Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 2/Verse 28

अव्यक्तादीनि भूतानि व्यक्तमध्यानि भारत ।
अव्यक्तनिधनान्येव तत्र का परिदेवना ॥२- २८॥

avyaktādīni bhūtāni vyaktamadhyāni bhārata ।
avyaktanidhanānyeva tatra kā paridevanā ॥2- 28॥

Beings [have] unmanifest beginnings, manifest middles, and unmanifest endings, O descendant-of-Bharata! What reason then to laminate there?


Word-for-word translation

avyaktādīni (avyakta + ādīni) (compound) (adjective) (nominative, plural) = unmanifest beginnings 

bhūtāni (nominative, plural) = beings

vyaktamadhyāni (adjective) (nominative, plural) = manifest middles 

bhārata (vocative, singular) = O descendant-of-Bharata (epithet for Arjuna)


avyaktanidhanāni (avyakta + nidhanāni) (adjective) (nominative, plural) = unmanifest endings

eva (adverb) (indeclinable) = (emphatic particle, emphasizing preceding word)

tatra (adverb) (indeclinable) = there

kā (adverb) (indeclinable) = what reason then? 

paridevanā (desiderative) = to laminate 


Commentary

The grammar of this verse is very interesting and almost all the translations show wide interpretations from the literal Sanskrit grammar. The first part of this verse lists the adjectives (in neuter gender, of course) modifying the neuter gender noun, "beings". The last three words of this verse also have some interesting grammar attached to them, but the feminine gender of the last two words help with figuring the last part of the verse out. Understanding the inherent gender of the words of this verse and the grammar of noun/adjective agreement is key to correctly interpreting this verse. 

This verse also has some cosmological points about beings and when and when they are not manifest and takes it as a point of wisdom and happiness.