Mortal beings are called Adhibhut. The expansions of Divine Personality —such as Naaraayan, Mahaa-vishnu, Ishvar, etc. — are called Divine Beings (Adhidaiv). I am the Supersoul (Adhiyajn) residing inside the body as the supreme controller (Ishvar), O Arjun. (8.04)

Theory of reincarnation and Karma

The one who remembers Me exclusively even while leaving the body at the time of death, attains Me; there is no doubt about it. (8.05) Remembering whatever object one leaves the body at the end of life, one attains that object, O Arjun, because of the constant thought of that object (one remembers that object at the end of life and achieves it). (8.06)

A simple method of God-realization

Therefore, always remember Me and do your duty. You shall certainly attain Me if your mind and intellect are ever focused on Me. (8.07) By contemplating on Me with an unwavering mind that is disciplined by the practice of meditation, one attains the Supreme Being, O Arjun. (8.08) One who meditates on the Supreme Being (ParBrahm) — as the omniscient, the oldest, the controller, smaller than the smallest (and bigger than the biggest), the sustainer of everything, the inconceivable, the self-luminous like the sun, and as transcendental or beyond the material reality — at the time of death with steadfast mind and devotion; making the flow of bioimpulses (life forces, Praan) rise up to the middle of two eye brows (or the sixth Chakr) by the power of yog and holding there; attains Krishn, the Supreme Divine Person. (See also 4.29, 5.27, 6.13) (8.09-10) I shall briefly explain the process to attain the supreme abode that the knowers of the Veda call immutable; into which the ascetics, freed from attachment, enter; and desiring which people lead a life of celibacy. (8.11)

Attain salvation by meditating on God at the time of death

When one leaves the physical body by controlling all the senses; focusing the mind on God, and Praan (life forces) in the cerebrum; engaged in yogic practice; meditating on Me and uttering AUM— the sacred monosyllable sound power of Eternal Being (Brahm) — one attains the supreme abode. (8.12- 13) I am easily attainable, O Arjun, by that ever steadfast yogi who always thinks of Me and whose mind does not go elsewhere.

(8.14) After attaining Me, the great souls do not incur rebirth in this miserable transitory world, because they have attained the highest perfection. (8.15) The dwellers of all the worlds — up to and including the world of Brahmaa, the creator — are subject to the miseries of repeated birth and death. But, after attaining Me, O Arjun, one does not take birth again. (See also 9.25) (8.16)

Everything in the creation is cyclic

Those who know that the day of the creator (Brahmaa) lasts one thousand Yugas (or 4.32 billion years) and that his night also lasts one thousand Yugas, they are the knowers of day and night. (8.17) All manifestations come out of the primary material Nature (Aadi Prakriti or Avyakt) at the arrival of the day of Brahmaa (Creator), and they again merge into the same at the coming of Brahmaa’s night. (8.18) The same multitude of beings comes into existence again and again at the arrival of the day of the creator (Brahmaa); and is annihilated, inevitably, at the arrival of Brahmaa’s night.

(8.19) There is another eternal transcendental existence— higher than the changeable material Nature (Prakriti) — that does not perish when all created beings perish. This is called the unmanifest Eternal Being (Avyakt Akshar Brahm). This is also said to be ParamDhaam, the supreme abode. Those who attain My supreme abode do not take birth again. (8.20-21) This supreme abode, O Arjun, is attainable by unswerving devotion to Me within which all beings exist, and by which all this universe is pervaded. (See also 9.04 and 11.55) (8.22)

Two basic paths of departure from the world

O Arjun, now I shall describe different paths departing by which, during death, the yogis do or do not come back. (8.23) Fire, light, daytime, the bright lunar fortnight, and the six months of the northern solstice of the sun — departing by the path of these celestial controllers (Devas), yogis who know the Eternal Being (Brahm) attain Brahm.

(8.24) Smoke, night, the dark lunar fortnight, and the six months of southern solstice of the sun — departing by these paths, the righteous person attains heaven and comes back to earth. (8.25) The path of light (of spiritual practice and Self-knowledge) and the path of darkness (of materialism and ignorance) are thought to be the world’s two eternal paths. The former leads to salvation (Mukti, Nirvan) and the latter leads to rebirth. (8.26)

Transcendental knowledge leads to salvation

Knowing these two paths, O Arjun, a yogi is not bewildered at all. Therefore, O Arjun, be steadfast in yog with Me at all times. (8.27) The yogi who knows all this goes beyond getting the benefits of the study of the Vedas, performance of sacrifices, austerities, and charities, and attains My Supreme Eternal Abode (ParamDhaam). (8.28).

9. SUPREME KNOWLEDGE AND BIG MYSTERY

The Supreme Lord said: I shall reveal to you, who do not disbelieve, the most profound, secret, transcendental knowledge, together with transcendental experience. Knowing this you will be freed from the miseries of worldly existence. (9.01)

Knowledge of the nature of the supreme is the biggest mystery

This Self-knowledge is the king of all knowledge, is the most secret, is very sacred, can be perceived by instinct, conforms to righteousness (Dharm), is very easy to practice, and is timeless. (9.02) O Arjun, those who have no faith in this knowledge do not attain Me and follow the cycles of birth and death. (9.03) This entire universe is an expansion of Mine. All beings depend on Me. I do not depend on them (because I am the highest of all).

(See also 7.12) (9.04) Look at the power of My divine mystery; in reality, I — the sustainer and creator of all beings — do not depend on them, and they also do not depend on Me. (9.05) (Like a gold chain depends on gold, and the milk products depend on milk. In fact, the gold chain does not depend on gold; the chain is nothing but gold. Similarly, matter and energy are different as well as non-different). Perceive that all beings remain in Me (without any contact or without producing any effect) as the mighty wind, moving everywhere, eternally remains in space. (9.06)

The theory of evolution and involution

All beings merge into My Aadi Prakriti (primary material Nature) at the end of a Kalp (or a cycle of 4.32 billion years), O Arjun, and I create them again at the beginning of the next Kalp. (9.07) I create the entire multitude of beings again and again with the help of My material Nature (Prakriti or Maya).

These beings are under control of the modes (Gunas) of material Nature (Prakriti). (9.08) These acts of creation do not bind Me, O Arjun, because I remain indifferent and unattached to those acts. (9.09) The divine kinetic energy (Maya) — with the help of material Nature (Prakriti) — creates all animate and inanimate objects under My supervision; thus, the creation keeps on going, O Arjun. (See also 14.03) (9.10)

The ways of the wise and of the ignorant

Ignorant persons despise Me when I appear in human form; because, they do not know My transcendental nature as the great Lord of all beings (and take Me for an ordinary human), and they have false hopes, false actions, false knowledge, and delusive (Taamasik) qualities (See 16.04-18) of fiends and demons (and are unable to recognize Me). (9.11-12) But great souls, O Arjun, who possess divine qualities (See 16.01-03), know Me as immutable, as the material and efficient cause of creation, and worship Me single-mindedly with loving devotion.

(9.13) Persons of firm resolve worship Me with ever steadfast devotion by always singing My glories, striving to attain Me, and prostrating before Me with devotion. (9.14) Some worship Me by acquiring and propagating Selfknowledge. Others worship the infinite as the One in all (or non-dual), as the master of all (or dual), and in various other ways. (9.15)

Everything is a manifestation of the Absolute

I am the ritual, I am the sacrifice, I am the offering, I am the herb, I am the mantra, I am the clarified butter, I am the fire, and I am the oblation. (See also 4.24). I am the supporter of the universe, the father, the mother, and the grandfather. I am the object of knowledge, the sacred syllable “AUM”, and also the Rig, the Yajur, and the Saam Vedas.

I am the goal, the supporter, the Lord, the witness, the abode, the refuge, the friend, the origin, the dissolution, the foundation, the substratum, and the immutable seed. (See also 7.10 and 10.39) (9.16-18) I give heat. I send, as well as withhold, the rain. I am immortality, as well as death. I am also both the absolute (Sat or Akshar) and the temporal (Asat or Kshar), O Arjun. (The Supreme Being has become everything. See also 13.12) (9.19)