Chapter 8 Shloka 24

अग्निर्ज्योतिरह: शुक्ल: षण्मासा उत्तरायणम्।

तत्र प्रयाता गच्छन्ति ब्रह्म ब्रह्मविदो जना:।।२४।।

Just as the days lengthen for six months

in the shukla paksha, so also they

whose fire of knowledge gains a steady brilliance,

those knowers of Brahm who thus leave their body

in the Uttaraayan path, attain Brahm. 

Chapter 8 Shloka 24

अग्निर्ज्योतिरह: शुक्ल: षण्मासा उत्तरायणम्।

तत्र प्रयाता गच्छन्ति ब्रह्म ब्रह्मविदो जना:।।२४।।

Just as the days lengthen for six months in the shukla paksha, so also they whose fire of knowledge gains a steady brilliance, those knowers of Brahm who thus leave their body in the Uttaraayan path, attain Brahm.

Little one, first understand the basic words of this shloka.

Shukla Paksha (शुक्ल पक्ष)

Shukla means white, pure, bright. Paksha means to receive, to accept or to belong to any one league.

Shukla Paksha refers to that period of time when there is light. That is also called the Uttarayan path.

Now also understand the Uttaraayan path (उत्तरायण पथ).

1. Uttaraayan refers to those six months when the movement of the sun is towards the north.

2. Uttaraayan are those months when the days are brighter and longer and the nights are short.

3. Uttaraayan is that path which is uplifting.

4. Uttaraayan is the path that leads to light.

Look little one, the Lord is relating the story of the traveller on the path to the Supreme. Just as the luminescence of the sun is ever on the increase in the shukla paksha, so also when the light of knowledge of the Yogi is ever on the increase, if he passes into the grip of death in such a state of luminescence, that knower of Brahm attains Brahm – his chosen Supreme Goal.

Understand the word Uttaraayan once again. The traveller on the Uttaraayan path:

a) progresses towards greater heights;

b) proceeds towards greatness;

c) advances towards divinity.

As the sun moves towards the Uttaraayan or northward sphere, the south is left far behind. So also, when the spiritual aspirant proceeds towards the higher spheres, darkness is automatically eradicated. When the sadhak is attracted towards the Atma, he is automatically distanced from both the gross and the subtle objects of sense.

Understand this in yet another way.

1. When a person stands upright, his feet are fixed southwards and his head northwards.

2. The gross contact with the earth is always through the feet.

3. The individual’s head is always in the northern sphere.

From this angle, the traveller on the northward path renounces his attachment to gross objects and proceeds headwards. That is, the Uttaraayan path is the path that augments the intellect.

Little one, as the intellect gains purity, to that extent:

a) the individual renounces his ego;

b) the sadhak relinquishes the body idea;

c) the sadhak bows down in humility;

d) the traveller on this path begins to recognise the truth about the gunas;

e) the aspirant ceases to be affected by the gunas;

f) the life of the individual becomes a yagya;

g) he attains utter simplicity;

h) his mind becomes pure;

i)  that person becomes detached.

When the traveller on the northward path understands that he is, in reality, the Atma, why would he remain attached to that which is not the Atma? When he realises that one who is immersed in the Atma attains the state of unshakeable bliss, why would he seek temporary pleasures? When he can stay in eternal bliss even whilst living in the midst of worldly sorrows, why would he try to escape from any situation and crave the joy that is conditioned by pleasant circumstances? The traveller on the northward path renounces the body idea and attains the Supreme state. If such a one meets with death whilst still on this path, he will still continue to progress northwards.