Chapter 8: Attaining the Supreme
Bg 8.13
TEXT 13
om ity ekaksaram brahma
vyaharan mam anusmaran
yah prayati tyajan deham
sa yati paramam gatim
SYNONYMS
om—the combination of letters, omkära; iti—thus; eka-akñaram—supreme, indestructible; brahma—absolute; vyäharan—vibrating; mäm—Me (Kåñëa); anusmaran—remembering; yaù—anyone; prayäti—leaves; tyajan—quitting; deham—this body; saù—he; yäti—achieves; paramäm—supreme; gatim—destination.
TRANSLATION
After being situated in this yoga practice and vibrating the sacred syllable om, 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.
PURPORT
It is clearly stated here that om, Brahman, and Lord Kåñëa are not different. The impersonal sound of Kåñëa is om, but the sound Hare Kåñëa contains om. It is clearly recommended in this age that if one quits his body at the end of this life chanting the mahämantra, Hare Kåñëa, he will reach the spiritual planets. Similarly, those who are devotees of Kåñëa enter the Kåñëa planet or Goloka Våndävana, whereas the impersonalists remain in the brahmajyoti. The personalists also enter many innumerable planets in the spiritual sky known as Vaikuëöhas.