Bhagavad Gita Chapter 8, Verse 10

English Translation

At the time of death, having fully fixed the Prana (vita force) between the enrows with an unswering mind, and being imbued with devotion as also the strength of concentration, he reaches that resplendent supreme person.

Detailed Commentary

8.10. Commentary: At the time of the final journey, the mind should be kept unwavering. Bhakti means profound love, which arises spontaneously, not through the mind or intellect. In the final moments, the mind becoming stable through Bhakti in the Saguna-Nirakara Paramatma, that is, becoming reverently firm, is indeed the unwavering state of the mind. The ability to restrain the Pranas through Pranayama is known as 'Yogabala'. Through this Yogabala, by causing the Pranas to enter the Sushumna Nadi located between the two eyebrows, a person attains the Divine Param Purusha. The meaning of 'Tam Param Purusham Upaiti Divyam' is that one attains the Saguna-Nirakara Paramatma, who was described in the previous verse. What was stated in the eighth verse has been elaborated upon in the ninth and tenth verses. This section describes the worship of Saguna-Nirakara Paramatma, which requires consistent practice (abhyasa). This practice of engaging the mind in Paramatma through Pranayama (abhyasa) is not for attaining Siddhis, but for realizing the Paramatma-Tattva. Through this practice (abhyasa), such mastery over the Pranas and the mind is gained that one can restrain the Pranas at will and direct the mind wherever desired. Only one who has attained such mastery can cause the Pranas to enter the Sushumna Nadi at the final moment. Because a Sadhaka experiences difficulty in detaching the mind from the world and fixing it upon Paramatma during practice, it becomes even more difficult at the time of the final journey. Only one who already possesses Yogabala can fix the mind on Paramatma at the final moment and cause the Pranas to enter the Sushumna. The Sadhaka should understand that Paramatma is beyond ignorance, the substratum of all, and the bestower of all inspiration. Profound love should be directed towards Him alone, so that the mind naturally becomes attached. Context: Now, in the subsequent verse, the Lord begins to describe the means to attain the Nirguna-Nirakara (Brahman).