oṁ ityekākṣharaṁ brahma vyāharan mām anusmaran
yaḥ prayāti tyajan dehaṁ sa yāti paramāṁ gatim
om — sacred syllable representing the formless aspect of God;
iti — thus;
eka-akṣharam — one syllabled;
brahma — the Absolute Truth;
vyāharan — chanting;
mām — me (Shree Krishna);
anusmaran — remembering;
yaḥ — who;
prayāti — departs;
tyajan — quitting;
deham — the body;
saḥ — he;
yāti — attains;
paramām — the supreme;
gatim — goal
This verse talks about an important aspect of spirituality and reaching a higher state after we die. It mentions the sacred sound "Om" and how it connects to God. When someone is about to leave their physical body, if they can remember God, particularly in the form of Lord Krishna, they will go to the spiritual world, which is a divine place beyond our current life.
To break it down further:
- **"Om" is a sacred sound**: Think of it as a symbol of the spiritual or divine energy that connects everything in the universe. It represents the essence of the universe and can be a focus for meditation. People often use it to calm their minds and connect with a higher power.
- **Remembering God while leaving the body**: The verse emphasizes that remembering Lord Krishna or chanting his name, especially the mantra "Hare Krishna," is crucial at the time of death. This reminds us to keep our focus on positive thoughts and our connection to God instead of worrying about material things as we approach death.
- **Spiritual planets**: When we leave our bodies, we can either go to a better place or remain in a continuous cycle of life and death. This verse reassures that if we focus on God while leaving, we can reach these wonderful spiritual realms, often seen as blissful and eternal places, where we are free from suffering.
- **Different paths after death**: The interpretation also notes that there’s a distinction between those who are devoted to God and those who see God in a more abstract way; the former can reach a specific planet called Goloka Vrindavana, a special place where Krishna resides, while others might end up in a less personal spiritual state called brahmajyoti.
Overall, this verse gives us hope and guidance about how we can prepare for our end and what we should focus on: our relationship with God, especially through the sound and practice of chanting, which can guide us to a much happier, peaceful existence after this life.