अन्तकाले च मामेव स्मरन्मुक्त्वा कलेवरम् | य: प्रयाति स मद्भावं याति नास्त्यत्र संशय: || 5 || |
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“And those who remember Me alone, while leaving the body at the time of death, will attain Me. There is no doubt about this.”
Commentary: Lord Krishna emphasizes the significance of remembering Him at the time of death and the profound result it brings. He assures that whoever, at the final moment of their life, departs from the body with thoughts fixed on Him, attains His divine nature.
Beneath the surface of our consciousness lie layers of existence. At the most superficial level, we experience sensations and the physical world. Deeper within, our minds are teeming with thoughts and emotions. Beyond that lies the layer of ego—a false impression of individuality that often leads us astray.
Yet, beneath even this egoic layer lies the essence of our being—the soul. This soul is akin to a reflection of the divine, much like the way sunlight reflects on the surface of a small wave in the vast ocean. However, the soul, pure and luminous, is shrouded by the veils of illusion and the ego’s false belief that it is the wave, rather than the reflection.
In moments of deep introspection, when we close our eyes and cast aside the clutter of memories, thoughts, feelings, and physical sensations, we can tap into our core consciousness. Here, we find ourselves as a tiny fragment of awareness locked within a physical body, surrounded by the enigmatic darkness of our inner world. As we journey inward, we eventually reach the point where our ego takes shape, the birth of the “I.”
At this juncture, our goal is to transcend any thought that entangles us in the web of self-awareness and surrender completely in the formless divine spirit. This self-awareness threads through thoughts of family, friends, possessions, worries, and joys – always present in the background. In these moments of profound contemplation, the soul begins to manifest, and we awaken to the realization that we are not the orchestrators of our body, mind, or heart. Instead, everything is gracefully sustained by a higher power, the Divine.
Lord Krishna’s affirmation that there is no doubt about the attainment of His divine being for those who remember Him at the time of death reflects the compassionate assurance of the Lord. It signifies His unconditional love and grace towards His devotees, assuring them of liberation.