Verse 8.5
Speaker: Krishna
Sanskrit
अन्तकाले च मामेव स्मरन्मुक्त्वा कलेवरम् | यः प्रयाति स मद्भावं याति नास्त्यत्र संशयः ||५||
Transliteration (IAST)
anta-kāle ca mām eva smaran muktvā kalevaram | yaḥ prayāti sa mad-bhāvaṁ yāti nāsty atra saṁśayaḥ ||5||
Word-by-Word Meanings
anta-kāle-at the time of death
mām-Me
smaran-remembering
muktvā-leaving
kalevaram-the body
mad-bhāvam-My nature
yāti-attains
Translation
And whoever, at the time of death, leaves the body remembering Me alone, attains My nature. Of this there is no doubt.
Commentary
This is one of the most important verses of the chapter, establishing the principle that the final thought at death determines one's next destination. Shankaracharya explains that 'mad-bhavam' means attaining the very nature of the Lord. Ramanuja adds that this is not mere mechanical remembrance but the culmination of a life of devotion.
Themes
bhaktimokshatime