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?
— Arjuna
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Bhagavad Gita · 8.2
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 ॥
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Hover a word to focus on it.
अधियज्ञःthe lord of sacrificeकथम्howकःwhoअत्रhereदेहेin the bodyअस्मिन्thisमधुसूदनMadhusudanaप्रयाणकालेat the time of departureचandकथम्howज्ञेयःto be knownअसिyou areनियतात्मभिःby those with disciplined minds
Read literallythe lord of sacrifice · how · who · here · in the body · this · Madhusudana · at the time of departure · and · how · to be known · you are · by those with disciplined minds
Understanding the verse
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It shifts the mind from vague belief to precise questioning about the deepest reality.
Built onadhiyajnaprayanakalaniyatatma
01
In plain words
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.
02
On the battlefield
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?
03
In your life
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.”
Arjuna asks who the inner sacrificer is, how that presence lives in the body, and how a disciplined person can know Krishna at death.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 8.2?
Arjuna 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 8.2?
Verse 2 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 8.2 matter today?
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?
It shifts the mind from vague belief to precise questioning about the deepest reality.
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?
“It feels honest to admit confusion before asking for clarity.”
Explore related themes: akshara brahma (12 verses)