तस्मात्सर्वेषु कालेषु मामनुस्मर युध्य च ।
मय्यर्पितमनोबुद्धिर्मामेवैष्यस्यसंशय: ॥ ७ ॥
tasmāt sarveṣhu kāleṣhu mām anusmara yudhya cha
mayyarpita-mano-buddhir mām evaiṣhyasyasanśhayam
श्लोक ७: अतः सदैव मुझे स्मरण करो, और अपने युद्ध में लड़ने के कर्तव्य का निर्वाह करो। अपने मन व बुद्धि को मुझ पर स्थिर करके तुम निःसंदेह मेरे पास आओगे।
Shloka 7: Therefore, always remember Me and perform your duty of fighting this war. With mind and intelligence fixed on Me, you will undoubtedly come to Me.
Bhagavad Gita verse 8.7 presents a powerful instruction from Lord Krishna to Arjuna that forms the essence of karma yoga, the path of action. In the Sanskrit, "tasmāt sarveṣu kāleṣu mām anusmara yudhya ca," Krishna directs Arjuna to remember Him at all times while also fighting in the battle. This instruction comes after Krishna has spoken about remembrance in the previous verse, and here He clarifies that this remembrance doesn't replace action but should accompany it.
The verse establishes that spiritual consciousness and worldly duties are not mutually exclusive but are meant to exist in harmony. Krishna is not asking Arjuna to abandon his responsibilities as a warrior to focus solely on spiritual practices. Instead, He presents a profound spiritual technology: performing one's prescribed duties with God-consciousness. For Arjuna, a kshatriya (warrior) by nature, fighting was his dharma or duty, and Krishna instructs him to fulfill this duty while keeping his mind fixed on the divine.
This teaching refutes the misconception that the Bhagavad Gita promotes renunciation of action. Rather, it shows that the Gita is "not the philosophy of mendicants, escapists, idlers, and cowards". It advocates for full engagement in one's responsibilities while maintaining spiritual awareness. The verse emphasizes that action without divine consciousness is merely mechanical, while remembrance without appropriate action is incomplete spirituality.
Krishna further emphasizes this point with "mayy arpita-mano-buddhir," instructing Arjuna to surrender both his mind and intellect to Him. This is significant because it involves dedicating not just our emotions but also our reasoning and decision-making faculties to the divine. When both heart and head are aligned in divine consciousness, our actions naturally flow in harmony with our highest spiritual aspirations.
The promise at the end of the verse is profound: "mām evaiṣyasy asaṃśayaḥ" - without doubt, you will attain Me. Krishna assures Arjuna that by following this practice of remembrance during action, he will certainly reach the supreme destination. This is not presented as a possibility but as a certainty, removing all doubt about the efficacy of this spiritual practice. This assurance applies not just to Arjuna but to anyone who adopts this approach to life.
The verse offers a practical approach to spirituality that doesn't require abandoning our worldly responsibilities. Whether we are students, professionals, parents, or serving in any other capacity, we can apply this principle by keeping divine consciousness as the background of all our activities. This transforms ordinary actions into spiritual practice, elevating our daily work from mere labor to sacred service.
At its core, this verse teaches us how to live in the world without being consumed by it. It shows that true spirituality isn't about escaping our duties but about fulfilling them with the right consciousness. By remembering Krishna while performing our prescribed duties, we can remain in the world yet transcend its binding influence, ultimately preparing ourselves for the supreme remembrance at the time of death that leads to liberation. This harmonious integration of action and remembrance forms the cornerstone of balanced spiritual practice in daily life.
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