Chapter 8 · Akshara Brahma Yoga - The Yoga of the Imperishable BrahmanArjuna
Verse 2
श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता अध्याय 8, श्लोक 2
Sanskrit Shloka (श्लोक)
अधियज्ञः कथं कोऽत्र देहेऽस्मिन्मधुसूदन।
प्रयाणकाले च कथं ज्ञेयोऽसि नियतात्मभिः॥
Transliteration
Adhiyajnah katham ko'tra dehe'smin madhusudana
Prayana-kale cha katham jneyo'si niyata-atmabhih
Word-by-Word Meaning (अन्वय)
अधियज्ञःadhiyajnahAdhiyajna
कथम्kathamhow
कःkahwho
अत्रatrahere
देहेdehein the body
अस्मिन्asminthis
मधुसूदनmadhusudanaO Madhusudana
प्रयाणकालेprayana-kaleat the time of death
कथम्kathamhow
ज्ञेयःjneyahto be known
असिasiYou are
नियतात्मभिःniyata-atmabhihby the self-controlled
Hindi Translation (हिन्दी अर्थ)
हे मधुसूदन! अधियज्ञ कौन है और वह इस देह में कैसे है? और नियतात्मा (संयमी) पुरुषों द्वारा प्रयाणकाल (मृत्यु के समय) में आप कैसे जाने जा सकते हैं?
English Translation
Who is Adhiyajna, and how does He dwell in this body, O Madhusudana? And how are You to be known at the time of death by the self-controlled?
Commentary (टीका)
Arjuna completes his seven questions with the most practical one — how to know God at the critical moment of death. This question about the final moment reveals Arjuna's deep concern about the afterlife and sets up Krishna's most important practical teaching in this chapter.