Gita 8.26
शुक्लकृष्णे गती ह्येते जगतः शाश्वते मते।
एकया यात्यनावृत्तिमन्ययावर्तते पुनः।।
śukla-kṛṣṇe gatī hy ete jagataḥ śāśvate mate ekayā yāty anāvṛttim anyayāvartate punaḥ
"These two paths—bright and dark—are considered eternal in this world. By one, one goes to non-return; by the other, one returns again."
What This Means:
Two eternal paths exist: bright (leading to no return) and dark (leading to return). They've always existed and always will. Every soul travels one or the other based on their consciousness.
Going Deeper:
This is cosmic law, not arbitrary divine decision. The paths exist as structures of reality. Which one you take depends on the quality of your consciousness, not external circumstances alone.
How To Apply This:
You're always moving toward one path or the other based on the quality of your choices, thoughts, and consciousness. Every moment is a step on one path or the other.
Key Sanskrit Terms:
Gati= Path, courseŚāśvata= Eternal