Step 4 of 7 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Pick any verse to see what it means and how to use it in your life.

  1. 1Tap a chapter, then a verse
  2. 2Read what it means
  3. 3Try the practice
700 verses37 detailed
Or browse by chapter
Chapter

Chapter 8 · Attaining the Supreme · 28 verses

12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728

Deep profile← → keys move between verses

Mind & yogaChapter 8 · Attaining the Supreme
8.108.12

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 8.11

Meditation and remembrance at death

यदक्षरं वेदविदो वदन्ति

विशन्ति यद्यतयो वीतरागा: ।

यदिच्छन्तो ब्रह्मचर्यं चरन्ति

तत्ते पदं सङ्ग्रहेण प्रवक्ष्ये ॥ ११ ॥

yad akṣaraṁ veda-vido vadanti

viśanti yad yatayo vīta-rāgāḥ

yad icchanto brahma-caryaṁ caranti

tat te padaṁ saṅgraheṇa pravakṣye

Translation

Persons who are learned in the Vedas, who utter oṁ-kāra, and who are great sages in the renounced order enter into Brahman. Desiring such perfection, one practices celibacy. I shall now briefly explain to you this process by which one may attain salvation.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

What this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.

Chanting for Spiritual Perfection

  1. 1Renounced sages who know the Vedas and chant oṁ enter Brahman. Those seeking this perfection practice celibacy.
  2. 2Prabhupāda explains that celibate student life is not practical today. In this age, only chanting Kṛṣṇa’s holy names can bring realization of the Supreme.
  3. 3Practice chanting the holy names of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Where we are

In the story

Chapter 8, Attaining the Supreme: meditation and remembrance at death.

What it teaches

Theme summary

A disciplined mind is one's best friend.

2

Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Key ideas: manas, indriya, yoga.

3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 8.11 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to mind & yoga?

Practice

Sit quietly for ten minutes and gently return the mind.

4

The story behind it

Mahābhārata episodes and stories from the purports that shed light on this verse.

All stories for chapter 8 ›
5

Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

BG 8.8Meditation and remembrance at deathBG 8.9Meditation and remembrance at deathBG 6.35Practice and detachment

Study notes are editorial summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport.

Ask the study guide

Ask about BG 8.11 — get a simple answer linked to related ideas and verses.

Back to step 3The key ideasNext · Step 5 of 7 · 5 minLive the teachingsBring it into your day with a practice and a question, straight from Prabhupāda's purports.