यं यं वा पी स्मरन्भावं त्यजत्यन्ते कलेवरम्। तं तमेवैति कौन्तेय सदा तद्भावभावितः।।8.6।।
yam yam vāpi smaraṇ bhāvaṁ tyajaty ante kalevaram. tam tam evaiti Kaunteya sadā tadbhāva‑bhāvitaḥ.
Translation
Whatever one remembers upon giving up the body at the time of death, O son of Kunti, one attains that state, being always absorbed in such contemplation.
Word Meanings
yām yām — whatever; vā api — at all; smaraṇ — remembering; bhāvam — nature; tyajati — gives up; ante — at the end; kalevaram — this body; tam tam — similar; eva — certainly; iti — gets; kaunteya — O son of Kunti; sadā — always; tat — that; bhāva — state of being; bhāvitaḥ — remembering
Understanding the Verse
Verse 8.6 is a profound meditation on the moment of death, which the Gita describes as the final opportunity for the soul to solidify its destination. In this verse Krishna tells Arjuna that the object of one’s last conscious thought determines the state that the soul will assume after departing the mortal form. The phrase ‘yām yām vāpi smaraṇ bhāvaṁ’ emphasizes that the remembrance may be of any object – whether divine, worldly, or neutral – and each such recollection establishes a specific vibrational imprint.
The verb ‘tyajaty’ (gives up) signals the act of shedding the physical body, an event that is inevitable for all beings. It is not a passive cessation but an active relinquishment that coincides with the soul’s transition. By linking ‘tyajaty’ directly with ‘ante kalevaram’ (at the end of this body), the text underscores that the decisive moment is precisely when the veil of materiality is pierced.
Krishna then says ‘taṁ tamevaiti Kaunteya’, i.e., ‘that alone he reaches, O son of Kunti’. The demonstrative ‘taṁ’ points to the specific state (bhāva) that has been cultivated by the dying mind. The exclusivity of ‘tameva’ reinforces that no other factor intervenes; the last thought is the sole determinant of the soul’s immediate post‑death experience.
The final clause ‘sadā tad‑bhāva‑bhāvitaḥ’ adds a temporal dimension: the individual remains perpetually immersed in that very state. If the mind is focused on the divine (for example, on Krishna or the ultimate reality), the soul merges with the supreme consciousness. If the mind clings to material desires, the soul continues in the corresponding realm of existence. Thus, the verse serves both as a warning and as guidance: cultivating a devotional, self‑less, or spiritually oriented mindset throughout life equips one to recall such thoughts at death, ensuring liberation or at least a favorable rebirth.
In the broader context of Chapter 8 (the Yoga of the Imperishable Brahman), this verse complements the preceding discussion on the ‘pralaya’ (dissolution) and the ‘yoga of the undefiled’. It illustrates how the practice of remembering the Supreme at the moment of death is the culmination of the yogic path – the final, decisive yoga that determines the soul’s eternal destination. By internalizing this teaching, a practitioner learns to maintain a subtle, continuous awareness of the Divine, so that when the body finally departs, the transition becomes a seamless continuation of the same consciousness rather than a jarring rupture.
