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Chapter 8 · Attaining the Supreme · 28 verses

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Mind & yogaChapter 8 · Attaining the Supreme
8.118.13

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 8.12

Meditation and remembrance at death

सर्वद्वाराणि संयम्य मनो हृदि निरुध्य च ।

मूध्‍न्‍‍र्याधायात्मन: प्राणमास्थितो योगधारणाम् ॥ १२ ॥

sarva-dvārāṇi saṁyamya

mano hṛdi nirudhya ca

mūrdhny ādhāyātmanaḥ prāṇam

āsthito yoga-dhāraṇām

Translation

The yogic situation is that of detachment from all sensual engagements. Closing all the doors of the senses and fixing the mind on the heart and the life air at the top of the head, one establishes himself in yoga.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

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

Fixing the Mind on Kṛṣṇa

  1. 1Yoga means withdrawing from sense enjoyment, fixing the mind on the heart, and placing the life air at the top of the head.
  2. 2Prabhupāda explains that controlling the senses helps the mind focus on the Supersoul in the heart, but this practice is not practical in this age.
  3. 3Choose Kṛṣṇa consciousness, the best process: keep your mind on Kṛṣṇa in devotional service to remain undisturbed in samādhi.

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 8.12 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.

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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.