अर्जुन उवाच ।
किं(न्) तद्ब्रह्म किमध्यात्मं(ङ्) किं(ङ्) कर्म पुरुषोत्तम ।
अधिभूतं(ञ्) च किं प्रोक्तम् अधिदैवं(ङ्) किमुच्यते ॥८.१॥
arjuna uvāca ।
kiṃ(n) tadbrahma kimadhyātmaṃ(ṅ) kiṃ(ṅ) karma puruṣottama ।
adhibhūtaṃ(ñ) ca kiṃ proktam adhidaivaṃ(ṅ) kimucyate
Arjuna asks Bhagavān Kṛṣṇa to explain five technical terms introduced at the end of Chapter 7 — Brahman, adhyātmam, karma, adhibhūtam, and adhidaivam — so that he can understand their intended meaning.
Reflection
◈Why does Arjuna ask for the meanings of words Bhagavān introduced in the previous chapter?
◈What is the difference between hearing a word and understanding its meaning?
अधियज्ञः(ख्) कथं(ङ्) कोऽत्र देहेऽस्मिन्मधुसूदन ।
प्रयाणकाले च कथं(ञ्) ज्ञेयोऽसि नियतात्मभिः ॥८.२॥
adhiyajñaḥ(kh) kathaṃ(ṅ) ko'tra dehe'sminmadhusūdana ।
prayāṇakāle ca kathaṃ(ñ) jñeyo'si niyatātmabhiḥ
Arjuna asks who adhiyajñaḥ is and how he resides in the body, and then raises the crucial question of how disciplined seekers can remember Bhagavān at the time of death.
Reflection
◈Why does Arjuna ask how adhiyajñaḥ is present within the body?
◈Why might remembering Bhagavān be difficult when the body is weak at the time of death?
श्रीभगवानुवाच ।
अक्षरं ब्रह्म परमं स्वभावोऽध्यात्ममुच्यते ।
भूतभावोद्भवकरः(रो) विसर्गः(ख्) कर्मसंज्ञितः ॥८.३॥
śrībhagavānuvāca ।
akṣaraṃ brahma paramaṃ svabhāvo'dhyātmamucyate ।
bhūtabhāvodbhavakaraḥ(ro) visargaḥ(kh) karmasaṃjñitaḥ
Bhagavān explains that Brahman is the supreme, imperishable consciousness; adhyātmam is that same consciousness viewed within an individual body; and karma is the action responsible for bringing living beings and creation into existence.
Reflection
◈Why is Brahman called akṣaram [imperishable], while the body and material world are perishable?
◈If consciousness is the same, why is it called Brahman in one context and adhyātmam in another?
अधिभूतं(ङ्) क्षरो भावः(फ्) पुरुषश्चाधिदैवतम् ।
अधियज्ञोऽहमेवात्र देहे देहभृतां(व्ँ) वर ॥८.४॥
adhibhūtaṃ(ṅ) kṣaro bhāvaḥ(f) puruṣaścādhidaivatam ।
adhiyajño'hamevātra dehe dehabhṛtāṃ(v) vara
Bhagavān explains that adhibhūtam is the perishable material world, adhidaivam is Hiraṇyagarbha [consciousness associated with the total mind], and adhiyajñaḥ is Bhagavān Himself, present within every being as the receiver of worship and giver of karmic results.
Reflection
◈Why are even mountains, stars, and our physical bodies included in adhibhūtam [perishable creation]?
◈How is Hiraṇyagarbha different from an individual mind or an individual presiding deity?
अन्तकाले च मामेव स्मरन्मुक्त्वा कलेवरम् ।
यः(फ्) प्रयाति स मद्भावं(य्ँ) याति नास्त्यत्र संशयः ॥८.५॥
antakāle ca māmeva smaranmuktvā kalevaram ।
yaḥ(f) prayāti sa madbhāvaṃ(y) yāti nāstyatra saṃśayaḥ
Bhagavān says that one who leaves the body remembering Him alone attains His nature without doubt. This introduces the importance of lifelong meditation upon Bhagavān, particularly the gradual path to liberation.
Reflection
◈When I pray, do I mainly seek worldly benefits, or do I also seek spiritual growth?
◈What is the difference between worship for temporary rewards and worship directed toward liberation?
यं(य्ँ) यं(व्ँ) वापि स्मरन्भावं(न्) त्यजत्यन्ते कलेवरम् ।
तं(न्) तमेवैति कौन्तेय सदा तद्भावभावितः ॥८.६॥
yaṃ(y) yaṃ(v) vāpi smaranbhāvaṃ(n) tyajatyante kalevaram ।
taṃ(n) tamevaiti kaunteya sadā tadbhāvabhāvitaḥ
Bhagavān teaches that the thoughts occupying a person's mind at death influence the next birth, because those final thoughts reflect the habits and attachments developed throughout life.
Reflection
◈Which thoughts return to my mind most often, even when I try to think about something else?
◈Why might it be difficult to choose our final thought through willpower alone?
तस्मात्सर्वेषु कालेषु मामनुस्मर युध्य च ।
मय्यर्पितमनोबुद्धिः(र्) मामेवैष्यस्यसंशयः ॥८.७॥
tasmātsarveṣu kāleṣu māmanusmara yudhya ca ।
mayyarpitamanobuddhiḥ(r) māmevaiṣyasyasaṃśayaḥ
Bhagavān tells Arjuna to remember Him always while continuing to perform his duties, keeping his mind and intellect devoted to Him. By living this way, he will certainly attain Bhagavān.
Reflection
◈Do I sometimes treat my responsibilities as obstacles to spiritual practice?
◈How can I keep Bhagavān as my deeper priority while concentrating fully on my work?
अभ्यासयोगयुक्तेन चेतसा नान्यगामिना ।
परमं पुरुषं(न्) दिव्यं(य्ँ) याति पार्थानुचिन्तयन् ॥८.८॥
abhyāsayogayuktena cetasā nānyagāminā ।
paramaṃ puruṣaṃ(n) divyaṃ(y) yāti pārthānucintayan
Bhagavān teaches that through regular meditation, the mind becomes accustomed to remembering Him without distraction. A devotee who continues this remembrance at the time of death attains Bhagavān through the gradual path to liberation.
Reflection
◈What usually distracts my mind when I sit down to pray or meditate?
◈Why is regular practice more reliable than hoping to remember Bhagavān through willpower at the final moment?