eṣhā brāhmī sthitiḥ pārtha naināṁ prāpya vimuhyati
sthitvāsyām anta-kāle ’pi brahma-nirvāṇam ṛichchhati
eṣhā — such;
brāhmī sthitiḥ — state of God-realization;
pārtha — Arjun, the son of Pritha;
na — never;
enām — this;
prāpya — having attained;
vimuhyati — is deluded;
sthitvā — being established;
asyām — in this;
anta-kāle — at the hour of death;
api — even;
brahma-nirvāṇam — liberation from Maya;
ṛichchhati — attains
This verse talks about reaching a state of deep spiritual understanding and peace, which is called 'Krsna consciousness.' This state can be achieved quickly, sometimes instantly, but for many people, it may take many lifetimes to get there. It all hinges on understanding and accepting the truth about our spiritual nature and our relationship with God.
To illustrate this, consider the story of Khatvanga Maharaja, who realized the importance of surrendering to Krsna right before his death. He understood that true life is beyond the materialistic way of living—where people often chase after temporary pleasures, money, and success, which are ultimately unsatisfying.
In contrast, in Buddhism, nirvana is often seen as a state of emptiness or nothingness after life, but the Bhagavad Gita presents a more hopeful view. It says that a real spiritual life begins after we leave behind our material existence. For someone focused heavily on material wealth and desires, it is crucial to recognize the need to shift away from living just for worldly pleasures.
For spiritually advanced individuals, there’s a further belief that something exists beyond our current reality—a higher, more fulfilling state of being. If they become aware of Krsna consciousness before they die, they instantly attain this state of ultimate liberation, sometimes referred to as Brahman or reaching the kingdom of God.
This connection means that engaging in loving service and devotion to Krsna is the same as entering this spiritual kingdom. People in the material world are usually preoccupied with satisfying their senses—what they want to eat, wear, and own. However, those in the spiritual realm focus entirely on being aware of Krsna and connecting with Him.
Achieving Krsna consciousness in this lifetime can lead to an immediate realization of our spiritual nature and purpose. Anyone who truly embraces this consciousness is likely to have stepped into the kingdom of God. So, the verse encourages us to cultivate spiritual awareness, which can shield us from confusion at the end of our lives and direct us toward a higher destiny.