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