अधियज्ञः कथं कोऽत्र देहेऽस्मिन्मधुसूदन ।
प्रयाणकाले च कथं ज्ञेयोऽसि नियतात्मभिः ॥
प्रयाणकाले च कथं ज्ञेयोऽसि नियतात्मभिः ॥
Hindi · हिन्दी
अर्जुन बोले हे पुरुषोत्तम वह ब्रह्म क्या है अध्यात्म क्या है कर्म क्या है अधिभूत किसको कहा गया है और अधिदैव किसको कहा जाता है यहाँ अधियज्ञ कौन है और वह इस देहमें कैसे है हे मधूसूदन नियतात्मा वशीभूत अन्तःकरणवाले मनुष्यके द्वारा अन्तकालमें आप कैसे जाननेमें आते हैं ॥
English
Arjuna said: O Madhusudana, who is the sacrifice here, and how does he dwell in this body? And at the time of death, how are you known by those with disciplined minds?
What this verse means
Arjuna asks who the inner sacrificer is, how that presence lives in the body, and how a disciplined person can know Krishna at death.
Context & commentary
On the Kurukshetra battlefield, Arjuna has already asked about Brahman, the self, action, and the other hidden realities. He now presses Krishna further: who is the inner lord of sacrifice, how is that presence in the body, and how can a steady mind know Krishna at the final moment?
Why this verse still matters
You are standing in a hospital corridor, waiting for news that could change everything. The mind wants one clear answer: what truly matters now, and how do I hold it when time is running out?
The takeaway
It feels honest to admit confusion before asking for clarity.
Word-by-word translation
अधियज्ञः (the lord of sacrifice) / कथम् (how) / कः (who) / अत्र (here) / देहे (in the body) / अस्मिन् (this) / मधुसूदन (Madhusudana) / प्रयाणकाले (at the time of departure) / च (and) / कथम् (how) / ज्ञेयः (to be known) / असि (you are) / नियतात्मभिः (by those with disciplined minds)
This verse is part of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 8: Akshara Brahma Yoga — The Imperishable Absolute, which contains 28 verses.
Explore related themes: akshara brahma (12 verses)