तस्मात्सर्वेषु कालेषु मामनुस्मर युध्य च |
मय्यर्पितमनोबुद्धिर्मामेवैष्यस्यसंशयम् || 7||
tasmāt sarveṣhu kāleṣhu mām anusmara yudhya cha
mayyarpita-mano-buddhir mām evaiṣhyasyasanśhayam
tasmāt—therefore; sarveṣhu—in all; kāleṣhu—times; mām—Me; anusmara—remember; yudhya—fight; cha—and; mayi—to Me; arpita—surrender; manaḥ—mind; buddhiḥ—intellect; mām—to Me; eva—surely; eṣhyasi—you shall attain; asanśhayaḥ—without a doubt
Translation:
Therefore, at all times, constantly remember Me and fight. With your mind and intellect absorbed in Me, you will surely come to Me.
Commentary:
This verse seems to be a commentary on the previous one in which it is declared that the devotee who shall think of Him at the moment of death will attain Him. Here the Lord clarifies the declaration by stating that it is the duty of the devotee to think of Him at all times. It is implied that unless a man thinks of Him always, he cannot retain that blissful memory at the time of death.
It is the lamp that keeps away darkness. When the lamp is put out, darkness envelopes everything. The darkness of ignorance is ready to possess the heart of man if the lamp of knowledge is not kept burning continuously. It is only the thought of the Lord that keeps away delusion. When that thought is not there, delusion immediately seizes man. Therefore remember Me at all times – is the Lord’s command.
Anusmara: Continuous thought of the Supreme should be kept up. Hearing of the Lord, thinking of Him, meditating on Him, the seeker should not let go his hold of the Lord at any time. Such a man need not bother whether death comes sooner or later. Having purchased the ticket, it does not matter when the train comes! Let death come when it will, the seeker is ready with the Lord’s name on his lips and His thought in the mind.
If all the time the seeker is thinking of the Lord, how can he get on in the world? When does he find time to look after the practical duties of life? This question is asked by many people. Most people also make it an excuse that they are not able to think of God because of pressing domestic duties. To such people the Lord here gives the advice. “Think of Me and perform your duties.” Arjuna’s duty on the battle-field was to fight. For each man as he is placed in the various stations and circumstances of life, there will be particular duties and they should be performed while keeping the thought of the Lord in the mind.
The declaration of the Lord proves that the Gita Sastra is not the philosophy of mendicants, escapists, idlers, and cowards. It is the doctrine that unites practical life with the highest realisation. Remember me and do your duty (“Mam anusmara yudhya cha.“) – This is one of the central teachings of Gita.
The mind generates thought and intellect approves and confirms it. So one should think of the Lord both with mind and intellect. These two faculties of the mind should be fixed in or surrendered to the Lord.
Asamsayah: The Lord affirms His declaration and excludes all doubts and fears from the mind of his devotees. So it is the duty of all aspirants to have faith in the Lord’s command, do spiritual sadhana and attain Him.
Question: When should one think of God?
Answer: Always and ever.
Question: What about man’s worldly duties?
Answer: He should perform them and at the same time think of the Lord.
Question: What is the way to attain the Lord?
Answer: Surrendering the mind and intellect to Him.
Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 8 🔻 (28 Verses)
