In Bhagavad Gita 8.10, Krishna says that one who at death, with unmoving mind, devotion and the power of yoga, fixes the life-breath between the eyebrows, reaches that supreme divine Person.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
प्रयाणकाले मनसाऽचलेन
भक्त्या युक्तो योगबलेन चैव
भ्रुवोर्मध्ये प्राणमावेश्य सम्यक्
स तं परं पुरुषमुपैति दिव्यम् ॥ ८-१० ॥
prayāṇakāle manasā’calena
bhaktyā yukto yogabalena caiva
bhruvormadhye prāṇamāveśya samyak
sa taṃ paraṃ puruṣamupaiti divyam
English transliteration prayaanakaale manasaa’chalena
bhaktyaa yukto yogabalena chaiva
bhruvormadhye praanamaaveshya samyak
sa tam param purushamupaiti divyam ॥ 8.10 ॥
Translation / Meaning
at the time of departure, with an unmoving mind, endowed with devotion and the strength of yoga, fixing the life-breath fully between the eyebrows, reaches that supreme divine Person.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| प्रयाणकाले prayāṇakāle | at the time of departure |
| मनसा manasā | with a mind |
| अचलेन acalena | unmoving |
| भक्त्या bhaktyā | with devotion |
| युक्तः yuktaḥ | endowed |
| योगबलेन yogabalena | with the strength of yoga yoga (yoga) + balena (strength) |
| च ca | and |
| एव eva | also |
| भ्रुवोः bhruvoḥ | of the eyebrows |
| मध्ये madhye | between |
| प्राणम् prāṇam | life-breath |
| आवेश्य āveśya | fixing |
| सम्यक् samyak | fully |
| सः saḥ | he |
| तम् tam | that |
| परम् param | supreme |
| पुरुषम् puruṣam | Person |
| उपैति upaiti | reaches |
| दिव्यम् divyam | divine |
Word-wise Chanting
- pra–yā–ṇa–kā–le ma–na–sā–‘ca–le–na 11 syllables pra-yaa-na-kaa-le ma-na-saa-‘cha-le-na
- bhak–tyā yuk–to yo–ga–ba–le–na cai–va | 11 syllables bhak-tyaa yuk-to yo-ga-ba-le-na chai-va
- bhru–vor–madh–ye prā–ṇa–mā–veś–ya sam–yak 11 syllables bhru-vor-madh-ye praa-na-maa-vesh-ya sam-yak
- sa taṃ pa–raṃ pu–ru–ṣa–mu–pai–ti div–yam || 8-10 12 syllables sa tam pa-ram pu-ru-sha-mu-pai-ti div-yam
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 8 Verse 10
Context
The sentence begun in 8.9 is completed here.
Meaning
At death, the yogī holds the mind acala, unmoving, with bhakti, devotion, and yoga-bala, strength gained through practice. The prāṇa, life-breath, is gathered and fixed between the eyebrows. In that concentrated state, the person reaches the supreme divine Person meditated on in 8.9.
The verse unites devotion and yogic discipline. Both are needed: love gives direction, practice gives strength. The ability to hold the mind steady at death is built through a lifetime of steady practice.
In Practice
In meditation today, gently rest your attention between the eyebrows for a few breaths, holding a feeling of devotion.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 8: Akshara Brahma Yoga (The Imperishable Absolute). 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.