Arjuna: Tell me, Krishna, what Brahman is. What is the Atman, and what is the creative energy of Brahman? Explain the nature of this relative world, and of the individual man.

Who is God who presides over action in this body, and how does He dwell here? How are you revealed at the hour of death to those whose consciousness is united with you? Sri Krishna: Brahman is that which is immutable, and independent of any cause but itself. When we consider Brahman as lodged within the individual being, wee call Him the Atman. The creative energy of Brahman is that which causes all existences to come into being. The nature of the relative world is mutability. The nature of the individual man is his consciousness of ego. I alone am God who presides over action, here in this body.

At the hour of death, when a man leaves his body, he must depart with his consciousness absorbed in me. Then he will be united with me. Be certain of that. He will realize whatever a man remembers at the last, when he is leaving the body, in the hereafter; because that will be what his mind has most constantly dwelt on, during this life. Therefore you must remember me at all times, and do your duty. If your mind and heart are set upon me constantly, you will come to me. Never doubt this.

Make a habit of practicing meditation, and do not let your mind be distracted. In this way you will come finally to the Lord who is the light-giver, the highest of the high.





Our gratitude to Ram Krishna Math, Chennai, and Our granting also to authors Isharwood & Swami Prabhavananda for their inspired translations