Chapter 8, Verse 5 (Bhagavad Gita 8.5)
Chapter 8: Akṣhar Brahma Yog – Path of the Eternal God
Sanskrit Shloka
अन्तकाले च मामेव स्मरन्मुक्त्वा कलेवरम्। यः प्रयाति स मद्भावं याति नास्त्यत्र संशयः
Transliteration
anta-kāle cha mām eva smaran muktvā kalevaram yaḥ prayāti sa mad-bhāvaṁ yāti nāstyatra sanśhayaḥ
Word Meanings
anta-kāle—at the time of death; cha—and; mām—me; eva—alone; smaran—remembering; muktvā—relinquish; kalevaram—the body; yaḥ—who; prayāti—goes; saḥ—he; mat-bhāvam—Godlike nature; yāti—achieves; na—no; asti—there is; atra—here; sanśhayaḥ—doubt
Translation
And whoever, leaving their body, departs while remembering Me alone at the time of death, they attain My divine state of being; there is no doubt about this.
Meaning & Commentary
In this profound verse, Bhagwan Shri Krishna reveals the ultimate secret of liberation: the power of constant remembrance. He teaches that the state of one's consciousness at the final moment of life determines the soul’s destination. By focusing exclusively on Lord Krishna, the seeker transcends the cycle of birth and death to reach His eternal abode. This is not merely a ritual, but an invitation to cultivate a lifetime of devotion so that the mind naturally dwells upon the Supreme Lord during the transition of death. There is no uncertainty in this promise, for the Lord stands as the final refuge for every soul who surrenders to Him.