At the time of departure, one who leaves the body with an unmoving mind, devotion, and the power of yoga, placing the life-force between the eyebrows, reaches the divine supreme person.
— Krishna
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Bhagavad Gita · 8.10
Hindi · हिन्दी
वह भक्तियुक्त मनुष्य अन्तसमयमें अचल मनसे और योगबलके द्वारा भृकुटीके मध्यमें प्राणोंको अच्छी तरहसे प्रविष्ट करके शरीर छोड़नेपर उस परम दिव्य पुरुषको ही प्राप्त होता है ॥
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Hover a word to focus on it.
प्रयाणकालेat the time of departureमनसाwith the mindअचलेनunmovingभक्त्याwith devotionयुक्तःjoinedयोगबलेनby the power of yogaचandएवindeedभ्रुवोःof the two eyebrowsमध्येin the middleप्राणम्the life-forceआवेश्यplacingसम्यक्properlyसःthat oneतम्thatपरम्supremeपुरुषम्personउपैतिreachesदिव्यम्divine
Read literallyat the time of departure · with the mind · unmoving · with devotion · joined · by the power of yoga · and · indeed · of the two eyebrows · in the middle · the life-force · placing · properly · that one · that · supreme · person · reaches · divine
Understanding the verse
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It shifts attention from the fear of leaving the body to the quality of awareness at the moment of leaving.
At death, a devoted person who keeps the mind steady and directs the life-force with yogic focus reaches the divine supreme person.
02
On the battlefield
Context & commentary
On the battlefield of Kurukshetra, Krishna is answering Arjuna’s fear of death and the final moment. After describing the supreme, imperishable goal, he now explains the inner condition that carries a person there: steady mind, devotion, and concentrated yoga at departure.
03
In your life
Why this verse still matters
A surgeon says, 'We need a decision now,' and your chest tightens. This verse points to the kind of inner steadiness that lets a person meet the last, hardest moment without panic.
The takeaway
“The final moment is not chaos when the mind has been trained to stay still.”
At death, a devoted person who keeps the mind steady and directs the life-force with yogic focus reaches the divine supreme person.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 8.10?
Krishna speaks this verse, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, in the chapter titled "Akshara Brahma Yoga" (The Imperishable Absolute).
Which chapter of the Bhagavad Gita contains verse 8.10?
Verse 10 sits in Chapter 8 of the Bhagavad Gita — Akshara Brahma Yoga, "The Imperishable Absolute". The chapter has 28 verses in total.
Why does Bhagavad Gita 8.10 matter today?
A surgeon says, 'We need a decision now,' and your chest tightens. This verse points to the kind of inner steadiness that lets a person meet the last, hardest moment without panic.
It shifts attention from the fear of leaving the body to the quality of awareness at the moment of leaving.
What this verse means
At death, a devoted person who keeps the mind steady and directs the life-force with yogic focus reaches the divine supreme person.
Context & commentary
On the battlefield of Kurukshetra, Krishna is answering Arjuna’s fear of death and the final moment. After describing the supreme, imperishable goal, he now explains the inner condition that carries a person there: steady mind, devotion, and concentrated yoga at departure.
Why this verse still matters
A surgeon says, 'We need a decision now,' and your chest tightens. This verse points to the kind of inner steadiness that lets a person meet the last, hardest moment without panic.
“The final moment is not chaos when the mind has been trained to stay still.”