06.030
Arjuna said:
O Supreme Person, what is Brahman, what is spirituality, and what is action? What is described as pertaining to the elements, and what is referred to as pertaining to the gods?
O Madhusudana, how can the self-controlled know you as the lord of sacrifices in this body, and how at the time of death?
The Lord spoke:
The supreme Brahman is imperishable, and its inherent nature is referred to as spiritual essence. The process that leads to the creation of material existence is known as action.
The perishable nature is related to the physical realm, and the person is associated with the divine realm. I am indeed the one related to the sacrifice here in the body, O best among the embodied beings.
At the time of death, whoever remembers me and leaves the body, he attains my nature; there is no doubt about this.
O son of Kunti, whatever state of being one remembers when leaving the body at the end of life, that state he will attain, being always absorbed in such thoughts.
Therefore, always remember me and engage in the battle. With your mind and intellect dedicated to me, you will undoubtedly come to me.
O son of Pritha, by practicing yoga with a focused mind and contemplating the supreme divine person, one attains that state.
One should meditate upon the ancient seer, the ruler, who is subtler than the mind, the supporter of all, of inconceivable form, sun-colored, and beyond darkness.
At the time of death, one who departs with a steady mind, full of devotion, and empowered by yoga, focusing the life force between the eyebrows, reaches the supreme divine Personality.
I shall briefly explain to you that state, which is spoken of by the knowers of the Vedas, entered by the passionless ascetics, and for which they practice celibacy.
By controlling all the senses, focusing the mind in the heart, and placing the life force at the top of the head, one remains steadfast in the practice of yoga.
He who departs from the body, uttering the sacred syllable 'Om' and remembering me, reaches the highest state.
O son of Pritha, I am easily attainable by that constantly engaged yogi who always remembers me with an undistracted mind.
Great souls, having reached me, do not undergo rebirth, which is the abode of sorrow and is impermanent; they have attained the highest perfection.
O Arjuna, all worlds, including the world of Brahma, are subject to return. However, upon reaching Me, O son of Kunti, there is no rebirth.
The people who understand the concept of day and night know that a day of Brahma lasts for a thousand ages, and similarly, the night ends in a thousand ages.
All beings emerge from the unmanifest at the dawn of the day and dissolve back into it at nightfall, in that which is called the unmanifest.
The multitude of beings repeatedly comes into existence and is dissolved helplessly with the arrival of night, O son of Pritha, and manifests again with the arrival of day.
Beyond the manifest and the unmanifest, there exists another eternal reality that remains unaffected even when all beings cease to exist.
The unmanifest and imperishable is said to be the supreme goal. Upon reaching it, one does not return; that is my supreme abode.
The Supreme Person, O son of Pṛthā, can be attained only by exclusive devotion. All beings reside in Him, and by Him, all this is pervaded.
O best of the Bharatas, I will tell you about the time when yogis, having departed, go to either non-return or return.
The people who know Brahman, when they depart during the bright day, the light, the fire, the six months of the northern course, they go to Brahman.
The yogi who passes away during the smoke, night, and dark six months of the southern course, reaches the lunar light and returns.
In the eternal opinion of the world, there are two paths: the path of light and the path of darkness. By one path, one reaches a state of no return, while by the other, one returns again.
O son of Pritha, knowing these paths, a yogi is never deluded. Therefore, always be engaged in yoga, Arjuna.
The yogi, having understood the promised meritorious fruits of the Vedas, sacrifices, austerities, and charities, surpasses all these and attains the supreme, primeval abode.
