Chapter 8, Verse 2 (Bhagavad Gita 8.2)
Chapter 8: Akṣhar Brahma Yog – Path of the Eternal God
Sanskrit Shloka
अधियज्ञः कथं कोऽत्र देहेऽस्मिन्मधुसूदन। प्रयाणकाले च कथं ज्ञेयोऽसि नियतात्मभिः
Transliteration
adhiyajñaḥ kathaṁ ko ’tra dehe ’smin madhusūdana prayāṇa-kāle cha kathaṁ jñeyo ’si niyatātmabhiḥ
Word Meanings
adhiyajñaḥ—the Lord all sacrificial performances; katham—how; kaḥ—who; atra—here; dehe—in body; asmin—this; madhusūdana—Shree Krishna, the killer of the demon named Madhu; prayāṇa-kāle—at the time of death; cha—and; katham—how; jñeyaḥ—to be known; asi—are (you); niyata-ātmabhiḥ—by those of steadfast mind
Translation
Who is the Adhiyajna here in this body, O Madhusudana, and how does He dwell in this body? And how are You, the Supreme Lord, to be realized at the time of death by those who have controlled their minds?
Meaning & Commentary
In this profound inquiry, Arjuna seeks to understand the inner sanctum of the divine mystery dwelling within the human frame. He asks Lord Krishna to reveal the identity of the Adhiyajna, the Lord of Sacrifice, who resides in the heart of every living being. This question underscores that our physical body is not merely a material shell but a sacred temple where the Supreme Lord eternally witnesses and sustains our actions. By asking how to know Lord Krishna at the moment of death, Arjuna highlights the ultimate goal of human life: maintaining constant remembrance of the Divine to ensure liberation. Bhagwan Shri Krishna, through this dialogue, invites every seeker to transcend mundane existence and anchor their consciousness in His eternal, transcendental form.