Bhagavad Gita Chapter 8, Verse 6

English Translation

O son of Kunti, thinking of any entity whichever it may be one gives up the body at the end, he attains that very one, having been always engrossed in its thought.

Detailed Commentary

।।8.6।। Explanation – ‘Yam yam vapi smaran bhavam… sada tadbhava-bhavitah’ – The Lord has revealed a special truth: at the moment of death, whatever thought or state of being (bhava) is remembered, that determines the attainment of one's next birth. If this is the rule, then my attainment will certainly be in accordance with my memory. The Lord has not made a separate rule for Himself; rather, He has included Himself within the general principle. This is the unique aspect of the Lord’s compassion: that for the same value (moolya) for which one might attain the birth of a dog, one can also attain the Lord. ‘Sada tadbhava-bhavitah’ means that whatever bhava, whatever thought, one contemplates at the moment of death, that being, after leaving the body and before acquiring a new one, remains influenced by that very bhava. The final thought at the moment of death becomes permanent. According to that thought, its mental body (manasika sharira) is formed, and it assumes a new physical body. This is because there is no opportunity, no power, and no freedom to change the final thought. Therefore, one remains absorbed in it. Then, if there is even a slight connection with one's karmas, one enters the male species (purusha jaati) and is born into the female species (stri jaati). For instance, if a person who raises dogs leaves the body remembering a dog at the final moment, their mental body becomes that of a dog, and they are born into the canine species. Thus, whatever one remembers at the end, according to that, one must take birth. However, this does not mean that remembering a house will make one a house, or remembering wealth will make one wealth. Rather, contemplating a house will make one some living being related to the house, and contemplating wealth will make one a snake. This means that this rule applies to living beings, not to inanimate objects. Therefore, by contemplating an inanimate object, one will become some living creature related to it. The remembrance of other living beings also occurs according to one's karmas, and their birth occurs accordingly. The law of final remembrance applies everywhere. However, the human body has a special characteristic: its final remembrance is not subject to its karmas, but to its self-effort (purushartha). A human being is independent in this regard. Therefore, its glory is greater compared to other species. In this human body, one can form relationships that might lead to birth in other species. But if, at the moment of death, one remembers the Lord, all one's relationships are broken, because they are not real but artificial. The relationship with the Lord is not created; rather, it is a natural (svabhavika) relationship. Therefore, remembering the Lord severs artificial relationships. Special Points: 1. The next birth is determined by the final thought at the moment of death. One's inherent nature (svabhava) determines the kind of thoughts one has at the end. For example, a person whose nature it is to raise dogs will have thoughts of dogs at the end. Such thoughts spread everywhere like the sound of a celestial voice (akashavani). Just as that sound is caught on a specific radio frequency, the final thought is caught by the related being. Then the soul (jiva) enters that being through food, water, air, etc., and takes birth at the appointed time. The final thought can be understood with an example. A person went to have their picture taken. The photographer told them not to move and to keep smiling. Just as the moment for the photo arrived, a fly sat on their nose. They did not think it appropriate to remove it and scrunched up their nose. At that very moment, the photo was taken. When they were shown the photo, they were upset that it was spoiled. The photographer said that it was not their fault; it was the expression made by the person themselves. Similarly, the final thought determines the next birth. The time of a photograph is known, but not the time of death. Therefore, one should always be vigilant, keeping one's nature and thoughts pure, and remember the Lord. 2. The rule of the final moment is filled with the Lord's justice (nyayapriyata) and compassion (dayaluta). Generally, justice and compassion seem contradictory. If one is just, compassion may not be possible, and if one is compassionate, justice may not be achieved. However, there is no such contradiction in the Lord's justice, because the Lord is compassionate and a friend (suhṛd) to all beings. His justice is full of compassion. As a human being remembers, so is their destiny (gati). If someone dies thinking of a dog, they gradually become a dog. This is the Lord's justice because He has given human beings the freedom to remember Him or not. This is the Lord's justice. For the same value for which one attains the birth of a dog, one can also attain the Lord. This is the Lord's compassion towards human beings. If one pays attention to the Lord's justice and compassion, one will develop attachment (lagav) to the Lord. Connection – Since one's destiny is determined by the final remembrance, the next verse explains what a human being should do to remember the Lord at the end.