In Bhagavad Gita 8.13, Krishna says that one who departs leaving the body while uttering the one syllable Om, which is Brahman, and remembering him, reaches the supreme goal.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
ओमित्येकाक्षरं ब्रह्म
व्याहरन्मामनुस्मरन्
यः प्रयाति त्यजन्देहं
स याति परमां गतिम् ॥ ८-१३ ॥
omityekākṣaraṃ brahma
vyāharanmāmanusmaran
yaḥ prayāti tyajandehaṃ
sa yāti paramāṃ gatim
English transliteration omityekaaksharam brahma
vyaaharanmaamanusmaran
yah prayaati tyajandeham
sa yaati paramaam gatim ॥ 8.13 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Uttering the one-syllabled Om, which is Brahman, and remembering Me, one who departs, leaving the body, reaches the supreme goal.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ओम् om | Om |
| इति iti | thus |
| एकाक्षरम् ekākṣaram | the one syllable eka (one) + akṣaram (syllable) |
| ब्रह्म brahma | Brahman |
| व्याहरन् vyāharan | uttering |
| माम् mām | Me |
| अनुस्मरन् anusmaran | remembering |
| यः yaḥ | who |
| प्रयाति prayāti | departs |
| त्यजन् tyajan | leaving |
| देहम् deham | the body |
| सः saḥ | he |
| याति yāti | reaches |
| परमाम् paramām | supreme |
| गतिम् gatim | goal |
Word-wise Chanting
- o–mit–ye–kā–kṣa–raṃ brah–ma 8 syllables o-mit-ye-kaa-ksha-ram brah-ma
- vyā–ha–ran–mā–ma–nus–ma–ran | 8 syllables vyaa-ha-ran-maa-ma-nus-ma-ran
- yaḥ pra–yā–ti tya–jan–de–haṃ 8 syllables yah pra-yaa-ti tya-jan-de-ham
- sa yā–ti pa–ra–māṃ ga–tim || 8-13 8 syllables sa yaa-ti pa-ra-maam ga-tim
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 13
Context
The sentence begun in 8.12 is completed here.
Meaning
Om is called ekākṣaraṃ brahma, Brahman in the form of a single syllable. The yogī, with senses withdrawn and breath gathered, utters Om and remembers the Divine, and in that state leaves the body. Such a person reaches the paramā gati, the highest destination.
Om is a bridge between the finite and the infinite. Chanting it throughout life makes it a familiar refuge for the mind, ready to arise naturally at the end.
In Practice
Chant Om slowly three times today, feeling the sound fade into silence, and rest in that silence.
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.