Chapter 8: Attaining the Supreme
Bg 8.5
TEXT 5
anta-kale ca mam eva
smaran muktva kalevaram
yah prayati sa mad-bhavam
yati nasty atra samsayah
SYNONYMS
anta-kale—at the end of life; ca—also; mam—unto Me; eva—certainly; smaran—remembering; muktva—quitting; kalevaram—the body; yah—he who; prayati—goes; sah—he; mad-bhavam—My nature; yati—achieves; na—not; asti—there is; atra—here; samsayah—doubt.
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.
PURPORT
In this verse the importance of Krsna consciousness is stressed. Anyone who quits his body in Krsna consciousness is at once transferred to the transcendental abode of the Supreme Lord. The word smaran (remembering) is important. Remembrance of Krsna is not possible for the impure soul who has not practiced Krsna consciousness in devotional service. To remember Krsna one should chant the mahamantra, Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare, incessantly, following in the footsteps of Lord Caitanya, being more tolerant than the tree, humbler than the grass and offering all respect to others without requiring respect in return. In such a way one will be able to depart from the body successfully remembering Krsna and so attain the supreme goal.