In Bhagavad Gita 7.30, the last verse of Chapter 7, Krishna says that those who know him as the basis of beings, gods and sacrifice, with steadfast minds, know him even at the time of death.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
साधिभूताधिदैवं मां
साधियज्ञं च ये विदुः
प्रयाणकालेऽपि च मां
ते विदुर्युक्तचेतसः ॥ ७-३० ॥
sādhibhūtādhidaivaṃ māṃ
sādhiyajñaṃ ca ye viduḥ
prayāṇakāle’pi ca māṃ
te viduryuktacetasaḥ
English transliteration saadhibhootaadhidaivam maam
saadhiyajnam cha ye viduh
prayaanakaale’pi cha maam
te viduryuktachetasah ॥ 7.30 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Those who know Me as the governing principle of beings, of the gods and of sacrifice, with steadfast minds, know Me even at the time of departure.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| साधिभूताधिदैवम् sādhibhūtādhidaivam | with the principle of beings and the principle of the gods sa (with) + adhibhūta (principle of beings) + adhidaivam (principle of the gods) |
| माम् mām | Me |
| साधियज्ञम् sādhiyajñam | with the principle of sacrifice |
| च ca | and |
| ये ye | who |
| विदुः viduḥ | know |
| प्रयाणकाले prayāṇakāle | at the time of departure prayāṇa (departure) + kāle (at the time) |
| अपि api | even |
| च ca | and |
| माम् mām | Me |
| ते te | they |
| विदुः viduḥ | know |
| युक्तचेतसः yuktacetasaḥ | with steadfast minds yukta (steadfast) + cetasaḥ (minds) |
Word-wise Chanting
- sā–dhi–bhū–tā–dhi–dai–vaṃ māṃ 8 syllables saa-dhi-bhoo-taa-dhi-dai-vam maam
- sā–dhi–ya–jñaṃ ca ye vi–duḥ | 8 syllables saa-dhi-ya-jnam cha ye vi-duh
- pra–yā–ṇa–kā–le–‘pi ca māṃ 8 syllables pra-yaa-na-kaa-le-‘pi cha maam
- te vi–dur–yuk–ta–ce–ta–saḥ || 7-30 8 syllables te vi-dur-yuk-ta-che-ta-sah
How to read this
How to chant: each line is one pāda (quarter-verse); chant it in one breath. The hyphen (-) divides the syllables, inside a word and across a sandhi join, so every pāda shows its 8 syllables (11 in triṣṭubh verses). A consonant cluster is divided after its first consonant (kar-ma, vet-ti): that syllable is held longer. Mark above a syllable: guru, long (two beats); laghu, short (one beat). | closes the half-verse, || the verse; the number is the syllable count of the pāda.
Deeper Explanation – Chapter 7 Verse 30
Context
The final verse of Chapter 7 introduces terms that Arjuna will ask about at the beginning of Chapter 8.
Meaning
Krishna names further aspects of himself: adhibhūta, the principle underlying material beings; adhidaiva, the principle underlying the gods; and adhiyajña, the principle of sacrifice. Those who know the Divine in all these aspects, with steadfast minds, remember the Divine even at the moment of death.
The chapter ends with the theme of death, which Chapter 8 will develop. A life spent knowing the Divine in all things naturally culminates in remembering the Divine at the end. How we live shapes how we die.
In Practice
Practise remembering the Divine at transitions today: waking, eating, beginning work and going to sleep. Let these small transitions train you for the great one.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 7: Jnana Vijnana Yoga (Knowledge and Realisation). Read the chapter overview, browse every verse of the Gita, or return to the chapter-by-chapter guide. For a reading plan, see how to study the Bhagavad Gita and the study resources.