In Bhagavad Gita 8.6, Krishna says that whatever state of being one remembers when leaving the body, one goes to that very state, having always been absorbed in it.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
यं यं वापि स्मरन्भावं
त्यजत्यन्ते कलेवरम्
तं तमेवैति कौन्तेय
सदा तद्भावभावितः ॥ ८-६ ॥
yaṃ yaṃ vāpi smaranbhāvaṃ
tyajatyante kalevaram
taṃ tamevaiti kaunteya
sadā tadbhāvabhāvitaḥ
English transliteration yam yam vaapi smaranbhaavam
tyajatyante kalevaram
tam tamevaiti kaunteya
sadaa tadbhaavabhaavitah ॥ 8.6 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Whatever state of being one remembers when leaving the body at the end, to that very state one goes, O son of Kunti, having always been absorbed in its thought.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| यम् यम् yam yam | whatever |
| वा vā | or |
| अपि api | also |
| स्मरन् smaran | remembering |
| भावम् bhāvam | state of being |
| त्यजति tyajati | leaves |
| अन्ते ante | at the end |
| कलेवरम् kalevaram | the body |
| तम् तम् tam tam | that very |
| एव eva | indeed |
| एति eti | goes |
| कौन्तेय kaunteya | O son of Kuntī |
| सदा sadā | always |
| तद्भावभावितः tadbhāvabhāvitaḥ | absorbed in that thought tat (that) + bhāva (state) + bhāvitaḥ (absorbed) |
Word-wise Chanting
- yaṃ yaṃ vā–pi sma–ran–bhā–vaṃ 8 syllables yam yam vaa-pi sma-ran-bhaa-vam
- tya–jat–yan–te ka–le–va–ram | 8 syllables tya-jat-yan-te ka-le-va-ram
- taṃ ta–me–vai–ti kaun–te–ya 8 syllables tam ta-me-vai-ti kaun-te-ya
- sa–dā tad–bhā–va–bhā–vi–taḥ || 8-6 8 syllables sa-daa tad-bhaa-va-bhaa-vi-tah
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 6
Context
Krishna states the general principle behind 8.5.
Meaning
The mind at death goes where it has been trained to go. Whatever one has dwelt on throughout life, sadā tad-bhāva-bhāvita, becomes the dominant thought at the end, and that thought shapes one’s next destination. The last thought is not an accident; it is the fruit of a lifetime.
This verse makes every present moment important. What we think about habitually today is preparing the thought that will arise at our final hour. Life is a rehearsal for its own conclusion.
In Practice
Notice what your mind returns to when it is idle. Is that what you want to be thinking at the end? Gently train it toward the higher.
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.