:: Chapter 8 :: Attaining the Supreme

Text 1

arjuna uvaca
kim tad brahma kim adhyatmam
kim karma purusottama
adhibhutam ca kim proktam
adhidaivam kim ucyate

Synonyms

arjunah uvaca--Arjuna said; kim--what; tat--that; brahma--Brahman; kim--what; adhyatmam--the self; kim--what; karma--furtive activities; purusa-uttama--O Supreme Person; adhibhutam--the material manifestation; ca--and; kim--what; proktam--is called; adhidaivam--the demigods; kim--what; ucyate--is called.

Translation

Arjuna inquired: O my Lord, O Supreme Person, what is Brahman? What is the self? What are furtive activities? What is this material manifestation? And what are the demigods? Please explain this to me.

Purport

In this chapter Lord Krisna answers different questions from Arjuna, beginning with "What is Brahman?" The Lord also explains karma (furtive activities), devotional service and yoga principles, and devotional service in its pure form. The Srimnad-Bhagavatam explains that the Supreme Absolute Truth is known as Brahman, Paramatma and Bhagavan. In addition, the living entity, the individual soul, is also called Brahman. Arjuna also inquires about atma, which refers to body, soul and mind. According to the Vedic dictionary, atma refers to the mind, soul, body and senses also.

Arjuna has addressed the Supreme Lord as Purusottama, Supreme Person, which means that he was putting these questions not simply to a friend but to the Supreme Person, knowing Him to be the supreme authority able to give definitive answers.

Text 2

adhiyajnah katham ko 'tra
dehe 'smin madhusudana
prayana-kale ca katham
jneyo 'si niyatatmabhih

Synonyms

adhiyajnah--the Lord of sacrifice; katham--how; kah--who; atra--here; dehe--in the body; asmin--this; madhusudana--O Madhusudana; prayana-kale--at the time of death; ca--and; katham--how; jneyah asi--You can be known; niyata-atmabhih--by the self-controlled.

Translation

Who is the Lord of sacrifice, and how does He live in the body, O Madhusudana? And how can those engaged in devotional service know You at the time of death?

Purport

"Lord of sacrifice" may refer to either Indra or Visnu. Visnu is the chief of the primal demigods, including Brahma and Siva, and Indra is the chief of the administrative demigods. Both Indra and Visnu are worshiped by yajna performances. But here Arjuna asks who is actually the Lord of yajna (sacrifice) and how the Lord is residing within the body of the living entity.

Arjuna addresses the Lord as Madhusudana because Krisna once killed a demon named Madhu. Actually these questions, which are of the nature of doubts, should not have arisen in the mind of Arjuna, because Arjuna is a Krisna conscious devotee. Therefore these doubts are like demons. Since Krisna is so expert in killing demons, Arjuna here addresses Him as Madhusudana so that Krisna might kill the demonic doubts that arise in Arjuna's mind.

Now the word prayana-kale in this verse is very significant because whatever we do in life will be tested at the time of death. Arjuna is very anxious to know of those who are constantly engaged in Krisna consciousness. What should be their position at that final moment? At the time of death all the bodily functions are disrupted, and the mind is not in a proper condition. Thus disturbed by the bodily situation, one may not be able to remember the Supreme Lord. Maharaja Kulasekhara, a great devotee, prays, "My dear Lord, just now I am quite healthy, and it is better that I die immediately so that the swan of my mind can seek entrance at the stem of your lotus feet." The metaphor is used because the swan, a bird of the water, takes pleasure in digging into the lotus flowers; its sporting proclivity is to enter the lotus flower. Maharaja Kulasekhara says to the Lord, "Now my mind is undisturbed, and I am quite healthy. If I die immediately, thinking of Your lotus feet, then I am sure that my performance of Your devotional service will become perfect. But if I have to wait for my natural death, then I do not know what will happen, because at that time the bodily functions will be disrupted, my throat will be choked up, and I do not know whether I shall be able to chant Your name. Better let me die immediately." Arjuna questions how a person can fix his mind on Krisna's lotus feet at such a time.