BHAGAVAD-GITA 8:24

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BHAGAVAD-GITA 8:24

 

agnir jyotir ahah suklah

san masa uttarayanam

tatra prayata gacchanti

brahma brahma-vido janah

 

WORD FOR WORD

 

agnih--fire; jyotih--light; ahah--day; suklah--the white fortnight;

sat-masah--the six months; uttara-ayanam--when the sun passes on the

northern side; tatra--there; prayatah--those who pass away;

gacchanti--go; brahma--to the Absolute; brahma-vidah--who know the

Absolute; janah--persons.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Those who know the Supreme Brahman attain that Supreme by passing away

from the world during the influence of the fiery god, in the light, at

an auspicious moment of the day, during the fortnight of the waxing

moon, or during the six months when the sun travels in the north.

 

PURPORT

 

When fire, light, day and the fortnight of the moon are mentioned, it

is to be understood that over all of them there are various presiding

deities who make arrangements for the passage of the soul. At the time

of death, the mind carries one on the path to a new life. If one

leaves the body at the time designated above, either accidentally or

by arrangement, it is possible for him to attain the impersonal

brahmajyoti. Mystics who are advanced in yoga practice can arrange the

time and place to leave the body. Others have no control--if by

accident they leave at an auspicious moment, then they will not return

to the cycle of birth and death, but otherwise there is every

possibility that they will have to return. However, for the pure

devotee in Krsna consciousness, there is no fear of returning, whether

he leaves the body at an auspicious or inauspicious moment, by

accident or arrangement.

 

Copyright 1983 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International. Used with

permission.