بیت 8.238.18.28.38.48.58.68.78.88.98.108.118.128.138.148.158.168.178.188.198.208.218.228.238.248.258.268.278.28

Now I will tell thee, O chief of Bharatas, the times departing at which the Yogis will return or not return.

Now I shall tell you, best of the Bharatas, the times at which yogis who depart go to no return, and at which they return.

Krishna turns to a traditional teaching about the paths taken after death. He will describe the times at which departing yogis go to the state of no return, and the times at which they return. This doctrine of two paths is found in older Vedic texts as well. The verse introduces it as something Arjuna should know, though, as the closing verses of the chapter show, its purpose is not to make one anxious about the date of death but to clarify the nature of the goal.