Chapter VIII · Śloka 1
Arjuna uvāca
किं तद्ब्रह्म किमध्यात्मं किं कर्म पुरुषोत्तम ।
अधिभूतं च किं प्रोक्तमधिदैवं किमुच्यते ॥
अधिभूतं च किं प्रोक्तमधिदैवं किमुच्यते ॥
kiṃ tad brahma kim adhyātmaṃ kiṃ karma puruṣottama |
adhbhūtaṃ ca kiṃ proktam adhidaivaṃ kim ucyate ||
adhbhūtaṃ ca kiṃ proktam adhidaivaṃ kim ucyate ||
What is Brahman? What is adhyātma? What is karma, O Supreme Person? What is called adhibhūta, and what is adhidaiva?
Arjuna poses seven metaphysical questions prompted by Krishna's concluding words in Chapter VII. He addresses Krishna as Puruṣottama — the Supreme Person — recognising that these ultimate questions require the highest authority.