SHRIMAD BHAGWAD GEETA CHAPTER EIGHT

Om shri paramatamanay namah




Ath Ashtamo Adhayay




Arjun uvach



Kimtadbraham kimadhayatm kimkaram purshottam I

Adhibhutamchkimproktam adhidevamkim uchayate II


Adhiyagyam kathamkoatra deheasmin madhusudan I

Paryarhkale kathamgeyoasi niyatamatmbhi II (1-2)

Arjun asked: Krishana, what is that absolute, what that spirit, what is action is. What is called matter and what is termed as divine intelligence?

Krishana! Who is the adhiyagya here and how does he dwell in the body? And how are you to be realized at the time of death by those who have steadfast Mind fixed in you?

In the last verse of previous chapter, Lord Krishna narrated as to how the person taking refuge in him and striving for deliverance from old age and death know absolute, totality of spirits or embodied souls, entire field of action as well as his eternal being comprising the field of matter, Braham and unmanifested divinity dwelling in all beings as their witness, even know him at the time of their death.

Arjun curiously want to know that entire thing from the Lord in detail.
So he has put seven questions to Lord to know as to what is that absolute, spirit, action, matter, divine intelligence and adhiyagya, and how a man of steadfast mind fixed in him, realizes him at the time of death?

Shri Bhagwan Uvach:


Aksharam braham parmam savbhavoadhiatamuchayate I

bhutbhavudbhavkaro visargah karamsangitah II

Adhibhutam kshrobhavah purushchaadhidevtam I

Adhiyagyoahamevatra dehe dehbhritam var II (3-4)


Lord Krishana says: The indestructible Supreme is Baraham, one’s own self is called adhiyatma and discharge of spirits, which brings forth the existence of beings, is called action.

O Arjun! All perishable objects are adhibhutah; the Baraham is adhideva; and in this body, I, dwelling in the body as inner witness, am adhiyagya.

Lord Krishna says:

The all pervading Supreme Self is ‘Braham’ as he is the only indestructible; every being emanating from that omniscient supreme self, the self soul (individual soul in every being) is adhiyatma.

It is the part of supreme self in all beings.

(See verse 7 in Chapter 15)

This is their life factor. (See verse 9 of Chapter 7)

This consciousness is their whole some of life.

(See verse 22 of Chapter 10)

With its departure, the body is dead.

Discharge of spirits to facilitate the beings come into existence is called action.

All perishable objects are adhibhutam, like that of body or formations of beings.

Braham is adhidevam;

Adhiyagya is Lord Krishna, in all the beings witnessing every action of those embodied soul identifying themselves with bodies.

Antkale ch mamev samranmuktva klavaram I

Yeh paryati sa madbhavam yati natrasanshya II (5)

And at the end of time, the self soul remembering me while leaving the body, departs from the body, it definitely without any doubt, reaches Me.

See the greatness of Lord; he has bestowed self soul freedom to come home. Even if self soul remains engrossed in material activities for whole of life in an embodiment, it has been given a facility to remember lord, even once at the time of leaving the body, to attain lord’s servitude.
Though this appearing to be very easy, it is most difficult to remember supreme self at the last moment of life in human embodiment, unless one has practiced in life in that body.

It is most difficult to remember the lord by his name or any other name of one’s own cherished god, at the end of life of the embodiment.

These facts are made clear by the lord in following verses.

Actually the self soul has been affected by an inscrutable disease of ‘ego’ and attachment with the body. Even at the time of departure from body, it still wants few moments to fulfill its wish to see children and to accomplish remaining desires.

This causes other embodiment of self soul.

In chapter 14 Lord says:

Urdhavam gachhanti sattvastha madhye tishathanti rajsa I
Jaghanyagurhvritastha adho gachhanti tamsah II ` (14.18)

Those attached with goodness go to upper planets, those situated in passion remain in middle and those situated in ignorance go to lower planets.

Attachment with three different qualities of nature, at the time of death, causes different shape of bodies.
If at the time of leaving a body, ‘self soul’ identifying with mind is able to remember the almighty; it shall be a state of non attachment with material nature. Lord guarantees that soul reaches its own self.

In the following verses the lord has prescribed the method of evolving practice to remember almighty Lord Krishna, so that not only at time of end but at every moment of life, one should remember him while discharging duties as per one’s material nature’s prescription.

The practice with material nature has made self soul so conditioned that it is not ready to detach itself from mind body set. If all is diverted to Lord Krishna, this practice shall ensure last moment remembrance.

Moment of death is not sure, it may come at a spur and one may not have a chance to remember Lord Krishna, why not to make advance bank balance to assure freedom.

The life is like a drop of water on the red hot disk. The end can come at any time. So to be on safe side, one should make it a practice to remember Krishna at every moment.
None will have chance to obstruct the death. It will arrive at the appointed moment without informing.
So while embodiment being alive remembers him in such a way that his memory continues even the time of departure from this body.
Practice of yoga of dispassion, knowledge is scarcely of use to any devotee whose mind is centered to the lord as it becomes his habit to see him in every circumstance.

Yam yam vapi samranbhavam tajyatiante klavaram I

Tam tameveti kontey sada tadbhavbhavitah II (6)

O Arjun! What ever a living entity, remembers at the time of death, that and only that one, attains leaving living entity, because of being always immersed in that thought.

Lord in chapter seven has clearly laid down that material nature consisting of three evolutes is inscrutable (see verse 14 in chapter 7) but those who are devoted to me they swim across it. Now the difficulty is that the self soul having attached itself with the three qualities from the time immemorial has been transmigrating from one body to another. It has been struggling with mind, intellect, and senses

(See verse 7, 8 and 9 in Chapter 15)

Had it detached itself from these qualities in the past embodiment, he would have gone to home, to godhead. But when one has not practiced this, while body is alive, at the time of death, one shall not be invariably able to remember syllable of Lord as there might other forceful feelings of material attachments like wife, sons, daughters, house, property, relations etc. etc.

While in human body, if one has not tried to recognize itself and at least see itself separate entity as ‘consciousness’ and not a bag of bones, meat, blood, latrine, urine and everything else which one actually hates.

Unless you do so, this golden chance to make use of human body, to go home shall be lost.

Lord says that whatever entity identifying with mind, one thinks of at the time of departure from the embodiment, the self soul attains that one and only that one.
With this caution one should be alert and start thinking of Lord Krishna all the time before leaving the body so that one can remember him while departing from the body.

One has to habitually use mind and intellect to remember the almighty all the time to be enable to do so at the time of death.



Tasmatsarveshu kaleshu mamanusamar yudhya ch I

Mayyarpitmanobudhirmameveshayasiasanshayam II (7)


Arjun, therefore, think of me all the time and fight. With mind and intellect thus set in Me, you will undoubtedly come to me.


Lord Krishna directs Arjun to think of him all the time and also take part in war with his foes. With mind and intellect fixed on the Lord, the devotee Arjun would reach HIM.

THIS IS CLEAR MESSAGE FOR ALL MANKIND.

Lord has no where suggested that one has to disassociate from one’s natural prescribed duties.
While thinking of Lord, mind and intellect should be fixed on Lord. Actually what happens, our mind and intellect are more fully attached to this material world. If mind and intellect are devoted to the Lord, thinking of him, the devotee shall leave everything to lord.

CARING FOR NOTHING HAS BEEN CALLED HIGHEST YOGA AND FULLEST WELL-BEING.

Therefore, the man who has ‘no desire’ and cares for naught attains devotion to lord.
Attainment of desirelessness is only possible from devotion and practice of remembering the lord all the time.
Every attainment can be achieved by devotion. This faculty is to be applied

Even if one desires to achieve material prosperity, one has to concentrate on ways to achieve success in every such field. Scientist, a musician, a student, a professional, all have to devote their mind and intellect in their field. If a devotee wants to attain self, he has to devote all these faculties to Lord Krishna.

In chapter 6 when lord narrates sameness of yoga, Arjun is prompt to raise an intelligent question about the unsteadiness of mind.
Lord agrees that mind is very restless all the time, no doubt, but it can be brought under control by practice of meditation and by exercise of dispassion.

This mind is to be subdued by intellect and devotion to the self.
While performing one’s own prescribed duties, one has to remember Lord Krishna all the time. By this practice, embodied soul may remember Lord Krishna and that moment shall be moment of liberation.

When the soul departs from the body a natural utterance and remembrance may be that of lord, assuring the self soul his return to home, freedom from birth, death, pain, suffering and all dualities of life in an embodiment.


Abhyasyogyukten chetsa naanygamina I

Paramam purusham divayam yati parthanuchintayan II (8)


Arjun! He, who is constantly engaged in contemplation of Lord by practice of yoga of devotion by meditation, attains Supreme effulgent Lord.

How to attain the self effulgent Pursha?

Every secret is open and clear. Lord is looking for his lost sons and daughters. He is eagerly waiting for their return to home like a worldly father wailing for a lost son or kidnapped daughter.

Lord has revealed everything in his divine message.

One has to practice devotion by way of meditation to the extent that it becomes a routine for mind to remember Lord all the time even while engaging itself in performance of duties assigned to him by material nature.

One has to fix mind on this thinking. It has not to deviate towards world or material nature. Once one has put his foot on this path, Lord will never let him go, one can rest assured. Self soul attains the service of self effulgent lord by diverting to him.

Who is the source of all and every thing?

Kavim purarhamanushasitaram

arhorarhiyansamanusamradeyah I

Sarvasya dhataramachintyrupam

aditiyvararham tamsah parastat II


Paryankale mansaachlen

bhaktya yukto yogbalen chev I

Bhurvomaddheye parhamavesh samyak

sa tam param purushamupeti divayam II (9-10)

The devotee who meditate wisest of all, ageless, ruler of all, who is even smaller than the smallest, who is maintainer of every thing, who is beyond all material conceptions, unconceivable, who is luminous like sun and He is transcendental, beyond this material nature .

At the time of death, he who fixes his life air between the eye brows by the strength of yoga, with mind not deviating, engages himself in memory of Supreme Lord in full devotion, shall attain Him.

Lord Krishna is describing the process of thinking of the supreme lord at the moment of departure from body.
Lord knows present, past and future. He is the knower of every thing.
He is oldest which means he is the origin of every thing around and beyond.
He is ageless.
He is the controller of every thing we can see in this material world and beyond that.
There is lot of galaxies in this universe; some are as far as that it may take many lives of a human being to reach even one of them.
But every thing is being controlled superbly by the inscrutable power of lord.
He is the smaller than the smallest. He is the greater than the greatest.
At the time of one’s departure from body, one’s mind is disturbed due to attachment with body, mind, senses, intellect and the relations of body.
Due to worldly attachment, the self soul seated in the body, still wishes to cling to the body. Fear grips and it is afraid of leaving the embodiment. It causes trembling of limbs. Body urinates out of this fear, but self soul has to leave the body per force of time cycle. If one is attached to almighty due to practice which he did while living in body, at the time of leaving the embodiment, he finds moment of enjoyment like a tortured bride leaving bridal home to go to meet her parents. That moment shall be cherish able and no more lamenting one.
It finds the company of Lord in the form of death.

Lord is in form of even death:

Mritiyuh sarvharashachahamudbhavashch bhavishyatam I
(Bhagwad Geeta 10.34)

A devotee is not fearful of death or leaving the body, since he has been living a transcendental life through practice. a true devotee of Lord Krishna does not fears death while leaving the body.
He sees lord even at the time of death. It is the death of a particular embodiment, a cover made of five basic elements, and it is full of flesh, bones, blood, latrine, urine and everything which is filthy.
Lord Krishna is the governing principle of universe, material world, demigods and all sacrifices. He is death, birth and living life force in all beings.

yadaksharam vedvido vadanti

vishanti yad yatyo veetragah I

yadichhanto barhamcharyamcharanti


tat te padam sangraherh oarvakshey II


sarvduvararhi sanyam mano hridi nirudhya I

murdhanyaadhayatmna prarhamsithitoh yogdharrham II


om itiekaksham braham vyaharanmamanusamaran I

yah paryati tayjan deh sa yati parmam gatim II (11-13)


I shall now briefly describe to you the ultimate goal which spoken of, by the scholars of Vedas, to which the ascetics enter after freeing themselves of attachment, for attainment of which some practice celibacy.

Controlling all sensory outlets, mind fixed in the core of heart, life air in top of head and one established in yoga.


Thus situated in yoga practice, chanting the sacred syllable, Om, if one thinks of ME the Supreme Lord and quits the body, he attains me, the Supreme Self.

Lord is explaining yogic action to attain the goal of human embodiment.
There are different ways to attain lord ultimate.
Yogic activities are one of the ways. By yogic activities, one is able to control the activities of mind. Once mind is at peace, it stops wandering. All the sensory outlets put under complete control and self-imposed mental abstinence, mind fixed on the innermost part of body i.e. heart, life air fixed in the forehead, reciting of syllable OM at the time of departure from body, one certainly attains supreme self.
This is possible only through constant practice while living in the body.
Actually human body is an instrument to attain self realization.

ONE CAN ATTAIN ETERNAL FROM MATERIAL.


Ananychetah satatam yo mam samrati nityashah I

Tasyaham sulabhah parth nityyuktasya yoginah II (14)

Arjun! I am readily available to the devotee who constantly and regularly remembers me with his mind exclusively fixed on me.

Lord tells easy way to attain him. The self soul has become conditioned due to travel from one body to other while trying to seek happiness from material objects of sense satisfaction.
Purporting to enjoy same set of senses in every body, it expects the supreme self to appear before it in same form in which he appeared 5500 years ago. One is not open to feel the presence of lord in every particle of this universe because of ego.
There is nothing which is beyond Krishna. He is pervading this universe. He is inside as well as outside of this universe and beyond too. Rather this world is transitory reflection of the Lord like one having dream.

Why body full of dirt, flesh, blood, latrine, urine, salve and all hateful substances appears to mind most loveable.


It is self soul twinkling in it, illuminating it.

In chapter 10 verses 4 and 5 lord says:


Budhirgyanasanmoha kshama satyam damah shamah I

Sukham dukham bhavoabhavo bhayamabhayamev ch II

Ahinsa samata tushtistapo danam yashoashah I

Bhavanti bhava bhutanam mattev prathakvadhah II (10.4-5)

Intelligence, knowledge, freedom from doubt, forgiveness, truthfulness, control of senses, control of mind, happiness, unhappiness, birth, death, fear, fearlessness, and also
non- violence, balance, satisfaction, penance, charity, fame, infamy- all these qualities of living beings are created because of me.

These twenty feelings crop up in the mind of a person not because of one’s body but because of consciousness, the self living entity which has accidentally identified itself with mind, intellect, senses and embodiment.
Has any body seen a dead body expressing grief on being put on burning pyre or being consigned to grave?

This ‘jeeva’ has developed ‘ego’ of being body. This is the cause of bondage existing from the time immemorial. It shall continue to exist, if you fail to rise to this occasion.

KATHOPNISHAD SAYS:

Utishth jagrat prapya varan nibhodhat

Rise, awake and attain extreme by knowledge acquired from learned

When karmic circle is about to end, the self soul attains self realization.
It is then blessed with unflinching devotion of lord. This devotee is desire less, he sees in every act the kindness of Krishna.
Every moment gives him a message of lord.
The lord exerts all humans, to devote mind, intellect to him. The self soul has fastened itself with body like a blunted screw which requires a welder to cut it apart.
By the grace of lord one acquires devotion to lord. He attains a guide who himself is the messenger of Lord.

Self soul follows mind and intellect like a child following band of revelers in a village and going astray.

Mind is to be thrashed mercilessly by sting of chanting the glories of lord. Then one can hope to become ananyacheta to attain Lord.


mamupetaya punarjanam dukhalyamashashvatam i

naapnuvanti mahatamanh sansidhim parmam gatah ii (15)


Attaining me these great souls are released from the cycle of birth and death which is uncertain and full of misery as they attain perfection.


The persons who have cherished accumulation of wealth and materialistic possession are really poor most, as they don’t know that real purpose of this period of human life is to be utilized in self realization and not in material acquisition. None is going to get more or less than what destiny has assigned. Time too is fixed. Time, place and manner of death too are fixed but none knows when one is to die. One thing every one knows that one is doomed to die but still not realizing self. Association of ‘self soul’ with material energy; material prosperity has resulted in bondage.

Lord Krishna is assuring us that he is readily and easily available to all beings and that too for no price.

What we belong to, we have forgotten that. An astrayed son has fallen in bad company of material nature like one simple boy falling in trap of terrorists or bandits.

Though getting no permanent pleasure from regular practice with the materialistic possession to obtain pleasure from sense gratification, yet still attached to this façade, the self soul does not agrees to Lord Krishna’s suggestion to rope mind and intellect unto him so as to get released from cycle of birth and death which is full of distress, miseries and displeasures all around.

Lord Krishna assures that once the self soul comes to him, it is released from the unending cycle of birth and death, the self soul attains perfect and blissful place in his service.


Abrahambhuvanatlokah punravartinoarjun i

Mamupetye tu kontey punarjanam na vidyatey ii (16)

All planets from planet of Brahma (lord of all forms of beings) to the lowest planet are returnable to birth and rebirth after death but on attaining me, there is no rebirth.


Here is the secret of birth and death?

There are a number of persons who doubt the theory of birth and death.

Two points are very clear in Shrimad Bhagwad Geeta. One is secret of birth and death and other is transmigration, have been clearly stated along with its cause.

Self soul is different from embodiment. Any one can feel it that it is formless consciousness which is keeping body alive and duly charged. There are certain things which are necessary to keep the body intact so that ‘self’ seated in it, finishes the works in form of actions to emancipate from the cycle of transmigration. These actions are the reactions of our past bad and good deeds. Neither self soul performed those deeds nor is it performing here.

It was mind with which it identified itself and actions of body it previously had. Bad deeds result in distress and good deeds cause pleasures in this period of body. Within a minute one becomes poor or rich. This is not because of his body which is field of undergoing the fruit of actions. Selfless actions liberate and action with ego causes bondage. It is very clear in chapter 13 that the self soul is not the doer but actions come from nature:

Karya karan kartitve hetur pakritiruchayae I

Pursha sukh dukhanam bhoktritve heturuchayte II



purshah parkritstho hi bhunkte parikirtijan gurhan

Karnam gurh sagoas sadasad yonijanamasuII (13.20-21)



MATERIAL NATURE (IN FORM OF THREE MODES) is said to be responsible for bringing forth the evolutes and the instruments; while the individual Soul is said to be the enjoyer or sufferer having undergone the experience of joys and sorrows.

Only the Pursha seated in the Parkriti- body, mind, intellect, senses and sense objects- of the three gunas evolved from material nature and it is this contact with these three gunas that is responsible for the birth of this soul in good and bad wombs.



This further causes embodiment according to attachment with three evolutes of nature. Even mode of passion is binding. Lord in chapter no.2 verse 45 directs Arjun to detach himself from these evolutes. In verse 47 Lord clearly says that every being has right to action not its fruit. When one longs for fruit of action, he himself invites the all powerful material nature to further bind him.

Geeta is not ordinary assertion but it has come right divinity itself.

Life in a particular embodiment, identification with actions in that body and attaining other body, forms cycle of birth, death and rebirth.
Departure of self soul/consciousness from body is death and coming into body is birth.
Death and birth are our real companions.

People are dying and coming up due to attachment and ego of embodiment.
What ever we do, where ever we go either in planet of demigods or in lower living entities, there is certainty of embodiment and death of it.
But once one reaches in the service of lord Krishna, there is no repetition of coming and going in different bodies. Make use of this golden opportunity. The attachment with accumulation and desire for obtaining happiness from senses, their objects, material energy is illusion. It is the real cause for transmigration from one plane to another. They are attainable due to attachment with actions and desire for their fruits. But the finding self and supreme self does not involve any material action, so on attaining lord, there is no transmigration.
Whatever is distress or happiness one feels, it is a mental state. These feelings are situated in material nature. Eternal self cannot have two feelings of happiness and distress simultaneously. This proves that whatever is coming, it is coming from material nature. We are unhappy self because of identification with mind.

Detach your self from mind. You are free and blissful life.

Pleasures and pain are not yours.

Sahasryugparyantamaharyadbarhamarho viduh I

Ratrim yugsahasraantanam teahoratravido janah II (17)


One thousand ages form one day of Brahma from human calculation and this much period forms his one night. Whoever knows this he is knower of the time of Brahma’s day and night.

Lord has stated the period of creator’s day and night.


Avayakadvyakatah sarvah parbhavatiaharagme I

Ratryagme parliyante tatrvaavayakatsangke II


Bhutgramah sa evayam bhutva bhutva parliyate I

Ratryaagmeavashyah parth parbhavatiaharagme II (18-19)


All beings become manifest on arrival of day of Creator and when his night arrives they again go in unmanifest state.

Thus all beings repeatedly go manifest and unmanifest. Helpless as they, with arrival of night of creator they are annihilated and on arrival of day all living entities are helplessly come into beings.


Lord has clarified as to how living entities go unmanifested and manifest.

Living entities are totally helpless.

But while in body cover, specially a human one, the self soul is under constant illusion of being superior to others.

Even a below average person always has an illusion that he is above average.

Presence of this ‘ego’ shows the presence of life in us. This illusion of ‘ego’ of being embodiment is the problem.
Self with arrogance is ‘ego’. Self in ignorance as to ‘who I am’ is ego. Hope and dreams are ego. One either lives in the past of in future but nevertheless body experiencing present with mind calculating for future or scolding oneself for past mistakes.
a living entity is just less than a dot in the vast cosmos. The Lord as creator controls all beings through the play of birth and death. Everything in the life is uncertain except ‘death’ which is most certain, but the time, for it too is uncertain.
After the life span in particular embodiment, the self goes unmanifested. But again the time of its manifestation is uncertain. They have to wait for the arrival of creator’s day. Helpless soul is under constant scanning of almighty Lord.
The period of creator’s night and day is terrifically long from human calculation point of view.

One can not know as to when he may get a human form again.

Living in present and realizing one self in this life time, assures liberation from cycle of transmigration.
Even helpless living entity in human form can reach the formidable Lord by unflinching and constant devotion unto him.


parastasmattu bhavoanyoavayaktoavayaktatsanatanah I

yah sarveshu bhuteshu nashayatsu na vinashayati II (20)


However there is other unmanifest eternal energy which is higher than this creator who does not die when all creation is annihilated.

Eternal and supreme unmanifested energy of lord of universe, Lord Krishna, is beyond the fallible creator Braham. This energy of lord is the source of even creator of universe. It never vanishes even when entire creation is destroyed. It is the source of each creation and destruction. Lord is eternal energy and lord himself too. There is no disjoining or separation.


Avayaktoakshar itiuktastamahu parmam gatim I

Yam prepay na nivartante taddham parmam mam II (21)


That unmanifest eternal all perfect realm is supreme abode of mine, is the destination, reaching which the self soul has not to return.

The transmigration of self soul does not stop as long as he continues with his identity with material nature. this identification vanishes, when stops when one’s mind and intellect are completely absorbed in the remembrance of Lord Krishna without caring for welfare of body or its relation. Upkeep of body and its relations is to be done so that Lord Krishna is served through them.
Supreme unmanifested energy of lord is eternal and this is ultimate destination of self soul attaining which there is no return to any form.

Self soul free of material marital knot reaches in the service of lord.

Purushah sa parah parth bhaktya labhyasytuanaanya I

Yasyanantahsthani bhutani yen sarvamidam tatam II (22)


Who is all pervading, in whom all creatures reside, that Supreme personality can be attained only by complete devotion to him.

Eternal lord can is attained by devotion.

How one can obtain inclination to devotion to Lord?

In chapter 12 of this text from verse 13 to 19 Lord Krishna narrates the qualities of his devotee:

Advueshta sarvbhutanam maitrah karurhev ch I

Nirmamo nirahankarah samdukhsukhah kshami II

Santushtah satatam yogi yatatma drirhnishchayah I

Mayyarpitmanobudhryo madbhaktah sa me priyah II

Yasmannoduvijate loko lokannoduvajate ch ya I

Harshaamarshbhayoudvegermukto yah sa ch me priyah II

Anapekshyah shuchirdaksh udaseeno gatvyathah I

Sarvaarambhparityagi yo madbhaktah sa me priyah II

Yo na hrishayati na dveshti na shochati na kankshayati I

Shubhashubh parityagi bhaktimanyah sa me priyah II

Samo shatro ch mitre ch tatha manapmanyo I

Sheetosharhsukhdukheshu samah sangvarjitah II

Tulyanindastutirmoni santushto yen kenchit I

Aniketah sitharmatirbhaktimanmey priyo narah II (13-19)



Non-envious to all living entities, friendly and more certainly kind to all beings, unattached, pride less, equal in happiness and distress, tolerant,

Always satisfied, self controlled, his mind and intellect devoted to me, devotee like this is very dear to me.

Devotee who does not cause any trouble to anyone, and does himself not feel perturbed by the misdeeds of others, such devotee equipoise in joy and sorrow, free from fear and anxiety, is very dear to me.

A devotee of mine, not expecting result of his action, who is pure, expert in knowledge, impartial, who has detached himself from desire and anxiety, is dear to me.

He who neither happy nor envy, nor worries, nor desires that the renascent of good or bad feelings, filled with devotion unto me is very dear to me.

One who is same to friend and foe, which is equipoise to honour or dishonour, same to heat and cold, happiness and distress and devoid of companionship

Same in praise or disrepute, silent, satisfied whatever comes naturally, having no residence and devotee with determined wisdom is dear to me.

The fact is that we are eternally connected with Krishna. It is impossible for us to become disconnected from him. It is by his energy that we exist spiritually, and it is also by his energy that our material bodies are alive and functioning properly. Without Krishna, we cannot exist even for a minute spiritually or materially.

So since we are already fully connected with him 24 hours a day why then do we sometimes speak of having to connect with him?

The reason is that even though we are integrally connected with him at every second, we do not realize it. We have foolishly forgotten about ‘Him’ who is the very foundation of our existence.

It is this forgetfulness of Krishna that gives us the sensation of being disconnected from him. And in a real, practical sense this forgetfulness does make us disconnected because it prevents us from having a personal loving relationship with him and casts us into an ocean of grief.

The yoga of devotion system is a gift from the Supreme Lord himself.

As narrated in verse 13 to 19 of chapter 12 people get inclined to yoga of devotion on being blessed with encounter of a Sadguru. This teacher is Lord himself. He comes in the form of a human to guide the self soul to attain his abode.
Getting the first and foremost requisite a human body like a strong boat, very difficult to get. Even demigod long for it but they don’t get it. When one is blessed with such a boon of having human body, teacher as helmsman and this boat propelled by Lord as favorable wind- with such means as these, if a man does not strive to cross the ocean of samsara, he is verily committing suicide. If we diligently practice devotion, one can quickly and easily revive and become fully reinstated in eternal relationship with beautiful supreme person who is the source of all existence.

Lord says that the persons having deep faith in eternal path of devotion fixing me as their goal, engage their mind and intellect in me.
When one has disgusted with undertaking of action and is averse to its fruits, senses under control, holding mind steady, in me meditates me.
Meditation to lord leads one to self realization.
Form of covering is all the way separate from self soul.
But self in all the same but ignorance of self has deluded them all with darkness.
Lord is like light. Ignorance is darkness. This darkness of identification with embodiment has been there since long.
Where there is light, darkness vanishes.
The self soul is as effulgent as Lord Krishna himself. But this foolish self has married the nonexistent and decaying material energy.
Under the influence of lust, anger and greed, the self soul is not ready to open its eyes to see the Lord seated in him as consciousness. Same self is pervading the entire manifest and unmanifested.



Yatr kale tu anavritamavritam chev yoginah I

Paryayta yanti tam kalam vakshyami bharatarshabh II


Agnirjyotirah shuklah sharhmasa uttrayrham I

Tatra paryata gachhanti baraham barhamvido janah II


Dhumoratrisatha krishannah sharhmasa dakshirhayaanam I

Tatra chandmasam jyotiryogi prapya nivartate II (23-25)


I shall now tell you the period when yogi leaving body does not return and also when leaving the body the mystic return.

Yogi knowing Brahm, pass away during fire, light,
And on auspicious day time, in bright fortnight moon light, in six months of sun’s northern solstice, goes to Brahman and he does not return.

In the mystic who passes away during smoke, darkness and during 15 dark days of moon light, in six months of southern solstice of sun, they return with the lunar light.

Lord has explained as to how the period of death determines the fate of a self soul, while leaving an embodiment.


Sukalkrisharhe gati heyate shashvate mate I

Ekaya yatyaanavritamanyaavartate punah II (26)

This two times pertaining to evolution of self to Supreme abode and return to this planet of birth and death continues to affect the being from the period immemorial.

This is celestial system according to Vedic rites.


Neite sriti parth jananyogi muhayati kashchan I

Tasmatsarveshu .kaleshu yogyukto bhavaarjun II (27)


But the yogi dying in any of the either periods is not deluded, so you all the times remain steadfast in yoga.


The devotee of Lord is not afraid of the timings of his death. Devotee attached to Lord Krishna is assured pathway to godhead.
Even if, through inadvertence, the yogi does some culpable deed, he burns that deed by devotion alone. If a meditative man constantly worships Lord through the path of devotion, all his desires are destroyed.

Such yogi is not bound by the timings of death and he goes to the realm of Lord Krishna.

vedeshu yagyeshu tapsu chev

Daneshu yatpunya falam padishtam I

Atyeti tatsarvamidam viditva

Yogi param sthanamupeti chadayam II (28)

Yogi transcends the entire benefits assured from the study of Vedas, sacrifices, austerity, and piety. He reaches the Supreme primeval abode.

Whatever is attained or acquired through works, selfless action, study of religious scriptures, austerities, knowledge, dispassion, or charity or through any other means of well being, devotee of Lord Krishna easily attains it all through devotion unto him. If he cares, he can have even heaven, liberation or eternal abode of Lord.

Here the Lord has established the importance of devotion to him. When the devotee see the Lord in every thing and percepts his kindness in every small incident of his life and life around him, the knots of his doubts are destroyed, for the Lord resides in his heart.



(Thus ends the eighth chapter of Shrimad Bhagwad Geeta consisting of attainment of Absolute)