प्रयाणकाले मनसाऽचलेन
भक्त्या युक्तो योगबलेन चैव ।
भ्रुवोर्मध्ये प्राणमावेश्य सम्यक्
स तं परं पुरुषमुपैति दिव्यम् ॥१०॥

prayāṇa-kāle manasācalena
bhaktyā yukto yoga-balena caiva
bhruvor madhye prāṇam āveśya samyak
sa taṁ paraṁ puruṣam upaiti divyam

prayāṇaplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigprayāṇa

departure; going; movement; of death; outgoing; starting.-kāleplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigkāle

after that, in due course of time; at a time of fear; at an auspicious time; at noon; at that time; at the proper time; at the right time; at the time; in course of time; in due course; in due course of time; in the course of time; in time; just at that time; time; unpurified time; when the due time.—at the time of death; manasāplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigmanasa

accompanied by the mind; attention of the mind; by an elevated mind; by dint of the mind; by mind; by such a mentality; by such understanding; by the mind; from his mind; in the mind; mind; of the mind; simply by contemplating; the mind; with his mind; with such a mentality; with the mind; within his mind; within the mind.—by the mind; acalenaplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigacalena

mountain; without being deviated.—without being deviated; bhaktyāplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigbhaktyā

because of pure devotion; by a devotional attitude; by devotion; by devotional service (executed in nine different processes); by devotional service; by pure devotion; by pure devotional service; by rendering service in devotion; by the devotion; devotion; devotional service; in devotion; in devotional service; in full devotion; simply by devotional service; through devotion; whose devotional service; with a devotional attitude; with devotion; with devotion and faith; with devout attention; with faith and devotion; with great devotion; with great devotional love.—in full devotion; yuktaḥplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigyuktah

accompanied; actual yogī; all engaged; associated with; being absorbed; being engaged; being united; bestowed; combined; competent for self-realization; devoutly attached; dovetailed; endowed; endowed with; engaged; engaged in the divine consciousness; fixed; in touch with the Supreme; in trance; is in the transcendental position; one who is engaged in devotional service; such engagement; surrounded; through such agency; together; well situated in yoga; with; with great attention.—engaged; yogaplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigyoga

yoga practice; and mystic power; and of mystic yoga; and of the means; by bhakti-yoga, devotional service; by yoga; by yoga practice; by a conjunction; by devotional service; by mystic power; by mystic practice; by mysticism; by power of mystic yoga; by practice of yoga; by practice of devotion; by the process of linking with the Supreme by bhakti-yoga; concentration of the mind; connection; devotion; devotional service in karma-yoga; eightfold yoga; in the mystic yoga process; in the mystic yoga process; linking process; means; mystic haṭha-yoga; mystic yoga practices; mystic; mystic power; mystic powers; mystic yoga practice; mystic yogic meditation; of linking up; of mystic yoga; of mysticism; of the yoga system; of yogic perfections; practice of the mystic yoga system; the mystic yoga system; the practice of mystic yoga; the process of controlling the senses; the science of self-realization or bhakti-yoga; the yoga.-balenaplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigbalena

by bodily strength; by material power; by strength; by the influence; by the power; by the strength of; He says; said; says; speaks; with their power to grasp and drop things; Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu says.—by the power of mystic yoga; caplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigca

ca; all these; also; also other bodily forms; also that I have not been able to ask; and (the five gross material elements and the ten acting and knowledge-gathering senses); and; and also; and Devahūti; and for all; and the paraphernalia; as also; as much as; as well; as well as; but; certainly; either; however; indeed; only; or; over and above; respectively; the word ca; this word ca; thus; totally; unlimitedly; verily.—also; evaplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigeva

alone; also; also the word eva; although; as; as it is; as it were; as much as; as they are; at all; at that time; certainly; certainly,; certainty; completely; definitely; even; ever; exactly; exactly like; factually; Himself; immediately; in fact; in this way; indeed; it is all like that; just; just so; like; like that; like this; of course; on the very; only; quite; simply; so; surely; the word eva; they are; thus; truly; undoubtedly; very; without doubt.—certainly; bhruvoḥplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigbhruvoḥ

between the two eyebrows; from the eyebrows; of the eyebrows; on the eyebrows; the two eyebrows.—between the two eyebrows; madhyeplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigmadhye

among; amongst; between; between them; in; in between them; in the center; in the middle (between east and west); in the middle; in the midst; in the midst of; sometimes; toward; within; within the jurisdiction of Māhiṣmatī; within the midst.—in; prāṇamplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigprāṇam

air which acts outward; and life; life; the life air; the living condition; the ten kinds of air flowing within the body.—the life air; āveśyaplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigāveśya

absorbing; being fully absorbed; being fully absorbed in; engaging; establishing; fixing; fully absorbing; having merged in; meditating; placing.—establishing; samyakplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigsamyak

complete; completely; equal; full; fully; in complete; in fullness; perfect; perfectly; proper; properly.—completely; saḥplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigsaḥ

mahat-tattva; a person (Kaṁsa); a son; Aghāsura; all; anyone; Bharata Mahārāja; Brahmā; child Parīkṣit; Dakṣa; Dhruva; Dhruva Mahārāja; Dhṛtarāṣṭra; Durvāsā Muni; he (Agastya); he (Aghāsura); he (Ajāmila); he (Ambarīṣa Mahārāja); he (Aṅgirā Ṛṣi); He (Baladeva); he (Bali Mahārāja); he (Brahmā); he (Brahmājī); he (Budha); he (Citraketu); he (Dakṣa); he (Devāpi); he (Dhruva Mahārāja); he (Dhruva); he (Droṇa); he (Durvāsā); he (Emperor Manu); he (Gajendra); he (Garuḍa); he (Hiraṇyakaśipu); he (Hiraṇyakaśipu, the King of the Daityas); he (Indra); he (Jamadagni); he (Janamejaya); he (Jaḍa Bharata); he (Kardama); he (Kaṁsa); he (King Citraketu); he (King Hūhū); he (King Indra); he (King Kaṁsa); he (King Nīpa); he (King Pṛthu); he (King Rantideva); he (King Āgnīdhra); he (Kārtavīryārjuna); He (Kṛṣṇa); He (Lakṣmaṇa, the brother of Lord Rāmacandra); he (Lord Brahmā); He (Lord Kṛṣṇa); He (Lord Rāmacandra); He (Lord Viṣṇu); he (Lord Śiva); he (Mahārāja Ambarīṣa); he (Mahārāja Bharata); he (Mahārāja Priyavrata); he (Mahārāja Rahūgaṇa); he (Maitreya Muni); he (Manu); he (my father); he (Nahuṣa); he (Nābhāga); he (one who is not self-controlled); he (Prahlāda Mahārāja); he (Purūravā); he (Rantideva); he (Sarvatejā); He (Satyasena); he (Soma, the moon-god); he (Svāyambhuva Manu); he (that hunter); he (that uncivilized Kaṁsa); he (the muni); he (the conditioned soul); he (the devotee); he (the great man); he (the individual soul); he (the King); he (the leader of the elephants); He (the Lord); He (the Personality of Godhead); he (the serpent); he (the sun-god); He (the Supreme Lord); He (the Supreme Person); He (the Supreme Personality of Godhead); he (Vasudeva); he (Vasudeva, also known as Ānakadundubhi); he (Venus); he (Vidura); he (Viśvarūpa); He (Vāmanadeva); he (Vāsudeva); he (Vīrabhadra); he (Vṛtra); he (Vṛtrāsura); he (Śukadeva Gosvāmī); he (Śukrācārya); he (Śūra); he (Ṛcīka); he (Ṛṣyaśṛṅga); he; He alone; he is; he, Durvāsā Muni; he, Hariścandra; he, Jamadagni; he, King Purūravā; he, Kārtavīryārjuna; he, Lord Paraśurāma; He, Lord Rāmacandra; he, Mahārāja Ambarīṣa; he, Mahārāja Sagara; he, Prahlāda Mahārāja; he, Purañjaya; he, Purūravā; he, Rohita; he, Rāvaṇa; he, Saubhari Muni; he, Saubhari Ṛṣi; he, so celebrated; he, Soma; he, the brāhmaṇa; he, the King; He, the Lord; he, Varuṇa; he, Vasiṣṭha; he, Vidura; He, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; Hiraṇyakaśipu; Hiraṇyākṣa; His Lordship; His Lordship the Supreme Personality of Godhead; his son Utkala; I am the same powerful person; is he; it; Jambhāsura; Kardama Muni; Kaśyapa; Kaśyapa Muni; King Dakṣa; King Indra; King Malayadhvaja; King Purañjana; King Pṛthu; King Vena; King Yayāti; Kṛṣṇa; Kṛṣṇa Himself; Lord Brahmā; Lord Kṛṣṇa; Lord Śiva; Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; Mahārāja Bharata; Mahārāja Ikṣvāku; Mahārāja Yayāti; Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira; myself; one such as your good self; one who does so; Prahlāda Mahārāja; Prajāpati Dakṣa; Revata; so myself; someone; such; such a devotee; such a person; such a person as I am; such a personality; Sudyumna; Svāyambhuva Manu; that (great demon Maya Dānava); that (having the above symptoms); that (Supreme Personality of Godhead); that (Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa); that brāhmaṇa; that yoga system; that; that Ajāmila; that arrow; that banyan tree; that boy of the name Vena; whether that person; which; You; Your Lordship; yourself.—he; tamplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigtam

by Him; Dhruva; Dhruva Mahārāja; for that reason; from him (Kardama); from him (Maitreya); him (Ajāmila); him (Arjuna); him (Bali); him (Cyavana); him (Dhruva Mahārāja); him (Gajendra); him (Gargamuni); him (Hiraṇyakaśipu); him (Indra); him (Jaḍa Bharata); him (Kardama); him (King Yayāti); him (King Yudhiṣṭhira); Him (Kṛṣṇa); him (Lord Indra); Him (Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva); him (Lord Śiva); Him (Nara-Nārāyaṇa); him (Nārada Muni); him (Prahlāda Mahārāja); him (Prajāpati Dakṣa); him (Pṛthu); him (Pṛṣadhra); Him (Rohiṇī-nandana, the son of Rohiṇī); him (the bull); him (the condemned person); him (the he-goat); him (the King of heaven, Indra); him (the King); Him (the Lord); him (the male bird); him (the saintly person); Him (the Supreme Lord); Him (the Supreme Personality of Godhead); Him (the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Nārāyaṇa); him (Tṛṇabindu); him (Vasudeva); him (Vidura); him (Viśvarūpa); Him (Vāmanadeva); him (Vṛtrāsura); him; Him, Lord Rāmacandra; him, Mahārāja Sumitra.—that; paramplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigparam

above; absolute; after; after the initiation; afterwards; and afterward; another; as long as that of Lord Brahmā; as the ultimate goal of life; best; better means; beyond; beyond material nature; beyond that; but; but afterwards; distant; elevation to the heavenly planets or becoming one by merging into Brahman; enemies; far superior things; final; further supreme; Godhead; great; greater; greatest; heavy; higher; highest; liberation; merely; more supreme; most glorious; only; only or ultimately; only this earth; other; other thing; others; perfect; perfectly; sublime; superior; superior life; supreme; supreme, transcendental; that much only; the actual transcendental position; the best; the foremost; the goal of life; the greatest; the highest; the most exalted; the only means; the supreme; the supreme abode; the supreme knowledge (by which one can attain devotional service); the Supreme Lord; the Supreme Person; the Supreme Personality of Godhead; the supreme whole; the transcendental world; the ultimate goal; to the transcendental spiritual kingdom; to the transcendental world; topmost; transcendence; transcendental; transcendental knowledge; transcendental to, beyond; transcendental world; ultimate; uncommon; under control; very great; very much; who are transcendental, beyond this material world; who is transcendental.—transcendental; puruṣamplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigpurusam

a male; a man; a person; another person; enjoyer; human; incarnation for cosmic manifestation; living entities; Lord Viṣṇu; man; person; personalities; personality; Personality of Godhead; the enjoyer; the living entities; the living entity; the living entity, the enjoyer; the Lord; the man; the person; the person situated in everyone's heart; the Personality of Godhead; the spirit soul; the Supersoul; the supreme enjoyer; the Supreme Lord; the Supreme Person; the Supreme Personality of Godhead; to a person; to the Supreme person; unto the Personality of Godhead; unto the Supreme Person; unto the Supreme Personality; unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead.—Personality of Godhead; upaitiplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigupaiti

achieved peace; achieves; approaches; attains; can do; embraces the spirit soul; gains; gets; reaches; will obtain; will overtake.—achieves; divyamplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigdivyam

celestial; divine; easily obtained because of rainfall from the sky; extraordinary; heavenly; in the spiritual kingdom; of the demigods; pertaining to the demigods in the higher planets; spiritual; superhuman; transcendental; uncommon; wonderful.—in the spiritual kingdom. ¶

One who, at the time of death, fixes his life air between the eyebrows and in full devotion engages himself in remembering the Supreme Lord, will certainly attain to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. ¶

In this verse it is clearly stated that at the time of death the mind must be fixed in devotion on the Supreme Godhead. For those practiced in yoga, it is recommended that they raise the life force between the eyebrows, but for a pure devotee who does not practice such yoga, the mind should always be engaged in Kṛṣṇa consciousness so that at death he can remember the Supreme by His grace. This is explained in verse fourteen. ¶

The particular use of the word yoga-balena is significant in this verse because without practice of yoga one cannot come to this transcendental state of being at the time of death. One cannot suddenly remember the Supreme Lord at death unless he is practiced in some yoga system, especially the system of bhakti-yoga. Since one’s mind at death is very disturbed, one should practice transcendence through yoga during one’s life. ¶

यं यं वापि स्मरन्भावं त्यजत्यन्ते कलेवरम् ।
तं तमेवैति कौन्तेय सदा तद्भावभावितः ॥६॥

yaṁ yaṁ vāpi smaran bhāvaṁ
tyajaty ante kalevaram
taṁ tam evaiti kaunteya
sadā tad-bhāva-bhāvitaḥ

yamplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigyam

about whom; He who; He whom; him (Vena) whom; Him; Him whom; one who; that which; the person; the Supreme Personality of Godhead; the Supreme Personality of Godhead who; to which; to whom; unto anyone to whom; unto one; unto the Personality of Godhead who; unto the Supreme Person; unto whom (Ambarīṣa Mahārāja); unto whom (Marutta); unto whom (Ṛṣyaśṛṅga); unto whom; upon whom; what; where; which (bridge); which (Vedic path); which; which son; who; whom (Paraśurāma); whom (the Supreme Personality of Godhead); whom (You); whom. yamplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigyam

about whom; He who; He whom; him (Vena) whom; Him; Him whom; one who; that which; the person; the Supreme Personality of Godhead; the Supreme Personality of Godhead who; to which; to whom; unto anyone to whom; unto one; unto the Personality of Godhead who; unto the Supreme Person; unto whom (Ambarīṣa Mahārāja); unto whom (Marutta); unto whom (Ṛṣyaśṛṅga); unto whom; upon whom; what; where; which (bridge); which (Vedic path); which; which son; who; whom (Paraśurāma); whom (the Supreme Personality of Godhead); whom (You); whom.—whatever; vāplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigva

also; alternately; and; anything else; as also; as well as; certainly; either; either, or; even though; in all probability; indeed; is either; like this; more; nor; or (in the next life); or (used sarcastically); or; otherwise; rather; the need; then.—either; apiplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigapi

also; api; a still more secluded place; again; alas; also (confirms); also (the human beings); also; although (I am in such a position); although; although apparently different; although he is; although He is so; although it is so; although not exposed to common eyes; although one; although there is; although there was; and also; as also; as He is; as well as; as you have stated; at the same time; better than that; certainly; definitely; despite; either; else; especially; even; even if; even if the body is so exalted; even though; even though it is so; even though new calves were present; even though there is; even with; exactly; for the sake of; I am wondering; if; if also; if so; in due course; in spite of; in spite of this situation; including; indeed; it may be; just now; may be; moreover; of the word api; or; others; over and above; so; still; surely; the word api; then; though; thus; verily; virtually; whether.—also; smaranplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigsmaran

constantly remembering; recalling; remembering; thinking; thinking of.—remembering; bhāvamplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigbhavam

existence; Lord Śiva; repetition of birth and death; to Bhava; to Lord Śiva.—nature; tyajatiplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigtyajati

becomes freed from; does give up; give up.—give up; anteplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigante

after; after death; at the end; at the end of; at the end of life; at the end of many births; at the time of death; at the ultimate end; in the end.—at the end; kalevaramplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigkalevaram

body; his body; material body; material tabernacle; mortal body; such a gigantic body; the body; the gigantic body of Pūtanā; the material body; this body; this material body.—this body; tamplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigtam

by Him; Dhruva; Dhruva Mahārāja; for that reason; from him (Kardama); from him (Maitreya); him (Ajāmila); him (Arjuna); him (Bali); him (Cyavana); him (Dhruva Mahārāja); him (Gajendra); him (Gargamuni); him (Hiraṇyakaśipu); him (Indra); him (Jaḍa Bharata); him (Kardama); him (King Yayāti); him (King Yudhiṣṭhira); Him (Kṛṣṇa); him (Lord Indra); Him (Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva); him (Lord Śiva); Him (Nara-Nārāyaṇa); him (Nārada Muni); him (Prahlāda Mahārāja); him (Prajāpati Dakṣa); him (Pṛthu); him (Pṛṣadhra); Him (Rohiṇī-nandana, the son of Rohiṇī); him (the bull); him (the condemned person); him (the he-goat); him (the King of heaven, Indra); him (the King); Him (the Lord); him (the male bird); him (the saintly person); Him (the Supreme Lord); Him (the Supreme Personality of Godhead); Him (the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Nārāyaṇa); him (Tṛṇabindu); him (Vasudeva); him (Vidura); him (Viśvarūpa); Him (Vāmanadeva); him (Vṛtrāsura); him; Him, Lord Rāmacandra; him, Mahārāja Sumitra. tamplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigtam

by Him; Dhruva; Dhruva Mahārāja; for that reason; from him (Kardama); from him (Maitreya); him (Ajāmila); him (Arjuna); him (Bali); him (Cyavana); him (Dhruva Mahārāja); him (Gajendra); him (Gargamuni); him (Hiraṇyakaśipu); him (Indra); him (Jaḍa Bharata); him (Kardama); him (King Yayāti); him (King Yudhiṣṭhira); Him (Kṛṣṇa); him (Lord Indra); Him (Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva); him (Lord Śiva); Him (Nara-Nārāyaṇa); him (Nārada Muni); him (Prahlāda Mahārāja); him (Prajāpati Dakṣa); him (Pṛthu); him (Pṛṣadhra); Him (Rohiṇī-nandana, the son of Rohiṇī); him (the bull); him (the condemned person); him (the he-goat); him (the King of heaven, Indra); him (the King); Him (the Lord); him (the male bird); him (the saintly person); Him (the Supreme Lord); Him (the Supreme Personality of Godhead); Him (the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Nārāyaṇa); him (Tṛṇabindu); him (Vasudeva); him (Vidura); him (Viśvarūpa); Him (Vāmanadeva); him (Vṛtrāsura); him; Him, Lord Rāmacandra; him, Mahārāja Sumitra.—similar; evaplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigeva

alone; also; also the word eva; although; as; as it is; as it were; as much as; as they are; at all; at that time; certainly; certainly,; certainty; completely; definitely; even; ever; exactly; exactly like; factually; Himself; immediately; in fact; in this way; indeed; it is all like that; just; just so; like; like that; like this; of course; on the very; only; quite; simply; so; surely; the word eva; they are; thus; truly; undoubtedly; very; without doubt.—certainly; etiplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigeti

achieves; attain; attained; attains; becomes; comes; comes back; does attain; gets; goes to; reaches.—gets; kaunteyaplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigkaunteya

O son of Kuntī.—O son of Kuntī; sadāplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigsada

always; at all times; constantly; eternally.—always; tatplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigtat

establishment of the statement tat tvam asi.—that; bhāvaplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigbhava

and by Lord Śiva; appearance; be; become; by Lord Śiva; compared to the world of nescience (birth, death, old age and disease); from birth; just become; Lord Śiva; material existence; O Lord Śiva; of material existence; of mundane existence; the distress of the repetition of birth and death; the repetition of birth and death; you become; You please be.—state of being; bhāvitaḥplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigbhavitah

fixed (in determination); remembering.—remembering. ¶

Whatever state of being one remembers when he quits his body, that state he will attain without fail. ¶

The process of changing one’s nature at the critical moment of death is here explained. How can one die in the proper state of mind? Mahārāja Bharata thought of a deer at the time of death and so was transferred to that form of life. However, as a deer, Mahārāja Bharata could remember his past activities. Of course the cumulative effect of the thoughts and actions of one’s life influences one’s thoughts at the moment of death; therefore the actions of this life determine one’s future state of being. If one is transcendentally absorbed in Kṛṣṇa’s service,then his next body will be transcendental (spiritual), not physical. Therefore the chanting of Hare Kṛṣṇa is the best process for successfully changing one’s state of being to transcendental life. ¶

यदक्षरं वेदविदो वदन्ति
विशन्ति यद्यतयो वीतरागाः ।
यदिच्छन्तो ब्रह्मचर्यं चरन्ति
तत्ते पदं संग्रहेण प्रवक्ष्ये ॥११॥

yad akṣaraṁ veda-vido vadanti
viśanti yad yatayo vīta-rāgāḥ
yad icchanto brahmacaryaṁ caranti
tat te padaṁ saṅgraheṇa pravakṣye

yatplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigyat

which; about whom; all these; all those; although; and as; and whichever; anything; as; as a matter of fact; as it is; as its; as much as; as they are; because; because of; because of which; because of whom; by the result of which; by the Supreme Lord; by which; by which way; by whom (the Supreme Lord); by whom; by whose; by whose merciful; even though; everything that was required; fixed under Your direction; for; for which; from both of whom; from him; from which; from whom; from whose; from Yuyudha; he whose; his; His eternal form which; his son; if; in which; in whom; inasmuch as; Kṛṣṇa; now further; of him (Somāpi); of him; of Lakṣmī, the goddess of fortune; of the fire-gods; of the Lord; of the Supreme Lord; of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; of which (the intermediate space); of which; of whom (of the Supreme Lord); who; who is; whom; whose; whose form; Your.—that which; akṣaramplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigakṣaram

beyond the senses; eternally existing; imperishable; indestructible; inexhaustible; infallible; syllables; the infallible Brahman; the original syllable, oṁkāra; this syllable; which is beyond the perception of the senses.—inexhaustible; vedaplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigveda

(one who) knows; all knowledge; and of the revealed scripture; by the four Vedas (Sāma, Yajur, Ṛg and Atharva); can know; can understand; did know; do know; feels; he knew; He knows; he realizes; in knowledge; is fully aware; it knows; just try to know; know; know it; know very well; knows; like the Vedas; Lord Śiva could understand; of knowledge; of the Vedas; of the four Vedas; the Vedas; the four Vedas (Sāma, Yajur, Ṛg and Atharva), the original knowledge given by the Supreme Personality of Godhead; the Vedic knowledge; the Vedic literature; transcendental knowledge; understand; understands; understood; Vedic injunctions; Vedic literature; Vedic literatures (books of knowledge); Vedic principles; Vedic scriptures; Vedic study; who knows; you know.-vidaḥplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigvidaḥ

greatly learned; those who perceive; understand.—a person conversant with the Vedas; vadantiplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigvadanti

all learned men say; are lodging this complaint; do say; do they say; explain; say; the great learned sages say; the learned Vedic scholars conclude; they call; they say; they say authoritatively; they speak; they suggest (in regard to one's means of livelihood).—say; viśantiplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigvisanti

entering; enters; enters into; fall down; they enter.—enters; yatplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigyat

which; about whom; all these; all those; although; and as; and whichever; anything; as; as a matter of fact; as it is; as its; as much as; as they are; because; because of; because of which; because of whom; by the result of which; by the Supreme Lord; by which; by which way; by whom (the Supreme Lord); by whom; by whose; by whose merciful; even though; everything that was required; fixed under Your direction; for; for which; from both of whom; from him; from which; from whom; from whose; from Yuyudha; he whose; his; His eternal form which; his son; if; in which; in whom; inasmuch as; Kṛṣṇa; now further; of him (Somāpi); of him; of Lakṣmī, the goddess of fortune; of the fire-gods; of the Lord; of the Supreme Lord; of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; of which (the intermediate space); of which; of whom (of the Supreme Lord); who; who is; whom; whose; whose form; Your.—in which; yatayaḥplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigyatayaḥ

enlightened; ever-increasingly trying; great sages; the yogīs; the mystics.—great sages; vītaplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigvita

free from; freed from; was relieved; without.-rāgāhplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigragah

attachment.—in the renounced order of life; yatplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigyat

which; about whom; all these; all those; although; and as; and whichever; anything; as; as a matter of fact; as it is; as its; as much as; as they are; because; because of; because of which; because of whom; by the result of which; by the Supreme Lord; by which; by which way; by whom (the Supreme Lord); by whom; by whose; by whose merciful; even though; everything that was required; fixed under Your direction; for; for which; from both of whom; from him; from which; from whom; from whose; from Yuyudha; he whose; his; His eternal form which; his son; if; in which; in whom; inasmuch as; Kṛṣṇa; now further; of him (Somāpi); of him; of Lakṣmī, the goddess of fortune; of the fire-gods; of the Lord; of the Supreme Lord; of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; of which (the intermediate space); of which; of whom (of the Supreme Lord); who; who is; whom; whose; whose form; Your.—that which; icchantaḥplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigicchantaḥ

desiring.—desiring; brahmacaryamplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigbrahmacaryam

celibacy; complete celibacy; continence or abstaining from misuse of one's semen (not indulging in sex with women other than one's own wife and not having sex with one's own wife when sex is forbidden, like during the period of menstruation); observing complete celibacy; under discipline to realize the Absolute (Brahman).—celibacy; carantiplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigcaranti

behave; do wander; engage in; move; pass time; practice; practices; roaming (in the forest); they execute; they move; they traverse; they wander (in places like the Himalayan forests, where they have no touch with the activities of the materialists); traverse; wander.—practices; tatplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigtat

establishment of the statement tat tvam asi.—that; teplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigte

all; all of them (the demigods and demons); all of them (the demigods and the demons); all of them; all of those; all the gopas; all the asuric ministers; all the demigods; all the demigods and demons; all the demons; all the great sages; all the Pracetās; all the sons; all the sons of Jamadagni; all the watchmen; all those; all those persons who arrived; also from you; as desired by you; by him; by them; by You; for you; for your; from you; in your possession; Lord Paraśurāma's mother and brothers; of the two divisions; of them; of you (mother Ganges); of You (O dear Lord); of you; of Your good self; of Your Lordship; of yourself; speaking to you; such; such as you; such austerity and knowledge; such household life; such persons; such pure devotees are fully satisfied; that; that is; the gopīs and gopas; the hotā, brahmā and other priests; the cowherd men and ladies; the demigods; the demons (Yakṣas and Rākṣasas); the demons; the Gandharvas; the great sages (the Kumāras); the husbands; the men of Kārtavīryārjuna; the Pracetās; the Pāṇḍavas; the sages; the sons of Kārtavīryārjuna; the Yakṣas; their; therefore; these; these sons (the Savalāśvas); they; they are; to you; unto you; with you; You; your; Your Lordship; your request; Your service; yours; yourself.—unto you; padamplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigpadam

a place; abode; an abode; any place; feet; in position; in the path; lotus feet; material world; original position; personality; place of habitation; position; post; region; residence; respective positions; situation; step; the abode; the dwelling place; the lotus feet; the path; the place; the position; the receptacle; the shelter; the status of understanding; the subject matter; this position; to the abode; to the place; to the standard; to the transcendental position; ultimate phase; ultimate stand.—situation; saṅgraheṇaplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigsaṅgraheṇa

by total absorption; in summary.—in summary; pravakṣyeplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigpravakṣye

I shall explain.—I shall explain. ¶

Persons learned in the Vedas, who utter omkāra and who are great sages in the renounced order, enter into Brahman. Desiring such perfection, one practices celibacy. I shall now explain to you this process by which one may attain salvation. ¶

Lord Kṛṣṇa explains that Brahman, although one without a second, has different manifestations and features. For the impersonalists, the syllable om is identical with Brahman. Kṛṣṇa here explains the impersonal Brahman in which the renounced order of sages enter. ¶

In the Vedic system of knowledge, students, from the very beginning, are taught to vibrate om and learn of the ultimate impersonal Brahman by living with the spiritual master in complete celibacy. In this way they realize two of Brahman’s features. This practice is very essential for the student’s advancement in spiritual life, but at the moment such brahmacārī (unmarried celibate) life is not at all possible. The social construction of the world has changed so much that there is no possibility of one’s practicing celibacy from the beginning of student life. Throughout the world there are many institutions for different departments of knowledge, but there is no recognized institution where students can be educated in the brahmacārī principles. Unless one practices celibacy, advancement in spiritual life is very difficult. Therefore Lord Caitanya has announced, according to the scriptural injunctions for this age of Kali, that no process of realizing the Supreme is possible except the chanting of the holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa: Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare, Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare. ¶

सर्वद्वाराणि संयम्य मनो हृदि निरुध्य च ।
मूध्न्या।र्धायात्मनः प्राणमास्थितो योगधारणाम् ॥१२॥

sarva-dvārāṇi saṁyamya
mano hṛdi nirudhya ca
mūrdhny ādhāyātmanaḥ prāṇam
āsthito yoga-dhāraṇām

sarvaplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigsarva

all; all around; all kinds; all kinds of; all over; everyone; everything; for all; for everyone; in all; in all respects; of all; of all demigods; of all kinds; of everyone; of everything.-dvārāṇiplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigdvārāṇi

ways.—all the doors of the body; saṁyamyaplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigsaṁyamya

completely subdued; controlling; keeping under control.—controlling; manaḥplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigmanah

and of the mind; and the mind; attention; by meditation; by mind; by the acts of the mind; by the mind; complete attention; heart; her mind; his mind; how the mind is working; in terms of the mind; in the mind; like the mind; mind; minds, hearts; my mind; of the mind; of the minds; of the strength of enthusiasm; that mind; the mind (full of material desires for eating, sleeping, mating and defending); the mind; the mind in such a situation; the minds; the subject matter of thought for the mind; their minds; to the mind; with mind; with the mind.—mind; hṛdiplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bighṛdi

core of the heart; from the heart; heart; in consciousness or in the heart; in his heart; in my heart; in the core of the heart; in the heart; in the hearts; on the heart; the heart; upon the heart; within my heart; within one's heart; within the core of my heart; within the core of the heart; within the heart.—in the heart; nirudhyaplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bignirudhya

closed; confined; suppressing.—confined; caplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigca

ca; all these; also; also other bodily forms; also that I have not been able to ask; and (the five gross material elements and the ten acting and knowledge-gathering senses); and; and also; and Devahūti; and for all; and the paraphernalia; as also; as much as; as well; as well as; but; certainly; either; however; indeed; only; or; over and above; respectively; the word ca; this word ca; thus; totally; unlimitedly; verily.—also; mūrdhniplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigmūrdhni

on his head; on the head; on the head of Kṛṣṇa; on the top; on the top of the head; on their heads.—on the head; ādhāyaplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigādhāya

accepting; discharging semen; fixed; keeping; keeping always; placing; resigning unto; taking.—fixed; ātmanaḥplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigatmanah

and one's own self; children; consisting of; done by himself; expansions; expansions of His person; for herself; for himself; for His personal benefit; for my personal self; for personal sense gratification; for personal service; for self-preservation; for the benefit of the soul; for the body; for the living entities; for the real self; for the self; for the soul; for themselves; from my body; from the self; from the Supreme Soul; her own; himself; His; his own; his own self; His personal; his personal interest; in the self; mind; My; my own; of all living entities; of herself; of Him; of himself (Lord Śiva); of himself; of himself, personally (the head of the state); of his body; of His own; of his own real identity, the soul; of his own self; of his own welfare; of his personal self; of his self; of his soul; of myself; of one's own; of one's own self; of one's self; of oneself; of self-realization; of the Absolute; of the body; of the conditioned soul; of the living being; of the living beings; of the living entities; of the living entity; of the mind; of the most dear; of the person; of the same category as You (viṣṇu-tattva); of the self; of the soul; of the spirit soul; of the Supersoul; of the Supersoul of everyone; of the Supreme; of the Supreme Being; of the Supreme Lord; of the Supreme Lord and of oneself; of the Supreme Lord Viṣṇu; of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; of the Supreme Soul; of the supreme spirit soul or the Transcendence beyond the material conception of life; of the Supreme Spirit Soul, or the transcendence beyond the material conception of life; of the vital energy; of themselves; of us living beings; of you; of your own body; of your own body, mind and soul; of Yourself; of yourselves; on Transcendence; one's own; one's self; oneself; own; own selves; personal; self; self-caused; self-dependant; self-sufficiently; soul; than the Supreme Soul; the living entities; the mind; the senses; the soul; the soul or the Supersoul; the spiritual identity of the universe; the Supersoul of everyone; their minds; their own property; to himself (Kardama); unto His own (Brahmā); whose mind; whose minds; whose nature.—soul; prāṇamplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigprāṇam

air which acts outward; and life; life; the life air; the living condition; the ten kinds of air flowing within the body.—the life air; āsthitaḥplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigasthitah

accepted; accepting; associating; became situated; being seated on such; being situated; being situated in; exercised; he is still living there; he underwent; is situated in; lived there; remains in that position; seated; situated; thus situated; who has undertaken (because of association with a prostitute).—situated; yogaplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigyoga

yoga practice; and mystic power; and of mystic yoga; and of the means; by bhakti-yoga, devotional service; by yoga; by yoga practice; by a conjunction; by devotional service; by mystic power; by mystic practice; by mysticism; by power of mystic yoga; by practice of yoga; by practice of devotion; by the process of linking with the Supreme by bhakti-yoga; concentration of the mind; connection; devotion; devotional service in karma-yoga; eightfold yoga; in the mystic yoga process; in the mystic yoga process; linking process; means; mystic haṭha-yoga; mystic yoga practices; mystic; mystic power; mystic powers; mystic yoga practice; mystic yogic meditation; of linking up; of mystic yoga; of mysticism; of the yoga system; of yogic perfections; practice of the mystic yoga system; the mystic yoga system; the practice of mystic yoga; the process of controlling the senses; the science of self-realization or bhakti-yoga; the yoga.-dhāraṇāmplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigdharanam

containing substances; fixing.—the yogic situation. ¶

The yogic situation is that of detachment from all sensual engagements. Closing all the doors of the senses and fixing the mind on the heart and the life air at the top of the head, one establishes himself in yoga. ¶

To practice yoga, as suggested here, one first has to close the door of all sense enjoyment. This practice is called pratyāhāra, or withdrawing the senses from the sense objects. Sense organs for acquiring knowledge, such as the eyes, ears, nose, tongue and touch, should be fully controlled and should not be allowed to engage in self-gratification. In this way the mind focuses on the Supersoul in the heart and the life force is raised to the top of the head. In the Sixth Chapter this process is described in detail. But as mentioned before, this practice is not practical in this age. The best process is Kṛṣṇa consciousness. If one is always able to fix his mind on Kṛṣṇa in devotional service, it is very easy for him to remain in an undisturbed transcendental trance, or in samādhi. ¶

ओमित्येकाक्षरं ब्रह्म व्याहरन्मामनुस्मरन् ।
यः प्रयाति त्यजन्देहं स याति परमां गतिम् ॥१३॥

oṁ ity ekākṣaraṁ brahma
vyāharan mām anusmaran
yaḥ prayāti tyajan dehaṁ
sa yāti paramāṁ gatim

omplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigom

oṁkāra; beginning with om; indication of the Supreme; O Lord; O my Lord; O Supreme Lord; the combination of letters, omkāra.—the combination of letters, omkāra; itiplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigiti

thus; all these; also; and so on; as; as such; considering all these things; considering in that way; here; in this way (after giving everything to the brāhmaṇas); in this way; it is thus; known by these names; like that; like this; so it is; such; taking it as; that; therefore; they; this; thus (Hariścandra said); thus (saying out of contempt); thus (thinking in the above-mentioned way); thus (thinking); thus; thus accepted; thus accepting the words of Lord Brahmā; thus deciding; thus stated; thus thinking; thus vituperating.—thus; ekaplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigeka

alone; another; even; exclusively; first; for one; foremost; is one; of only one; of the oneness; one; one by one; one item; one only; one pot; only; only one; or one; the only one; uniquely; with one.-akṣaramplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigakṣaram

beyond the senses; eternally existing; imperishable; indestructible; inexhaustible; infallible; syllables; the infallible Brahman; the original syllable, oṁkāra; this syllable; which is beyond the perception of the senses.—supreme, indestructible; brahmaplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigbrahma

brahma; brāhmaṇas; mantras beginning with oṁ (such as oṁ tad viṣṇoḥ paramaṁ padaṁ sadā paśyanti sūrayaḥ); Veda; Vedas; absolute; Absolute Truth; all my brahminical qualifications; all the Vedas; all the Vedas with their different branches of knowledge; all the Vedas; all transcendental literatures; and brahma; Being; brahma; Brahmaloka; Brahman; brahminical civilization; brahminical culture; by Lord Brahmā; called by the name Brahman; from the activities of Brahman realization or austerity; Gāyatrī hymns; impersonal Brahman; impersonal Brahman realization; is the brāhmaṇas; knowledge of Brahman; Kṛṣṇa; Lord Brahmā; of a brāhmaṇa; of impersonal Brahman; of impersonal Brahman, or the Absolute Truth; of Lord Brahmā; of the brāhmaṇas; of the impersonal effulgence; spirit; spiritual; spiritual kingdom; spiritual knowledge; spiritual nature; spiritual power; Supreme; the brāhmaṇas; the Vedas; the Absolute; the Absolute Truth; the all-pervading Absolute Truth; the brahminical culture; the greatest; the Gāyatrī mantra; the impersonal Brahman (which is an emanation from Kṛṣṇa); the impersonal Brahman; the impersonal Brahman effulgence; the impersonal feature; the Parabrahman, Kṛṣṇa; the personified Vedas; the Supreme; the Supreme Absolute Truth; the Supreme Brahman; the Supreme Brahman, the Personality of Godhead; the Supreme Lord; the Supreme Personality of Godhead; the supreme spirit; the supreme truth, the Absolute Truth, Brahman; the Vedic knowledge; the Vedic literatures; the Vedic wisdom; Transcendence; transcendental; truth; unlimited; Vedic; Vedic knowledge; Vedic sound; without change; You are known as Brahman.—absolute; vyāharanplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigvyāharan

vibrating.—vibrating; māmplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigmām

about Me; at me; attains me; from me; Me (Kṛṣṇa); Me (Lord Kṛṣṇa); me (the earth); Me (the Supreme Lord); me (Vasiṣṭha); me; Me, the Supreme Personality of Godhead; My direction; Myself; of myself; to Me; unto me; upon me.—Me (Kṛṣṇa); anusmaranplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_biganusmaran

always thinking of; remembering; thinking about; thinking after; thinking of; thinking within.—remembering; yaḥplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigyah

who; a devotee who; a person; a person who; all those; any person who; any such master who; anyone (king or governor); anyone; anyone who; Bali Mahārāja; because; everything; he (who has); he; he person who; He who (Govinda); he who (Jahnu); He who (Lord Nārāyaṇa); He who (Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu); he who (my so-called husband); he who (Somadatta); He who (the Lord); He who (the Personality of Godhead); He who (the Supreme Personality of Godhead); he who (Śunaḥśepha); he who; I who; it is He only; King Khaṭvāṅga who; Lord Rāmacandra who; Mahārāja Sagara who; on account of; one; one of the sons of Sagara Mahārāja; one which; one who (the Supreme Personality of Godhead); one who (Viśvāmitra); one who; one who is; person; such a person (as you); such a person; that; that is; that person; that Personality of Godhead who; that same person who; that which; the Lord who; the one; the one who; the person; the person who; the same Jaḍa Bharata who was formerly Mahārāja Bharata, the son of Mahārāja Ṛṣabhadeva; the same Rāhu; the Supreme Lord who; the Supreme Personality of Godhead; the Supreme Personality of Godhead who; the system; who; who are; who is; whoever; whom; you who; Your Lordship.—anyone; prayātiplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigprayāti

achieved; does reach; goes; leaves.—leaves; tyajanplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigtyajan

giving up; quitting.—quitting; dehamplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigdeham

a body; a material body; another body; body; body, or transcendental form; material body; the body; the kind of body; the material body; the universal form; this body; transcendental body; your body.—this body; saḥplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigsaḥ

mahat-tattva; a person (Kaṁsa); a son; Aghāsura; all; anyone; Bharata Mahārāja; Brahmā; child Parīkṣit; Dakṣa; Dhruva; Dhruva Mahārāja; Dhṛtarāṣṭra; Durvāsā Muni; he (Agastya); he (Aghāsura); he (Ajāmila); he (Ambarīṣa Mahārāja); he (Aṅgirā Ṛṣi); He (Baladeva); he (Bali Mahārāja); he (Brahmā); he (Brahmājī); he (Budha); he (Citraketu); he (Dakṣa); he (Devāpi); he (Dhruva Mahārāja); he (Dhruva); he (Droṇa); he (Durvāsā); he (Emperor Manu); he (Gajendra); he (Garuḍa); he (Hiraṇyakaśipu); he (Hiraṇyakaśipu, the King of the Daityas); he (Indra); he (Jamadagni); he (Janamejaya); he (Jaḍa Bharata); he (Kardama); he (Kaṁsa); he (King Citraketu); he (King Hūhū); he (King Indra); he (King Kaṁsa); he (King Nīpa); he (King Pṛthu); he (King Rantideva); he (King Āgnīdhra); he (Kārtavīryārjuna); He (Kṛṣṇa); He (Lakṣmaṇa, the brother of Lord Rāmacandra); he (Lord Brahmā); He (Lord Kṛṣṇa); He (Lord Rāmacandra); He (Lord Viṣṇu); he (Lord Śiva); he (Mahārāja Ambarīṣa); he (Mahārāja Bharata); he (Mahārāja Priyavrata); he (Mahārāja Rahūgaṇa); he (Maitreya Muni); he (Manu); he (my father); he (Nahuṣa); he (Nābhāga); he (one who is not self-controlled); he (Prahlāda Mahārāja); he (Purūravā); he (Rantideva); he (Sarvatejā); He (Satyasena); he (Soma, the moon-god); he (Svāyambhuva Manu); he (that hunter); he (that uncivilized Kaṁsa); he (the muni); he (the conditioned soul); he (the devotee); he (the great man); he (the individual soul); he (the King); he (the leader of the elephants); He (the Lord); He (the Personality of Godhead); he (the serpent); he (the sun-god); He (the Supreme Lord); He (the Supreme Person); He (the Supreme Personality of Godhead); he (Vasudeva); he (Vasudeva, also known as Ānakadundubhi); he (Venus); he (Vidura); he (Viśvarūpa); He (Vāmanadeva); he (Vāsudeva); he (Vīrabhadra); he (Vṛtra); he (Vṛtrāsura); he (Śukadeva Gosvāmī); he (Śukrācārya); he (Śūra); he (Ṛcīka); he (Ṛṣyaśṛṅga); he; He alone; he is; he, Durvāsā Muni; he, Hariścandra; he, Jamadagni; he, King Purūravā; he, Kārtavīryārjuna; he, Lord Paraśurāma; He, Lord Rāmacandra; he, Mahārāja Ambarīṣa; he, Mahārāja Sagara; he, Prahlāda Mahārāja; he, Purañjaya; he, Purūravā; he, Rohita; he, Rāvaṇa; he, Saubhari Muni; he, Saubhari Ṛṣi; he, so celebrated; he, Soma; he, the brāhmaṇa; he, the King; He, the Lord; he, Varuṇa; he, Vasiṣṭha; he, Vidura; He, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; Hiraṇyakaśipu; Hiraṇyākṣa; His Lordship; His Lordship the Supreme Personality of Godhead; his son Utkala; I am the same powerful person; is he; it; Jambhāsura; Kardama Muni; Kaśyapa; Kaśyapa Muni; King Dakṣa; King Indra; King Malayadhvaja; King Purañjana; King Pṛthu; King Vena; King Yayāti; Kṛṣṇa; Kṛṣṇa Himself; Lord Brahmā; Lord Kṛṣṇa; Lord Śiva; Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; Mahārāja Bharata; Mahārāja Ikṣvāku; Mahārāja Yayāti; Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira; myself; one such as your good self; one who does so; Prahlāda Mahārāja; Prajāpati Dakṣa; Revata; so myself; someone; such; such a devotee; such a person; such a person as I am; such a personality; Sudyumna; Svāyambhuva Manu; that (great demon Maya Dānava); that (having the above symptoms); that (Supreme Personality of Godhead); that (Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa); that brāhmaṇa; that yoga system; that; that Ajāmila; that arrow; that banyan tree; that boy of the name Vena; whether that person; which; You; Your Lordship; yourself.—he; yātiplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigyati

achieves; one in the renounced order of life; or sannyāsī.—achieves; paramāmplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigparamam

a supreme; divine; extreme; foremost; highest; is the supreme; most; supreme; the best (within the universe); the best; the Supreme; the ultimate; the ultimate goal; topmost; transcendental; ultimate; very; very great; very severe; with great.—supreme; gatimplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_biggatim

a condition; abode; achievement; activities; advancement, destination; constitutional position; departure; destination; direction; disappearance; duration of life; factual position; Gati; liberation; movement; movements; path; path of liberation; perfection; perfectional stage; position; progress; reactions; real position; result; salvation; speed; state; the activities; the best destination; the characteristics or actual behavior; the destination; the end; the goal of life; the movement; the progress; the ultimate goal of life; the whereabouts; the womb; to a state; to the destination; transcendental activities; transferral to the spiritual world; way.—destination. ¶

After being situated in this yoga practice and vibrating the sacred syllable om, the supreme combination of letters, if one thinks of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and quits his body, he will certainly reach the spiritual planets. ¶

It is clearly stated here that om, Brahman, and Lord Kṛṣṇa are not different. The impersonal sound of Kṛṣṇa is om, but the sound Hare Kṛṣṇa contains om. It is clearly recommended in this age that if one quits his body at the end of this life chanting the mahāmantra, Hare Kṛṣṇa, he will reach the spiritual planets. Similarly, those who are devotees of Kṛṣṇa enter the Kṛṣṇa planet or Goloka Vṛndāvana, whereas the impersonalists remain in the brahmajyoti. The personalists also enter many innumerable planets in the spiritual sky known as Vaikuṇṭhas. ¶

न जायते म्रियते वा कदाचिन्
नायं भूत्वा भविता वा न भूयः ।
अजो नित्यः शाश्वतोऽयं पुराणो
न हन्यते हन्यमाने शरीरे ॥२०॥

na jāyate mriyate vā kadācin
nāyaṁ bhūtvā bhavitā vā na bhūyaḥ
ajo nityaḥ śāśvato ‘yaṁ purāṇo
na hanyate hanyamāne śarīre

naplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigna

never; not; are not; but not; cannot; certainly not; could not; did not; do not; does it not; does not; is not; it is not; it is not so; may not; neither; never; never does; never to be; no; no one; none; nor; not; not like that; not preceded by oṁ; not suitable; nothing; or not; shall not; should never; there is none; there is not; there should not be; was not; whether; without.—never; jāyateplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigjayate

one becomes victorious.—takes birth; mriyateplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigmriyate

he dies; never dies; vanquishes; will die.—never dies; vāplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigva

also; alternately; and; anything else; as also; as well as; certainly; either; either, or; even though; in all probability; indeed; is either; like this; more; nor; or (in the next life); or (used sarcastically); or; otherwise; rather; the need; then.—either; kadācitplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigkadācit

at any time (past, present or future); at any time; at some time; at that time (when Kṛṣṇa was three months old); certainly; occasionally; once; once upon a time; one day; sometimes; somewhere.—at any time (past, present or future); naplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigna

never; not; are not; but not; cannot; certainly not; could not; did not; do not; does it not; does not; is not; it is not; it is not so; may not; neither; never; never does; never to be; no; no one; none; nor; not; not like that; not preceded by oṁ; not suitable; nothing; or not; shall not; should never; there is none; there is not; there should not be; was not; whether; without.—never; ayamplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigayam

a person; all these (common men); all these; extraordinary it is; he (Śiva); He; Him; His; I am; in this; Kṛṣṇa; Lord Rāmacandra; of this; one; people in general; such a poor man; that; that is; the Lord; the Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa; the same; these; this (Caitanya-caritāmṛta); this (as measured by Brahmā's duration of life); this (child within the womb); this (child); this (Kṛṣṇa); this (Lord Śiva); this (rascal); this (what has been described); this brāhmaṇa; this; this action taken by you; this animal; this Bali Mahārāja; this child; this demon; this form; this incarnation of Kapila; this is; this King; this King Pṛthu; this Kṛṣṇa; this living entity; this Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa; this man; this one (the Supreme Lord); this one; this period; this person (Ajāmila); this person (known as Ajāmila); this person; this Personality of Godhead; this process of creation and annihilation; this soul; this Vedic knowledge; Vasudeva; Śrī Kṛṣṇa; Śukadeva Gosvāmī.—this; bhūtvāplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigbhūtvā

again taking birth; appearing; assuming; becoming; becoming so; being elevated to that post; being so (they should not have become like that); came into being; having become; manifesting; so becoming; so being; taking birth; will become.—came into being; bhavitāplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigbhavita

he will become; may be; shall be born; there will be; will appear; will be; will be born; will become; will come to be; will take birth; will take place; would take birth; you shall become a śūdra.—will come to be; vāplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigva

also; alternately; and; anything else; as also; as well as; certainly; either; either, or; even though; in all probability; indeed; is either; like this; more; nor; or (in the next life); or (used sarcastically); or; otherwise; rather; the need; then.—or; naplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigna

never; not; are not; but not; cannot; certainly not; could not; did not; do not; does it not; does not; is not; it is not; it is not so; may not; neither; never; never does; never to be; no; no one; none; nor; not; not like that; not preceded by oṁ; not suitable; nothing; or not; shall not; should never; there is none; there is not; there should not be; was not; whether; without.—not; bhūyaḥplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigbhuyah

again; again and again; being; further; moreover; of increasing; on the contrary; or has come to be; still more; then again.—or has come to be; ajaḥplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigajah

Aja; although not from a material mother; as good as Lord Brahmā; Brahmā; due to being unborn; Kṛṣṇa; Lord Aja; Lord Brahmā; Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa; never born; Nārāyaṇa; one who is born without a material source; one who is unborn; the goat; the self-born; the self-born Brahmā; the son named Aja; the supreme unborn one; the unborn (Lord Brahmā); the unborn; the unborn Brahmā; the unborn, the Supreme Personality of Godhead; unborn; unborn, beginningless; who was not born like an ordinary human being.—unborn; nityaḥplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bignityah

always; eternal; everlasting; without birth or death.—eternal; śāśvataḥplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigsasvatah

eternal; permanent.—permanent; ayamplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigayam

a person; all these (common men); all these; extraordinary it is; he (Śiva); He; Him; His; I am; in this; Kṛṣṇa; Lord Rāmacandra; of this; one; people in general; such a poor man; that; that is; the Lord; the Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa; the same; these; this (Caitanya-caritāmṛta); this (as measured by Brahmā's duration of life); this (child within the womb); this (child); this (Kṛṣṇa); this (Lord Śiva); this (rascal); this (what has been described); this brāhmaṇa; this; this action taken by you; this animal; this Bali Mahārāja; this child; this demon; this form; this incarnation of Kapila; this is; this King; this King Pṛthu; this Kṛṣṇa; this living entity; this Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa; this man; this one (the Supreme Lord); this one; this period; this person (Ajāmila); this person (known as Ajāmila); this person; this Personality of Godhead; this process of creation and annihilation; this soul; this Vedic knowledge; Vasudeva; Śrī Kṛṣṇa; Śukadeva Gosvāmī.—this; purāṇaḥplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigpurāṇaḥ

and the purāṇas, the supplementary Vedas; old; oldest; the oldest; the oldest, who has no other founder; the original; very old, or eternal.—the oldest; naplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigna

never; not; are not; but not; cannot; certainly not; could not; did not; do not; does it not; does not; is not; it is not; it is not so; may not; neither; never; never does; never to be; no; no one; none; nor; not; not like that; not preceded by oṁ; not suitable; nothing; or not; shall not; should never; there is none; there is not; there should not be; was not; whether; without.—never; hanyateplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bighanyate

be killed; is killed; is victimized.—is killed; hanyamāneplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bighanyamāne

being killed.—being killed; śarīreplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigśarīre

body; by the body; in His body; in the body; in the body of; in the material body; in the transcendental body; in the universal form; on the body; to the body; within the body.—by the body. ¶

For the soul there is never birth nor death. Nor, having once been, does he ever cease to be. He is unborn, eternal, ever-existing, undying and primeval. He is not slain when the body is slain. ¶

Qualitatively, the small atomic fragmental part of the Supreme Spirit is one with the Supreme. He undergoes no changes like the body. Sometimes the soul is called the steady, or kūṭastha. The body is subject to six kinds of transformations. It takes its birth in the womb of the mother’s body, remains for some time, grows, produces some effects, gradually dwindles, and at last vanishes into oblivion. The soul, however, does not go through such changes. The soul is not born, but, because he takes on a material body, the body takes its birth. The soul does not take birth there, and the soul does not die. Anything which has birth also has death. And because the soul has no birth, he therefore has no past, present or future. He is eternal, ever-existing, and primeval-that is, there is no trace in history of his coming into being. Under the impression of the body, we seek the history of birth, etc., of the soul. The soul does not at any time become old, as the body does. The so-called old man, therefore, feels himself to be in the same spirit as in his childhood or youth. The changes of the body do not affect the soul. The soul does not deteriorate like a tree, nor anything material. The soul has no by-product either. The by-products of the body, namely children, are also different individual souls; and, owing to the body, they appear as children of a particular man. The body develops because of the soul’s presence, but the soul has neither offshoots nor change. Therefore, the soul is free from the six changes of the body. ¶

In the Kaṭha Upaniṣad also we find a similar passage which reads: ¶

na jāyate mriyate vā vipaścin
nāyaṁ kutaścin na vibhūva kaścit
ajo nityaḥ śāśvato ‘yaṁ purāṇo
na hanyate hanyamāne śarīre.
(Kaṭha 1.2.18)

The meaning and purport of this verse is the same as in the Bhagavad-gītā, but here in this verse there is one special word, vipaścit, which means learned or with knowledge. ¶

The soul is full of knowledge, or full always with consciousness. Therefore, consciousness is the symptom of the soul. Even if one does not find the soul within the heart, where he is situated, one can still understand the presence of the soul simply by the presence of consciousness. Sometimes we do not find the sun in the sky owing to clouds, or for some other reason, but the light of the sun is always there, and we are convinced that it is therefore daytime. As soon as there is a little light in the sky early in the morning, we can understand that the sun is in the sky. Similarly, since there is some consciousness in all bodies—whether man or animal—we can understand the presence of the soul. This consciousness of the soul is, however, different from the consciousness of the Supreme because the supreme consciousness is all-knowledge—past, present and future. The consciousness of the individual soul is prone to be forgetful. When he is forgetful of his real nature, he obtains education and enlightenment from the superior lessons of Kṛṣṇa. But Kṛṣṇa is not like the forgetful soul. If so, Kṛṣṇa’s teachings of Bhagavad-gītā would be useless. ¶

There are two kinds of souls—namely the minute particle soul (aṇu-ātmā) and the Supersoul (the vibhu-ātmā). This is also confirmed in the Kaṭha Upaniṣad in this way: ¶

aṇor aṇīyān mahato mahīyān
ātmāsya jantor nihito guhāyām
tam akratuḥ paśyati vīta-śoko
dhātuḥ prasādān mahimānam ātmanaḥ
(Kaṭha 1.2.20)

“Both the Supersoul [Paramātmā] and the atomic soul [jīvātmā] are situated on the same tree of the body within the same heart of the living being, and only one who has become free from all material desires as well as lamentations can, by the grace of the Supreme, understand the glories of the soul.” Kṛṣṇa is the fountainhead of the Supersoul also, as it will be disclosed in the following chapters, and Arjuna is the atomic soul, forgetful of his real nature; therefore he requires to be enlightened by Kṛṣṇa, or by His bona fide representative (the spiritual master). ¶

अनन्यचेताः सततं यो मां स्मरति नित्यशः ।
तस्याहं सुलभः पार्थ नित्ययुक्तस्य योगिनः ॥१४॥

ananya-cetāḥ satataṁ
yo māṁ smarati nityaśaḥ
tasyāhaṁ sulabhaḥ pārtha
nitya-yuktasya yoginaḥ

ananyaplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigananya

absolutely; by others; extraordinary; no other; not by others; without any other; without deviation.-cetāḥplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigcetah

by consciousness; consciousness; heart; knowledge; minds; my mind; of the heart; the attention; the heart; the mind.—without deviation; satatamplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigsatatam

always; constantly; continuously; satisfied; twenty-four hours a day.—always; yaḥplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigyah

who; a devotee who; a person; a person who; all those; any person who; any such master who; anyone (king or governor); anyone; anyone who; Bali Mahārāja; because; everything; he (who has); he; he person who; He who (Govinda); he who (Jahnu); He who (Lord Nārāyaṇa); He who (Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu); he who (my so-called husband); he who (Somadatta); He who (the Lord); He who (the Personality of Godhead); He who (the Supreme Personality of Godhead); he who (Śunaḥśepha); he who; I who; it is He only; King Khaṭvāṅga who; Lord Rāmacandra who; Mahārāja Sagara who; on account of; one; one of the sons of Sagara Mahārāja; one which; one who (the Supreme Personality of Godhead); one who (Viśvāmitra); one who; one who is; person; such a person (as you); such a person; that; that is; that person; that Personality of Godhead who; that same person who; that which; the Lord who; the one; the one who; the person; the person who; the same Jaḍa Bharata who was formerly Mahārāja Bharata, the son of Mahārāja Ṛṣabhadeva; the same Rāhu; the Supreme Lord who; the Supreme Personality of Godhead; the Supreme Personality of Godhead who; the system; who; who are; who is; whoever; whom; you who; Your Lordship.—anyone; māmplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigmām

about Me; at me; attains me; from me; Me (Kṛṣṇa); Me (Lord Kṛṣṇa); me (the earth); Me (the Supreme Lord); me (Vasiṣṭha); me; Me, the Supreme Personality of Godhead; My direction; Myself; of myself; to Me; unto me; upon me.—Me (Kṛṣṇa); smaratiplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigsmarati

remembers.—remembers; nityaśaḥplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bignityaśaḥ

always; regularly.—regularly; tasyaplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigtasya

and from him; Bali Mahārāja; before him (King Rantideva); by Him; by His; for Him; for that purpose; for the King; from him (Aśvamedhaja); from him (Devakṣatra); from him (Mahīnara); from him (Punarvasu); from him (Vibhu); from him; from Samaratha; he; his (Agnivarṇa's); his (Dakṣa's); his (Dhruva Mahārāja's); his (Jīmūta's son); his (Mahārāja Bharata's); his (Maitreya's); his (Nandīśvara's); his (Niṣāda's); his (of Mahārāja Parīkṣit); his (Purañjaya's); his (Purūravā's); his (Rantināva's); his (Sandhi's); his (son); His (the gigantic form's); his (the sage's); his (Vikukṣi's); his (Vyāsa's); his; his dead body; his son; in the service of Purañjaya; its; of Bali Mahārāja; of Citrasena; of Devamīḍha; of Dhruva; of Dhruva Mahārāja; of Durvāsā; of Gādhi; of He who is the Supreme Lord; of him (a student studying the Vedas); of him (Ajāmila); of him (Ambarīṣa); with him.—to him; ahamplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigaham

as far as I am concerned; as I am; egotism; false ego; false identification (in the bodily concept of life); false identity; I ("I am this body"); I (am); I (Kṛṣṇa); I (Lord Brahmā); I (Lord Śiva); I (Prahlāda Mahārāja); I (the person desiring release from material life); I (Śukadeva Gosvāmī); I; I am; I am everything; I am independent; I am the material body; I myself; I, Lord Kṛṣṇa; I, the Personality of Godhead; I, the Supreme Personality of Godhead; I, Yamarāja; me; my existence ("I am something"); my humble self; myself (Brahmājī); Myself; the word aham; the wrong mental conception.—I am; sulabhaḥplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigsulabhaḥ

very easy to achieve.—very easy to achieve; pārthaplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigpārtha

Arjuna; My dear Arjuna; O Arjuna; O Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira; O Pārtha (Arjuna); O Pārtha (son of Pṛthā); O Pārtha; O son of Prthā; O son of Pṛthā (Arjuna); O son of Pṛthā (Kuntī); O son of Pṛthā; of Arjuna, son of Pṛthā (Kuntī).—O son of Pṛthā; nityaplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bignitya

always; daiiy; daily; eternal; eternally; regular; regularly; regularly, without fail; who are always.—regularly; yuktasyaplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigyuktasya

empowered with; engaged; of one who is engaged; who was qualified with.—engaged; yoginaḥplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigyoginaḥ

yogīs; all the bhakti-yogis; first-class mystic yogīs, or bhakti-yogīs; for the mystics; greatly powerful mystics; mystics who are competent; of different kinds of mystics; of the yogī; of the yogīs or persons trying to advance in spiritual life; of the devotee; the yogīs; the first-class yogī or mystic; the Kṛṣṇa conscious persons; the mystics; transcendentalists.—of the devotee. ¶

For one who remembers Me without deviation, I am easy to obtain, O son of Pṛthā, because of his constant engagement in devotional service. ¶

In this verse the bhakti-yoga of the unalloyed devotees of the Supreme Godhead is described. The preceeding verses mention four different kinds of devotees-the distressed, the inquisitive, those who seek material gain, and the speculative philosophers. Different processes of liberation from material entanglement have also been described: karma-yoga, jñāna-yoga, and haṭha-yoga. But here bhakti-yoga, without any mixture of these, is mentioned. In bhakti-yoga the devotees desire nothing but Kṛṣṇa. The pure bhakti devotee does not desire promotion to heavenly planets, nor does he seek salvation or liberation from material entanglement. A pure devotee does not desire anything. In the Caitanya-caritāmṛta the pure devotee is called niṣkāma, which means he has no desire for self-interest. Perfect peace belongs to him alone, not to them who strive for personal gain. The pure devotee only wants to please the Supreme Lord, and so the Lord says that for anyone who is unflinchingly devoted to Him, He is easy to attain. The devotee can render service to any of the transcendental forms of the Supreme Lord, and he meets with none of the problems that plague the practitioners of other yogas. Bhakti-yoga is very simple and pure and easy to perform. One can begin by simply chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa is very merciful to those who engage in His service, and He helps in various ways that devotee who is fully surrendered to Him so he can understand Him as He is. The Lord gives such a devotee sufficient intelligence so that ultimately the devotee can attain Him in His spiritual kingdom. ¶

The special qualification of the pure devotee is that he is always thinking of Kṛṣṇa without considering the time or place. There should be no impediments. He should be able to carry out his service anywhere and at any time. Some say that the devotee should remain in holy places like Vṛndāvana or some holy town where the Lord lived, but a pure devotee can live anywhere and create the atmosphere of Vṛndāvana by his devotional service. It was Śrī Advaita who told Lord Caitanya, “Wherever You are, O Lord-there is Vṛndavana.” ¶

A pure devotee constantly remembers Kṛṣṇa and meditates upon Him. These are qualifications of the pure devotee for whom the Lord is most easily attainable. Bhakti-yoga is the system that the Gītā recommends above all others. Generally, the bhakti-yogīs are engaged in five different ways: 1) śānta-bhakta, engaged in devotional service in neutrality; 2) dāsya-bhakta, engaged in devotional service as servant; 3) sākhya-bhakta, engaged as friend; 4) vātsalya-bhakta, engaged as parent; and 5) mādhurya-bhakta, engaged as conjugal lover of the Supreme Lord. In any of these ways, the pure devotee is always constantly engaged in the transcendental loving service of the Supreme Lord and cannot forget the Supreme Lord, and so for him the Lord is easily attained. A pure devotee cannot forget the Supreme Lord for a moment, and similarly, the Supreme Lord cannot forget His pure devotee for a moment. This is the great blessing of the Kṛṣṇa conscious process of chanting the mahāmantra, Hare Kṛṣṇa. ¶