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Chapter 8 · Attaining the Supreme · 28 verses

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Mind & yogaChapter 8 · Attaining the Supreme
8.128.14

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 8.13

Meditation and remembrance at death

ॐ इत्येकाक्षरं ब्रह्म व्याहरन्मामनुस्मरन् ।

य: प्रयाति त्यजन्देहं स याति परमां गतिम् ॥ १३ ॥

oṁ ity ekākṣaraṁ brahma

vyāharan mām anusmaran

yaḥ prayāti tyajan dehaṁ

sa yāti paramāṁ gatim

Translation

After being situated in this yoga practice and vibrating the sacred syllable oṁ, the supreme combination of letters, if one thinks of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and quits his body, he will certainly reach the spiritual planets.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

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

Chanting and Remembering Kṛṣṇa

  1. 1One who follows this yoga practice, chants oṁ, and remembers the Supreme Lord while leaving the body certainly reaches the spiritual planets.
  2. 2Prabhupāda explains that oṁ, Brahman, and Kṛṣṇa are not different. Hare Kṛṣṇa contains oṁ, and Kṛṣṇa’s devotees reach His planet, Goloka Vṛndāvana.
  3. 3Practice chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, which is recommended for this age, and remembering the Lord.

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.

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Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Key ideas: manas, indriya, yoga.

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 8.13 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.

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The story behind it

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

All stories for chapter 8 ›
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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.