यत्र काले त्वनावृत्तिमावृत्तिं चैव योगिनः।
प्रयाता यान्ति तं कालं वक्ष्यामि भरतर्षभ।।8.23।।
अग्निर्ज्योतिरहः शुक्लः षण्मासा उत्तरायणम्।
तत्र प्रयाता गच्छन्ति ब्रह्म ब्रह्मविदो जनाः।।8.24।।
O best of the Bharata dynasty, I shall now speak of that time by which the yogis depart and attain the State of Non-return, and also the State of Return.
Fire, light, daytime, the bright fortnight, the six months of the northern solstice—by following this path, persons who are knowers of Brahman attain Brahman when they die.
Osho’s Commentary
Krishna now speaks of the two paths of departure, using very symbolic language. These are not about astronomical times, but about inner states of consciousness. There is a path of no-return, and a path of return. The path of no-return is described with symbols of light: fire (agni), flame (jyoti), day (ahah), the bright fortnight of the moon (shuklah), and the six months of the sun’s northern course (uttarayanam). What do these mean? These are all symbols for a consciousness that is moving upwards, towards more light, more awareness. Agni, fire, is the energy of passion transformed into a quest for truth. Jyoti, flame, is when this energy becomes a clear, unwavering light. Aha, day, is the state of total wakefulness, free from the darkness of ignorance. Shukla, the bright fortnight, symbolizes the waxing moon, a consciousness that is constantly growing towards fullness. And Uttarayanam, the northern path, symbolizes the upward movement of the life-energy, from the lower centers to the highest, from the earth to the sky. The yogi whose consciousness departs in this state of ascending light, he merges with the ultimate light, Brahman. He does not return.