Arjuna said: What is that Brahman? What is Adhyatmal What is Karma, O Purusottama(Supreme being)? What is called Adhibhūta? And what is said to be Adhi-duiva? And, who, in that way, is Adhiyajña, in this body, O destroyer of Madhu? And, how art Thou known at the time of death, by the self-controlled?

The resplendent Lord Said: Indestructible and Supreme is Brahman; his essential nature is said to be the Adhyatma(Self). The externalised creative force which gives rise to material entities is known as Karma. The perishable existence is the Adhibhuta, Purusha is the nature of the divinities(Adhidaiva). And I Myself am of the principle of Yajna(Adhijajna) here in the body, O best of the embodied beings(Arjuna).

And he, who at the time of death, meditating on Me alone, goes forth, leaving the body, attains My Being: there is no doubt of this.

With whatever state of thought or mental inclination (bhava) one leaves his body, he attains the same state(or state which justifies his mental inclination) [in next birth], without fail.

Therefore, thinking of Me at all times, fight; with your mind and intellect dedicated to Me, [this way] you shall surely come to Me, there is no doubt.

Constantly meditating with a mind made steadfast by habitual practice, without thinking of anything else, one reaches the Divine Supreme Being, O Arjuna!

One who meditates upon the Omniscient, Primeval One, Ruler and Creator of all, who is more subtle than an atom, whose nature is inconceivable, who is as refulgent as the sun, and who is beyond Tamas (primordial state of undifferentiated matter) — at the time of death, with a mind unwavering by the power of Yoga, being possessed of devotion, having focused the Vital Force (Prāṇa) between the eyebrows — reaches that same Divine Supreme Being.

I shall declare to you briefly that goal, which the knowers of the Veda call the Imperishable,which ascetics, free from desire enter, and for attaining which, they practice the vow of continence (Brahmacarya).

Restraining all the gates[of senses], and confining the mind in the heart, placing his Prāna in the head, occupied in steadiness of yoga, Uttering the one-syllabled Om, the Brahman, and meditating on Me—he who departs, leaving the body, attains the Supreme Goal.

O Partha, I am easily attainable by that ever steadfast Yogi, who constantly meditates upon Me, without deviation.

Having attained Me, great ones are never again subject to rebirth in this world which is transient and the abode of sorrow — they having reached highest perfection.

All the worlds, from the realm of Brahma down (Bramhaloka and below), are subject to recurrence, O Arjuna, but after attaining Me, O Son of Kunti, there is no rebirth.

Those who know the duration of the [Cosmic] day and night understand a day of Brahma to last for a thousand Yugas(tetrad of yuagas) and a night of Brahma to last for another thousand Yugas.

All the manifested entities come forth from the unmanifest (Avyakta) at the coming of the day of Brahma, at the coming of the night they are dissolved into that alone which is known as the Unmanifest.

The multitude of beings come again and again in existence, 0 Partha, dissolve [to un-manifest] at the approach of the [Bramha’s] night and streaming again at the coming of the [Bramha’s] day.

Yet there is another state, which is eternal and is transcendental to this manifested and unmanifested matter. It is supreme and is never annihilated, when all in this world is annihilated. This has [also] been called the Unmanifest (Avyakta) and Imperishable (Akṣara). This, is said to be the highest goal; My ultimate state, reaching which Jīvas do not return to Samsāra.

But the Supreme Being in whom all beings abide and by whom all this [universe] is pervaded is to be attained by unswerving devotion, O Arjuna.

O bull of the Bhāratas, 1 shall tell you, now, at what time (path) travelling (departing) yogins go to return not, as also to return.

Fire, light, day, the bright fortnight, the six months of the northern course, the people traversing on that path, wise in wisdom of Brahman, go to the Absolute. Smoke, night, similarly the dark fortnight, the six months of the southern course - the equanimous one traversing that path and attaining the lunar light, returns.

Truly are these bright and dark paths of the world considered eternal: man goes by the one to returnnot; by the other, he returns again.

No Yogi, O Partha, who knows these two paths is ever deluded. Therefore, O Arjuna, at all times engage yourself in Yoga.

Whatever meritorious results are declared to accrue from the study of the Vedas, from the performance of sacrifices, from the practice of austerities and charity, all this is transcended by the Yogi who knows this teaching of Mine, he reaches the Supreme, Primeval abode.