Verse 1
Arjuna said: What is Brahman? What is the Lord of the Self (Adhyatma)? What is the principle of karma? What exists in the material plane, and what exists in the divine one?
BG 8.1 - 28
Verse 2
How are we here in this body, and who is it? How do those of steadfast mind know you at their time of death?
Verse 3
Krishna replied: Brahman is the supreme, indestructible nature of the self. Material actions by this self are called karma.
Verse 4
The physical manifestation (adhibhuta) is ever-changing and perishable by nature. The spiritual manifestation is always here in the hearts of the living.
Verse 5
At the time of death, anyone who thinks of me alone will relinquish their body and attain my divine nature. Of this, there is no doubt.
Verse 7
Therefore, remember me at all times, and fight. Surrender your mind and intellect to me, and you will certainly attain my divine status.
Verse 8
One who concentrates in meditation, who has a mind that does not wander, attains the supreme spirit.
Verse 9
Always remember the ancient and divine poet, smaller than an atom, supporter of all things, inconceivable in form, bright as the sun, beyond the darkness of ignorance.
Verse 10
One who dies with a steady mind, filled with devotion, with their entire vital energy concentrated between the eyebrows, attains divine consciousness.
Verse 11
I will now speak of the imperishable goal, sought after by knowers of the Vedas. People aspire toward this goal through celibacy and austerity - great sages attain this goal when they are free from attachment.
Verse 12
Restrain the senses, confine the mind to look inward, and established concentration on one's own breath.
Verse 13
Chanting the sacred syllable "Om" and remembering me while departing the body is how one attains this supreme goal.
Verse 14
One who can remember me without deviation of the mind finds me to be easily accessible.
Verse 15
Coming to me in this way, these great souls are no longer trapped in the cycle of misery and rebirth, for they have achieved perfection.
Verse 16
All the worlds, including the abode of Brahma, are subject to this cycle of return. But for whoever comes to me, there is no rebirth.
Verse 17
Those who understand the cosmic calendar know that each day and night consists of one thousand cosmic cycles.
Verse 18
At the dawn of each cosmic day, all manifested things emerge from the unmanifest, and when night comes, they are dissolved back into it again.
Verse 19
These multitudes of beings, who have lived many lives on earth, are dissolved as the cosmic night approaches, and come back to life at the approach of the next day.
Verse 20
Above the unmanifest spirit of creation is an eternal and unmanifest reality which is never destroyed when all beings are destroyed.
Verse 21
The wise say that this unmanifest and indestructible reality is the highest goal of all. This is my supreme abode, from which one does not return.
Verse 22
That supreme spirit in whom all beings abide, which pervades the entire universe, is only reached by singular devotion.
Verse 23
Now, I will tell you the times at which the great souls depart to the state of no return, and at which they go forth only to return.
Verse 24
One who knows of the supreme spirit attains it by passing from this world under the sun at an auspicious time of day, during the fornight of the waxing moon, or during the six months of the Northern summer solstice.
Verse 25
The sage who passes away on a gloomy night, or during the fortnight of the waning moon, or in the six months prior to the winter solstice, reaches only the lunar light and will be reborn.
Verse 26
These bright and dark paths out of the world are eternal. Through one, a person achieves the state of non-return; through the other, they return again.
Verse 27
The saint, steadfast in meditation and aware of these two paths, does not become deluded.
Verse 28
The sage who understands this transcends all merit from scriptures, sacrifice, austerity, or charity, and reaches the primordial supreme state.
Next chapter
9. King of Sciences
Rāja Vidyā Yog