Bhagavad Gita BG 8.13
Chapter 8, Verse 13 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
ओमित्येकाक्षरं ब्रह्म व्याहरन्मामनुस्मरन् । यः प्रयाति त्यजन्देहं स याति परमां गतिम् ॥
om ity ekaksharam brahma vyaharan mAm anusmaran yah prayati tyajan deham sa yati paramam gatim
Meaning
Uttering the one-syllable 'OM' that is Brahman, remembering Me — whoever departs, leaving the body — that one attains the supreme destination.
Understanding
The integration of the mantra (OM) with remembrance (mAm anusmaran) at the moment of departure. Ekaksharam brahma (the one-syllable that IS Brahman — OM is not merely a word for Brahman, it IS Brahman in sound form). Vyaharan (uttering, resonating — not just mentally but as vibration). Combined with mAm anusmaran (remembering Me simultaneously — the sound and the devotion together). Yah prayati tyajan deham — who departs, leaving the body — attains paramAm gatim (the supreme destination). OM + remembrance of Krishna at death = liberation.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| एकाक्षरम् | ekaksharam | one syllable, the single syllable |
| व्याहरन् | vyaharan | uttering, declaring, resonating |
| त्यजन् | tyajan | leaving, releasing, abandoning |
| परमाम् गतिम् | paramam gatim | the supreme destination, the highest end |
| ओम् | om | Om, the sacred syllable |
| इति | iti | thus |
| एकाक्षरम् | ekākṣaram | the one syllable |
| ब्रह्म | brahma | Brahman |
| व्याहरन् | vyāharan | uttering, chanting |
| माम् | mām | Me |
| अनुस्मरन् | anusmaran | remembering |
| यः | yaḥ | whoever |
| प्रयाति | prayāti | departs |
| देहम् | deham | the body |
| सः | saḥ | he |
| याति | yāti | attains |
| परमाम् | paramām | supreme |
| गतिम् | gatim | destination |