Word meanings
- adhiyajñaḥ
- the Lord all sacrificial performances
- katham
- how
- kaḥ
- who
- atra
- here
- dehe
- in body
- asmin
- this
- madhusūdana
- Shree Krishna, the killer of the demon named Madhu
- prayāṇa-kāle
- at the time of death
- ca
- and
- katham
- how
- jñeyaḥ
- to be known
- asi
- are (you)
- niyata-ātmabhiḥ
- by those of steadfast mind
Translations
Who and how is Adhiyajna here in this body, O destroyer of Madhu? And how, at the time of death, are You to be known by the self-controlled?
Who rules the spirit sacrifice in many, and how may those who have learned self-control come to the knowledge of Thee at the time of death?
O Madhusudana, how is the entity existing in the sacrifice here in this body, and who is it? And how are You to be known by people of concentrated minds at the time of death?
।।8.1 -- 8.2।। अर्जुन बोले -- हे पुरुषोत्तम ! वह ब्रह्म क्या है? अध्यात्म क्या है? कर्म क्या है? अधिभूत किसको कहा गया है? और अधिदैव किसको कहा जाता है? यहाँ अधियज्ञ कौन है और वह इस देहमें कैसे है? हे मधूसूदन ! नियतात्मा (वशीभूत अन्तःकरणवाले) मनुष्यके द्वारा अन्तकालमें आप कैसे जाननेमें आते हैं?Commentary
Arjuna put seven estions to the Lord1. What is that Brahman Is it Brahman with the Upadhis (limiting adjuncts) or Brahman without them2. Is it the aggregate of the senses or individual consciousness (Pratyak-Chaitanya) or distinct, pure consciousness3. What is Karma Is it Yajna Or, is it distinct from Yajna4. Adhibhuta is knowledge of the Bhutas. Is this the knowledge of the elements or something else5. Adhidaiva is that which is associated with the gods. Is this the meditation on the gods Or, is it the consciousness associated with the Suryamandala, etc.6.
Adhiyajna is that which is associated with Yajnas or Vedic rituals. Is this the Para Brahman (Supreme Being) or any special god Is it of the same form (Tadatmyarupa) or is it entirely nondifferent (Abheda) Does it exist in the body or outside it If it exists in the body, is it the intellect (Buddhi) or distinct from it7. At the time of death, when the memory is lost and when the senses become cold (i.e., whenthey lose their vitality) how can the man of onepointedness and of steadfast mind know the Lord-O Lord Madhusudana Thou art allmerciful.
Thou hast killed Madhu and removed the miseries of the people. Even so Thou canst remove my difficulties and doubts very easily. This is nothing for Thee, the omniscient Lord. (This is the reason why Arjuna addresses the Lord by the name Madhusudana.)