Gita 8.2
अधियज्ञः कथं कोऽत्र देहेऽस्मिन्मधुसूदन।
प्रयाणकाले च कथं ज्ञेयोऽसि नियतात्मभिः।।
adhiyajñaḥ kathaṁ ko 'tra dehe 'smin madhusūdana prayāṇa-kāle ca kathaṁ jñeyo 'si niyatātmabhiḥ
"Who is the Lord of sacrifice, and how does He dwell in this body, O Madhusudana? And how can those of steady mind know You at the time of death?"
What This Means:
Arjuna adds two more questions: What is adhiyajna (Lord of sacrifice) and how is He present in the body? And crucially: how can someone know Krishna at the moment of death?
Going Deeper:
The death question is most urgent. Chapter 7 ended with the promise that devotees know Krishna 'even at death.' Arjuna wants to understand this practically—how does one maintain awareness at life's most disorienting moment?
How To Apply This:
What happens to your spiritual practice when you're under extreme stress? Death is the ultimate stress test. Your daily practice is training for that moment.
Key Sanskrit Terms:
Adhiyajña= Lord of sacrificePrayāṇa-kāla= Time of death/departureNiyatātmabhiḥ= By those of controlled mind