Bhaktivedanta Roaming Academy for Value Education

Bhagvat Gita As It Is
Chapter 8

-Attaining The Supreme

Dedicated to
His Divine Grace
A.C. Bhaktivedanta
Swami Prabhupada
 Chapter 8 - Synopsis

➢By remembering Lord Krsna in devotion

through one’s life, and especially at the
time of death ,one can attain to his
supreme abode,beyond the material world.
 Verse 8.1 and 8.2
❖ Arjuna inquired:

1. What is Brahman
2. What is Adhyatma.
3. What is Fruitive Activities ( Karma)
4. What is material manifestation
5. What are the Demigods
6. Who is Lord of Sacrifice
7. How does he lives in the body
8. How can those engaged in devotional service can know you at the
time of death.
 Verse 8.3 and 8.4
Lord Krishna answers

1. The Indestructible ,Transcendental living entity

is called Brahman.
2. Eternal Nature of the soul is called
Adhyatma.
3 Action pertaining to the development of material bodies of living entity
is called Fruitive Activities/Karma.
4 Physical nature which is constantly changing is material manifestation
(material world and material body-
six stages- born ,grow, remain for some time , produce some by product, dwindles, vanishes)
5 The living entities residing in higher planetary system,
and helping in administrative service of this
cosmic manifestation to lord are called demigods
(lord Krishna – 3 primary demigods
-- other administrative demigods)

6 Lord Vishnu is lord of Sacrifice

7 As a Supersoul & Friend of living

entity he stays in heart of the body

8 By constantly practicing the

process of remembering me ,although engaged in his prescribed
duty, thus at time of death it will help him to remember me.
 verse 5
anta-kale ca mam eva
smaran muktva kalevaram
yah prayati sa mad-bhavam
yati nasty atra samsayah

Translation
And whoever, at the time of death,
quits his body, remembering Me
alone,at once attains My nature.
Of this there is no doubt
 Verse 6
• yam yam vapi smaran bhavam, tyajaty ante kalevaram
tam tam evaiti kaunteya ,sada tad-bhava-bhavitah

Translation
• Whatever state of being one remembers
when he quits his body, that state he will
without fail.

Eg. Story of King Bharat Maharaj (S.B)

(From Whom the name
Bhaarat/ India came)
Verse 7 - 9
❖Therefore, Arjuna, you should always think of Me in the form of
Krsna and at the same time carry out your prescribed duty of fighting.
With your activities dedicated to Me and your mind and intelligence
fixed on Me, you will attain Me without doubt
(Easiest way is chanting)

❖ By regular practice it can be done, The mind is fickle, and therefore it is necessary to
engage the mind by force to think of Krsna.

❖ Next the process of meditating the supreme is mentioned ,one who knows everything,one
who is oldest, controller, smaller than smallest, maintainer of everything, Inconcievable, &
who is always person.
Verse 10 – 13
❖ Here process of Dhyana yoga is mentioned again,
by following sat-cakra yoga system, in sat yuga
dyana yogis use to achieve perfection.

❖ From beginning of life they were strictly trained in gurukul for celibacy (sense control),and
environment also was pure ,as compare to today. It was easy to sit at a scheluded place
meditate in mind of supreme form of lord.

❖ but in kali yuga such process for general mass of people is not possible so chanting of Hare
Krishna maha mantra is recommended, which is the easiest way for god realization.
Verse 14
I am easy to obtain for my unalloyed devotee
-He doesn’t desire anything for
personal benefit

-Satisfied with what Krishna

provides him.

4 kinds of people comes to lord

--Distressed
--Inquisitive
--Material gain
--Speculative philosper.
 Story of Dhruv Maharaj
But gradually one has to elevate himself to level of
pure devotion under guidance of pure devotee
(eg. Dhruv Maharaj became purified under guidance of narada muni)
Verse 15
❖ “Once attaining me ,my devotees never come
to this temporary world, which are full of miseries”
 Verse 16
From the highest planet in the material world Down to the
lowest, all are places of misery Where in Repeated birth
and death take place. But one who attains to My abode,
O son of Kunti, never takes birth again.
Eg. An Indian citizen goes to U.S
Verse 17 - 19
❖ Duration of Brahma’s day and night is defined
❖During Brahma’s day
-Living Entity Manifests
❖During Brahma’s Night
-Living entity Go In Unmanifest State

Living Entities Remain In Repeated Birth & Death

Verse 20 - 22
Verse 23 - 26
❖ It is explain here the time for yogis, when leaving
they return or not return to this material world
(Karma, Jyana, hatha for them)

❖ Does Not come back –enters in Brahman

who passes in the light,auspicious moment, during the fortnight of
the moon and the six months whe the sun travels in the north.

❖ Comes back --the night, the fortnight of waning moon,

or in the six months when the sun passes to the south.
Verse 27
naite srté pärtha jänan
yogé muhyati kaçcana
tasmät sarveñu käleñu
yoga-yukto bhavärjuna

Translation
“Although the devotees know these two paths,
O Arjuna,they are never bewildered.
Therefore always be fixed in devotion”
 Verse 28
“A person who accepts the path of devotional service
is not bereft of the results derived from studying
the Vedas, performing sacrifices, undergoing austerities,
giving charity or pursuing philosophical and fruitive activities.
Simply by performing devotional service,
he attains all these, and at the end he
reaches the supreme eternal abode.”
- Bhakti yoga includes result of all other process and
Thus one return back to godhead

harer nāma harer nāma

harer nāmaiva kevalam
kalau nāsty eva nāsty eva
nāsty eva gatir anyathā

'For spiritual progress in this Age of Kali , there is no alternative, there is no

alternative, there is no alternative to the holy name, the holy name, the holy
name of the Lord.'
 Thank you
Chant
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare
& Be Happy