8-1

Arjuna inquired: O my Lord, O Supreme Person, what is Brahman? What is the self? What are fruitive activities? What is this material manifestation? And what are the demigods? Please explain this to me.

Explanation: In this verse, Arjuna asks several questions to Krishna in order to understand the deeper meaning of spiritual and material realities. He wants to understand various concepts related to Divine consciousness (Brahman), the body (the self, here as the self-aware), fruitive activities (karma), the material manifestation, and the demigods. Arjuna addresses Krishna as Purushottama (the supreme person or God), indicating Krishna's supreme wisdom and understanding of life.

8-2

How does this Lord of Sacrifice reside in the body, and in which part of the body, O Madhusūdana? And how can those engaged in devotional service know You at the time of death?

Explanation: In this verse, Arjuna continues to ask questions of Krishna, seeking clarification on various spiritual concepts. He wants to know what the Lord of Sacrifice (supersoul) is and how it exists in the body. He also asks how God can be recognized at the time of death by those who have been able to control their mind and soul. Arjuna addresses Krishna as Madhusūdana, indicating His ability to destroy obstacles that stand in the way of spiritual realization.

8-3

The Supreme Lord said: The indestructible, transcendental living entity is called Divine Consciousness, and its eternal nature is called the soul. Action that determines the creation of the material bodies of embodied beings is called action or fruitive activities.

Explanation: In this verse, Krishna explains several spiritual concepts. He defines Divine Consciousness, the Supersoul (the essence of the soul), and action, to help Arjuna understand the principles of life and how they operate in the Universe. • The indestructible is the highest Divine Consciousness – Divine consciousness is the unchanging, eternal, and indestructible essence. It is the highest principle that exists beyond time and space, transcending the material world. • Singularity is called the Supersoul – the essence of the soul is a person's inner singularity, their spiritual nature. It refers to the human soul and its connection with Divine Consciousness. • Creative action is called action – action is the activity that creates and sustains life in the Universe. It is the manifestation of creative power that creates living beings and processes in the material world. This verse emphasizes the fundamental elements of life – Divine Consciousness, which is the eternal spiritual reality, the Supersoul, which refers to the nature of the human soul, and action, which regulates activities and life processes.

8-4

O best of embodied beings, physical nature, which is constantly changing, is called the material world. The universal form, which includes all the demigods, such as the Sun and the Moon, is called the divine. And I, as the Supreme Soul, dwelling in the heart of every embodied being, am the Lord of sacrifice. This divine form includes all moving and non-moving beings.

Explanation: In this verse, Krishna provides Arjuna with an explanation of the manifestations of the material and divine worlds, as well as His own role as the Lord of Sacrifice. He describes physical nature as constantly changing, but spiritual essence as eternal and unchanging. • The basis of the material world is the perishable or changing state: This material world is subject to constant change and destruction. • Spiritual governing power: The supreme spirit or celestial deity that governs the Universe. It is the cosmic being or divine consciousness that stands above the material world. • The principle of sacrifice: The verse emphasizes that Krishna himself is the supreme force of sacrifice, symbolizing the spiritual essence of sacrifice and its connection with divine consciousness. This verse emphasizes that there are three important principles in the Universe – the material world, the spiritual governing power, and the principle of sacrifice, which is connected with Divine Consciousness.

8-5

And whoever, at the end of life, leaving the body, remembers Me alone, at once attains My state of being. Of this there is no doubt.

Explanation: This verse teaches that to reach Divine Consciousness, it is important to prepare spiritually throughout life, especially at the time of death. When leaving the body, one must remember Krishna. A person who is focused on God at the time of death obtains liberation from the cycle of birth and death and achieves unity with the Divine.

8-6

Whatever state of being one remembers when he quits his body, O son of Kuntī, that state he will certainly attain.

Explanation: This verse teaches that it is important to live spiritually consciously and develop one's mind so that at the time of death, one's consciousness is directed towards God. Thoughts and actions throughout life play a crucial role in ensuring spiritual liberation and eternal unity with the Divine. Krishna addresses Arjuna as the son of Kuntī, indicating that the state of a person's mind at the time of death is decisive. It determines his future existence.

8-7

Therefore, Arjuna, you should always think of Me, and at the same time perform your prescribed duty of fighting. Dedicating your actions to Me and fixing your mind and intelligence upon Me, you will doubtlessly attain Me.

Explanation: This verse teaches that to achieve spiritual perfection, it is important not only to contemplate or think about God but also to perform one's duties. Spiritual consciousness must be included every day, and if a person dedicates their mind and intellect to God, they will surely attain Divine Consciousness.

8-8

He who meditates on Me as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, his mind constantly fixed in remembrance, not deviating from the path, O Pārtha, he undoubtedly comes to Me.

Explanation: In this verse, Krishna explains that the constant practice of spiritual discipline and concentration on the Divine allows one to reach the supreme being – God. Constant thinking about the Divine and a disciplined mind lead to spiritual perfection and the attainment of God. • With a mind devoted to persistent spiritual discipline – A mind that is devoted to constant and persistent spiritual discipline becomes disciplined and able to focus on the Divine without deviation. This practice is a form of spiritual concentration that helps a person connect with God. • Does not become distracted – This indicates that the mind must be constantly directed towards God, without being distracted by material things or other thoughts. This means that the mind remains united with the Divine. • Reaches the highest, divine being – When a person concentrates on the Divine and constantly practices spiritual discipline, he reaches the highest being, which is God or Divine Consciousness. This unity with God is a person's spiritual goal. • Constantly thinking about it – Constant thinking and contemplation about God is the main practice that leads to spiritual enlightenment and the attainment of God.

8-9

One should meditate upon the Supreme Person as all-knowing, as the oldest, as the controller, as smaller than the smallest, as the maintainer of everything, as that whose form is not material, as luminous like the sun, and as transcendental, beyond this material nature.

Explanation: In this verse, Krishna describes the Divine Being and its qualities, which a person must contemplate and remember to achieve spiritual liberation. He points to the Divine Being's both immense power and subtle and incomprehensible nature, which is beyond the material world and darkness. • The ancient, all-knowing – God is eternal and all-knowing, knowing all past, present, and future. He is the wise one who governs the Universe. • Ruler of all – He is the ruler of the Universe, who guides and controls all events and beings. His power encompasses the entire world. • Incredibly small – Krishna points out that God is not only great and powerful but also smaller than the smallest, capable of entering the subtlest aspects of existence. • Maintainer of all – God is the one who maintains and supports the entire created world, ensuring the continuation of life and existence. • Incomprehensible in his form – God's true form is incomprehensible to our minds. He transcends everything that a person can imagine or understand. • Bright as the sun – God's brilliance is comparable to the sun – He is light and bright consciousness that dispels darkness. • Beyond darkness – God is beyond darkness – both the ignorance of the material world and spiritual darkness. He is the light that leads to spiritual enlightenment. This verse teaches that if a person concentrates on God's qualities and constantly thinks about Him, he can achieve spiritual perfection and Divine Consciousness. God is both immense and powerful and subtle and incomprehensible, and His light is beyond all material darkness.

8-10

He who, at the time of death, raises his life air between the eyebrows and, with the strength of spiritual discipline, with complete devotion remembers the Supreme Lord, will certainly attain the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Explanation: In this verse, Krishna explains how a person can reach the Divine Being at the time of death if he is conscious, spiritually strong, and faithful. This description explains the correct technique of contemplation that leads to spiritual liberation. This contemplation technique helps to concentrate life force and reach the highest state of consciousness, doing so with complete devotion to reach the Supreme Personality of Godhead. • At the time of death with an unwavering mind – At the time of death, when a person is nearing the end of their life, the mind must be unwavering and stable. This indicates complete mental concentration on the Divine. • With faith and the strength of spiritual discipline – faith or trust and the strength of spiritual discipline are necessary for the mind to be focused and connected with the Divine. Here it is emphasized that both spiritual practice and the strength of spiritual discipline help to reach God. • Placing the life force between the eyebrows – In the process of contemplation, a person must concentrate their life force between the eyebrows, which is the so-called third eye point, a place associated with higher consciousness and spiritual vision. • Reaches that highest, divine being – Through this contemplation technique and concentration, a person reaches the highest Divine Being, who is beyond the material world and connected with Divine Consciousness.

8-11

The knowers of the Vedas, who utter om and are great sages who lead a life of renunciation, enter the state of Divine Consciousness. Desiring to achieve such perfection, one observes the vow of celibacy. Now I will briefly explain to you this process by which one can attain salvation.

Explanation: In this verse, Krishna explains the goal of spiritual perfection – the Divine Being, which is unchanging and eternal. It is described by the Vedas, reached by ascetics who have become free from worldly attachments, and those who follow spiritual discipline with the aim of achieving the highest state. Krishna indicates in this verse that He will now briefly explain the process by which one can attain salvation.

8-12

The state of spiritual discipline is detachment from any sensual activity. By closing all the doors of the senses and turning the mind towards the heart, and raising the life-air to the top of the head, one becomes steadfast in spiritual discipline.

Explanation: In this verse, Krishna describes the technique of practicing spiritual discipline to achieve spiritual liberation. This practice of spiritual discipline involves controlling the senses, concentrating the mind in the heart, and directing the life force to the top of the head. The purpose of this technique is to reach the Divine state, helping to detach from any sensual activity and concentrate the mind on the spiritual goal. • Closing all the gates of the senses – To practice the highest spiritual discipline, it is necessary to control the senses and close all sensory channels – ears, eyes, mouth, etc. This helps the mind not to get attached to the external world and to direct attention inward. • Concentrating the mind in the heart – The mind needs to be concentrated in the heart, which symbolizes spiritual consciousness and inner peace. This is a meditation technique that helps to focus on the soul and free oneself from external distractions. • Placing the life force at the top of the head – The life force is raised and concentrated at the top of the head, which is the connection point with higher consciousness. This is an essential technique of spiritual discipline to connect with the Divine. • Standing firmly in the state of spiritual discipline – When a person stands firmly in the state of concentration of spiritual discipline, he is able to control his mind, life force, and achieve spiritual consciousness. This is an essential prerequisite for reaching the Divine. This verse describes the physical and mental practice that allows one to focus on God and achieve spiritual enlightenment. Controlling the senses, concentrating the mind, and controlling breathing are the main components of spiritual discipline that lead to spiritual perfection.

8-13

If a person, while in this state of spiritual discipline and chanting the sacred syllable, the highest sound combination, thinks of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and leaves the body, he will certainly reach the spiritual planets.

Explanation: In this verse, Krishna explains how a person can reach the highest destination after death if, while leaving the body, he utters the sacred syllable 'Om' and remembers God. The syllable 'Om' is a powerful spiritual symbol that represents Divine consciousness or the highest spiritual reality, and by uttering this syllable and remembering God, one can reach the spiritual planets.

8-14

For one who constantly and solely thinks of Me, O Partha (Arjuna), I am easily attainable for that practitioner of spiritual discipline who is constantly united with Me.

Explanation: In this verse, Krishna indicates that those who constantly and solely concentrate on Him can easily attain Divine consciousness and unity with God. For Arjuna, who is constantly united with God, it is easy to reach Him. Constant thinking about God is the main condition for achieving the spiritual goal.

8-15

Having attained Me, the great souls, the practitioners of spiritual discipline who are devoted, never return to this temporary world full of suffering, for they have attained the highest perfection.

Explanation: In this verse, Krishna explains that those who attain Divine consciousness are liberated from the cycle of rebirth and no longer suffer from the suffering of this material world and its transient nature. They obtain eternal liberation and spiritual perfection.

8-16

From the highest planet in the material world down to the lowest, all are places of suffering where repeated birth and death take place. But one who attains My abode, O son of Kuntī, never takes birth again.

Explanation: In this verse, Krishna points out that all levels of the material world, even up to the highest planets where the demigods live, are subject to the cycle of birth and death. All planets are places full of suffering. However, those who reach God are liberated from this cycle and no longer experience rebirth.

8-17

According to human calculation, a thousand ages combined form one day of Brahmā. And his night is just as long.

Explanation: In this verse, Krishna explains the cosmic cycles relating to the days and nights of Brahmā, indicating that those who understand these gigantic measures of time are wise and able to comprehend the cyclical nature of the universe, understanding that all material worlds are subject to creation and destruction.

8-18

At the beginning of the day, all living entities become manifest from the unmanifest state, and when night falls, they merge again with the unmanifest.

Explanation: In this verse, Krishna teaches about the cycle of creation and destruction of the universe. All living beings and forms arise from the unmanifest state at the beginning of creation and return to this unmanifest state at the time of destruction. • From the unmanifest, manifest beings arise – All beings and things that are visible arise from the unmanifest or initial state, which is not materially perceptible. It is the source from which everything appears. • At the time of creation, when day begins – When Brahmā's day begins, the cycle of creation starts, and all beings are reborn and arise from the unmanifest state. • They perish and merge with the unmanifest during the night – When Brahmā's night comes, everything that was created and manifested merges back into the unmanifest state. This indicates the cyclical nature of the universe, where everything that exists is created and destroyed according to certain time cycles. • What is called the unmanifest – The unmanifest is the state in which the universe exists in an invisible and inactive form. It is the source from which everything originates and to which everything returns.

8-19

Again and again, as day dawns, all living beings become manifest, and as night falls, they are helplessly annihilated.

Explanation: In this verse, Krishna describes the cyclical nature of the universe, in which all living beings repeatedly experience creation and destruction according to Brahmā's day and night. This process takes place without the free will of the beings. Krishna addresses Arjuna as Partha, indicating that the creation and destruction of living entities occur automatically and according to cosmic cycles, not according to the will of the beings themselves.

8-20

Yet there is another, eternal unmanifest nature, which is transcendental to this manifested and unmanifested matter. It is supreme and is never annihilated. When all in this world is annihilated, that part remains as it is.

Explanation: In this verse, Krishna points to the eternal essence that is beyond the material universe and remains unchanged even when all material things are destroyed. This essence is unmanifest, but it is eternal and does not perish even when all beings and worlds disappear.

8-21

That which the knowers of the Vedas describe as imperishable and the supreme destination, which having attained, one never returns – that is My supreme abode.

Explanation: In this verse, Krishna points to the Divine state, which is unmanifest, eternal, and is called the supreme destination. This abode of God is the place that, upon reaching, a person is liberated from the cycle of birth and death and never returns to the material world. This abode is the supreme goal that, upon reaching, one never returns from.

8-22

The Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is greater than all, can be attained by undeviated devotional service. Although He is always in His abode, He is all-pervading, and everything is situated within Him.

Explanation: In this verse, Krishna indicates that the supreme Divine being can only be attained through undivided and absolute devotion. This is the highest spiritual path, and He is both the refuge of all beings and the all-pervading energy of the universe. Krishna addresses Arjuna as Pārtha, indicating that to reach the supreme Purusha and understand His universal nature, unified and undivided devotion is necessary.

8-23

O best of the Bharatas, now I shall explain to you the different times at which, passing away from this world, the practitioner of spiritual discipline either returns or does not return. These two paths are the path of light and the path of darkness.

Explanation: In this verse, Krishna begins to explain that there are two different paths for practitioners of spiritual discipline with deep spiritual practice, depending on the time they leave their physical body. These two paths determine whether they return to the world and are born again, or whether they are liberated from the cycle of birth and death and do not return. Address to the great one of the Bharata dynasty – Krishna addresses Arjuna with respect, emphasizing his belonging to the great Bharata dynasty, which indicates Arjuna's spiritual strength and responsibility.

8-24

Those who are aware of the Supreme Absolute attain the Supreme, passing away from the world in fire, under the influence of light, at an auspicious time of day, during the bright fortnight of the moon, in the six months when the Sun travels north.

Explanation: In this verse, Krishna points to one of the paths that leads to liberation and unity with Divine consciousness. He explains that practitioners of spiritual discipline who leave this world at a certain time attain the highest spiritual goal – Divine consciousness. • Fire, light, day, bright fortnight – These symbols indicate brilliance and light, which are considered auspicious conditions for passing away from this world. They symbolize positive spiritual paths that lead to the attainment of Divine consciousness. • Six months when the sun travels north – This is the period when the sun moves north, from the winter solstice to the summer solstice. According to Vedic teachings, this period is auspicious for those who wish to achieve liberation. • Those who pass away at this time – Those who die during this auspicious time are on the path that leads to Divine consciousness. This symbolizes positive actions and a favorable state of consciousness at the time of passing. • Attain Divine consciousness – These practitioners of spiritual discipline attain Divine consciousness, the highest spiritual goal and unity with absolute reality. They are liberated from the cycle of birth and death.

8-25

The practitioner of spiritual discipline who passes away from this world in smoke, at night, during the dark fortnight of the moon, in the six months when the Sun travels south, reaches the moon planet, but then returns again.

Explanation: In this verse, Krishna explains another path that leads to a temporary state, but not to final liberation. It is related to the time when a person leaves the world under certain circumstances that are not as favorable as those mentioned in the previous verse. This path is not the final liberation, but rather a temporary state after which the soul returns to Earth. • Smoke, night, dark fortnight – These symbols indicate dark conditions that are not as favorable for spiritual liberation. Night and the dark fortnight, when the sun moves south, indicate a less favorable time for passing away from this world. • When the sun travels south – This is the period from the summer solstice to the winter solstice, which according to Vedic tradition is considered less favorable for achieving liberation. • Reaches the moon's light – Those who pass away at this time reach the moon's light, which symbolizes an intermediate state where they enjoy the results of their good deeds, but it is not final liberation. • Returns to the world – After reaching the moon's light, these practitioners of spiritual discipline return to the cycle of birth and death, as they have not fully liberated themselves from the cycle of birth and death. They enjoy a temporary spiritual reward, but return to the world.

8-26

According to Vedic teachings, there are two paths for passing away from this world – one of light and the other of darkness. One who passes away by the path of light does not return, but one who passes away by the path of darkness returns again.

Explanation: In this verse, Krishna explains two paths that practitioners of spiritual discipline can follow after death. These paths are symbolic and represent different levels of spiritual development. It is the path of light and the path of darkness, which determine whether the soul attains liberation or returns to the cycle of birth and death.

8-27

O Arjuna, although practitioners of spiritual discipline know these two paths, they are never deluded. Therefore, always be firmly fixed in spiritual discipline.

Explanation: In this verse, Krishna explains that those who understand the two eternal paths – the path of light and the path of darkness, as described in the previous verses – are able to navigate the path of life without delusion or confusion. These two paths determine whether a person achieves liberation or returns to the cycle of birth and death. Krishna addresses Arjuna as Pārtha, reminding him that by understanding these paths and practicing spiritual discipline, he can avoid confusion.

8-28

A person who has accepted the path of devotional service does not lose the results obtained from studying the Vedas, performing austerities, making donations, or performing philosophical and fruitive activities. Simply by serving with devotion, he achieves all this and finally reaches the supreme eternal abode.

Explanation: This verse teaches that spiritual perfection is achieved by transcending the material results obtained from good deeds and dedicating one's life to Divine consciousness. The practitioner of spiritual discipline who understands that even the blessings from Vedic teachings and rituals are only part of the path leading to the highest goal – liberation and unity with the Divine.