Bhagavad Gita Chapter 8, Verse 13

English Translation

He who departs by leaving the body while uttering the single syllable, viz Om, which is Brahman, and thinking of Me, he attains the supreme Goal.

Detailed Commentary

।।8.13।। 'Controlling all the gateways' — At the final moment, one should control all the doorways of the senses. That is, withdraw the ears (shrotra), skin (tvacha), eyes (netra), tongue (rasana), and nose (nasika) from sound, touch, form, taste, and smell respectively. Simultaneously, control the organs of speech (vani), hands, feet, urinary organ (mutrendriya), and anus (guda) from speaking, grasping, moving, urinating, and defecating. By this, the senses will remain in their proper abodes. 'And confining the mind within the heart' — Hold the mind within the heart itself, meaning, do not let the mind go towards sense objects (vishayas). By this, the mind will remain steady in the heart. 'Placing one's Prana in the head' — Hold the life-breaths (pranas) in the head, that is, restrain the pranas in the Brahmarandhra. 'Steadily engaged in Yoga-dharana' — In this manner, become established in Yoga. 'Uttering Om, the one-syllable Brahman, and remembering Me' — Thereafter, mentally utter Om and remember Me, the formless (nirakari) Brahman. The remembrance of that Paramatma who exists everywhere, at all times, and in all circumstances, is indeed My remembrance. 'He who departs, abandoning the body, attains the supreme goal' — One who thus abandons the body while remembering the attributeless (nirguna) and formless (nirakar) attains the supreme goal (Paramagati). One who possesses the power of Yoga and control over the pranas attains Paramatma. However, this is difficult for everyone; therefore, in the next verse, the Lord speaks of the simpler attainment of the manifest (saguna sakar).