Arjuna said: What is Brahman? What is Adhyatma? What is Karma, O Purushottama? What is said to be Adhibhuta and what is called Adhidaiva?

At the time of departure, with mind unmoving, endowed with devotion and the strength of Yoga, placing prana between the brows—he attains the supreme Divine Person.

That imperishable which the Veda-knowers declare, into which enter the desireless ascetics, desiring which they practice brahmacharya—that state I shall briefly describe.

Restraining all the gates, fixing the mind in the heart, placing the prana at the head—established in yogic concentration…

Uttering the single syllable Om—Brahman—remembering Me, he who departs the body attains the supreme goal.

To the yogi of single-hearted, constant remembrance of Me, I am easily attainable, O Partha.

Great souls, attaining Me, do not again take birth in this transient, sorrowful world; having reached supreme perfection.

From Brahma’s world downwards, all worlds are subject to return, O Arjuna; but attaining Me, there is no rebirth.

Those who know day and night know that a day of Brahma extends to a thousand yugas and so his night to a thousand yugas.

From the unmanifest, all beings become manifest at the coming of day; at the coming of night, they dissolve into that same unmanifest.

This multitude of beings repeatedly manifests and dissolves helplessly with night and day.

Who here is Adhiyajna in this body, O Madhusudana? And how are You known at the time of departure by the self-controlled?

But beyond that unmanifest, there is another unmanifest, eternal; which does not perish when all beings perish.

That Unmanifest is called the Imperishable; reaching which they do not return—that is My highest abode.

That Supreme Person, O Partha, is attainable by single-minded devotion; in Him all beings dwell and by Him all is pervaded.

I shall declare the times at which the departing yogins do not return and at which they return, O best of Bharatas.

Fire, light, day, bright fortnight, the six months of the northward course—by that path the knowers of Brahman go to Brahman.

Smoke, night, the dark fortnight, the six months of the southward course—by that path the yogi attains lunar light and returns.

These two paths, bright and dark, are deemed eternal for the world; by one, one goes to non-return; by the other, one returns again.

Knowing these paths, no yogi is deluded; therefore be steadfast in Yoga at all times, O Arjuna.

Whatever merit is declared in the Vedas, sacrifices, austerities and gifts—the yogi surpasses all this by knowing (these truths) and attains the supreme, primal state.

The Blessed Lord said: Brahman is the imperishable; Adhyatma is the individual nature; the offering that causes beings to arise is called Karma.

Adhibhuta is the perishable nature; Purusha is Adhidaiva; and I Myself am Adhiyajna in this body, O best of embodied beings.

He who, at the end time, remembering Me alone, departs leaving the body—he attains My state; there is no doubt.

Whatever being one remembers while leaving the body, that very being he attains—being always absorbed in that state.

Therefore remember Me at all times and fight; with mind and intellect dedicated to Me, you shall come to Me beyond doubt.

With the mind disciplined by practice and not moving elsewhere, meditating on the Supreme Divine Person, one reaches Him.

Let him remember the ancient Seer, the Ruler, subtler than the subtle, the sustainer of all, inconceivable, sun-hued, beyond darkness.