest abode.
Dr. S. Sankaranarayan
Follows the commentary of Abhinavagupta (Kashmir Shaivism).
The wise say that the Unmanifest and Indestructible is the highest goal of all; when once that is reached, there is no returning. That is my blessed home.
Shri Purohit Swami
उसीको अव्यक्त और अक्षर कहा गया है और उसीको परमगति कहा गया है तथा जिसको प्राप्त होनेपर जीव फिर लौटकर नहीं आते, वह मेरा परमधाम है।
Swami Ramsukhdas
जो अव्यक्त अक्षर कहा गया है, वही परम गति (लक्ष्य) है। जिसे प्राप्त होकर (साधकगण) पुनः (संसार को) नहीं लौटते, वह मेरा परम धाम है।
Swami Tejomayananda
Classical commentariesFor deeper study. Most are in the original Sanskrit.
Advaita
Non-dual: the self and the absolute are one.
Vishishtadvaita
Qualified non-dual: souls are real parts of the divine.
Dvaita
Dual: the soul and God are eternally distinct.
Shuddhadvaita
Pure non-dual, centred on grace and devotion.
Kashmir Shaivism
The Gita read through Trika Shaiva philosophy.
Modern teachers
20th-century teachers writing for today's readers.