In Bhagavad Gita 8.5, Krishna says that whoever leaves the body remembering him alone at the time of death attains his being; of this there is no doubt.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
अन्तकाले च मामेव
स्मरन्मुक्त्वा कलेवरम्
यः प्रयाति स मद्भावं
याति नास्त्यत्र संशयः ॥ ८-५ ॥
antakāle ca māmeva
smaranmuktvā kalevaram
yaḥ prayāti sa madbhāvaṃ
yāti nāstyatra saṃśayaḥ
English transliteration antakaale cha maameva
smaranmuktvaa kalevaram
yah prayaati sa madbhaavam
yaati naastyatra samshayah ॥ 8.5 ॥
Translation / Meaning
And whoever, at the time of death, leaves the body remembering Me alone, attains My being. Of this there is no doubt.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| अन्तकाले antakāle | at the time of death anta (end) + kāle (at the time) |
| च ca | and |
| माम् mām | Me |
| एव eva | alone |
| स्मरन् smaran | remembering |
| मुक्त्वा muktvā | leaving |
| कलेवरम् kalevaram | the body |
| यः yaḥ | who |
| प्रयाति prayāti | departs |
| सः saḥ | he |
| मद्भावम् madbhāvam | My being mat (My) + bhāvam (being) |
| याति yāti | attains |
| न na | not |
| अस्ति asti | is |
| अत्र atra | here |
| संशयः saṃśayaḥ | doubt |
Word-wise Chanting
- an–ta–kā–le ca mā–me–va 8 syllables an-ta-kaa-le cha maa-me-va
- sma–ran–muk–tvā ka–le–va–ram | 8 syllables sma-ran-muk-tvaa ka-le-va-ram
- yaḥ pra–yā–ti sa mad–bhā–vaṃ 8 syllables yah pra-yaa-ti sa mad-bhaa-vam
- yā–ti nās–tyat–ra saṃ–śa–yaḥ || 8-5 8 syllables yaa-ti naas-tyat-ra sam-sha-yah
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 5
Context
Krishna answers Arjuna’s question about knowing him at death (8.2).
Meaning
The last thought at death carries great power. One who departs remembering the Divine alone reaches madbhāva, the Divine’s own state of being. Krishna adds nāsty atra saṃśayaḥ: there is no doubt about this. It is a clear and confident promise.
This is a great comfort. The way to the Divine at the end is simple: remembrance. But remembrance at the end grows from remembrance throughout life, as the next verses explain.
In Practice
Choose a short name or image of the Divine and practise recalling it many times today, so it becomes natural to the mind.
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.