ओमित्येकाक्षरं ब्रह्म व्याहरन्मामनुस्मरन् ।
यः प्रयाति त्यजन्देहं स याति परमां गतिम् ॥
यः प्रयाति त्यजन्देहं स याति परमां गतिम् ॥
Hindi · हिन्दी
इन्द्रियोंके सम्पूर्ण द्वारोंको रोककर मनका हृदयमें निरोध करके और अपने प्राणोंको मस्तकमें स्थापित करके योगधारणामें सम्यक् प्रकारसे स्थित हुआ जो साधक ऊँ इस एक अक्षर ब्रह्मका उच्चारण और मेरा स्मरण करता हुआ शरीरको छोड़कर जाता है, वह परमगतिको प्राप्त होता है ॥
English
Uttering Om, the one-syllable Brahman, and remembering Me, one who departs while leaving the body attains the supreme state.
What this verse means
A person who leaves the body while remembering Om and Krishna reaches the highest destination.
Context & commentary
Krishna is still answering Arjuna on the battlefield, where death feels near and every choice is stripped bare. After explaining the path of disciplined departure, he says that one who leaves the body while uttering Om and remembering him reaches the supreme state.
Why this verse still matters
At a bedside, a family member grips your hand and the room goes quiet. In that stripped-down moment, what the mind holds most deeply matters more than anything spoken before.
The takeaway
The final moment is not empty; it can carry the mind straight toward liberation.
Word-by-word translation
ॐ (Om) / इति (thus) / एकाक्षरम् (one-syllable) / ब्रह्म (Brahman) / व्याहरन् (uttering) / माम् (Me) / अनुस्मरन् (remembering repeatedly) / यः (who) / प्रयाति (departs) / त्यजन् (leaving) / देहम् (the body) / सः (he) / याति (goes) / परमाम् (supreme) / गतिम् (state, destination)
This verse is part of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 8: Akshara Brahma Yoga — The Imperishable Absolute, which contains 28 verses.
Explore related themes: akshara brahma (12 verses)