Word meanings
- śukla
- bright
- kṛṣṇe
- dark
- gatī
- paths
- hi
- certainly
- ete
- these
- jagataḥ
- of the material world
- śāśvate
- eternal
- mate
- opinion
- ekayā
- by one
- yāti
- goes
- anāvṛttim
- to non return
- anyayā
- by the other
- āvartate
- comes back
- punaḥ
- again
Translations
The bright and dark paths of the world are thought to be eternal; one leads to no return, and the other leads to return.
These bright and dark paths out of the world have always existed. Whoever takes the former, does not return; he who chooses the latter, returns.
These two paths of the world, which are white and black, are indeed considered eternal. Through one, a person goes to the state of non-return; through the other, they return again.
क्योंकि शुक्ल और कृष्ण -- ये दोनों गतियाँ अनादिकालसे जगत्-(प्राणिमात्र-) के साथ सम्बन्ध रखनेवाली मानी गई हैं। इनमेंसे एक गतिमें जानेवालेको लौटना नहीं पड़ता और दूसरी गतिमें जानेवालेको लौटना पड़ता है।Commentary
The bright path is the path to the gods taken by the devotees. The dark path is of the manes taken by those who perform sacrifices or charitable acts with the expectation of rewards. These two paths are not open to the whole world. The bright path is open to the devotees and the dark one to those who are devoted to the rituals. These paths are as eternal as the Samsara. World here means devotees or people devoted to ritual. Pitriloka or Chandraloka is Svarga or heaven.