Shloka 1
arjuna uvaca
kim tad brahma kim adhyatmam kim karma purusottama
adhibhutam ca kim proktam adhidaivam kim ucyate
Arjuna said: O Krsna, what is Brahma? What is Adhyatma? What is Karma? What is called Adhibhuta? And what is known as Adhidaiva?


The eternal Brahma is also referred to by various other names such as Brahma, Aksara Brahma, Aksara Purusa, and Apara Brahma. We have used the world ‘Brahma’ in this rendering for Aksara Brahma.

Shloka 2
adhiyajnah katham ko’tra dehe’smin madhusudana
prayanakale ca katham jneyo’si niyatatmabhib
O Krsna, who is Adhiyajna, and who does He dwell in the body? How can You be remembered at the time of death by those who have control over their minds?

Shloka 3
sri bhagavan uvaca
aksaram brahma paramam svabhavo’dhyatmam ucyate
bhutabhavodbhavakaro visargah karmasamjnitah
The Supreme Lord said: Aksara Brahma is the eternal supreme. The eternal nature (including the inherent power of cognition and desire) of Aksara Brahma is called Adhyatma. Kriya Sakti, the creative power that causes manifestation of Jivatma, is called Karma.


Jivatma is the subtle body. Jivatma or Jiva is also defined as Atma accompanied by the subtle (or astral) body. Jivatma is also called the living entity or the individual soul enshrined in the physical body. Subtle body is made up of six sensory faculties, intellect, ego, and five vital forces called Pranas. The subtle body keeps the physical body active and alive by operating the organs of perception and action.

Shloka 4
adhibhutam ksaro bhavah purusas’ca’dhidaivatam
adhiyajno’ham ev Jivatma’tra dehe dehabhrtam vara
All changeable objects are called Adhibhuta. The expansion of Divine Personality (such as Narayana, Maha-visnu, Isvara, etc.) is called Adhidaiva. I am Adhiyajna residing inside the body as Atma, O Arjuna.

Shloka 5
antakale can mam eva smaran muktva kalevaram
yah prayati sa madbhavam yati na’sty atra samsayah
The One who leaves the body, at the hour of death, remembering Me attains Me abode. There is no doubt about this.

Shloka 6
yam yam va’pi smaran bhavam tyajaty ante kalevaram
tam tam evaiti kaunteya sada tadbhavabhavitah
Remembering whatever object one leaves the body at the end of life, one attains that object, O Arjuna, because of the constant thought of that object (one remembers that object at the end of life and achieves it).

If one has practiced devotion and God-consciousness during one’s lifetime, the thought of God may or may not come at the hour of death. Therefore, God-consciousness should be continued till death (BS 1.1.12). Sages continue their efforts in their successive lives, yet at the moment of death they may fail to remember the Lord. Life should be molded in such a way that one should be able to remember God or the Supreme Lord Krsna t the time of death. People should practice God-consciousness in everyday life from the very childhood by forming a habit of remembering God before taking any food, before going to bed, and before starting any work or study.

Shloka 7
tasmat sarvesu kalesu mam anusmara yudhya ca
mayy arpitamanobuddhir mam evai’syasy asamssayam
Therefore, always remember Me and do your duty. You shall certainly attain Me if your mind and intellect are fixed one Me.