vāyur anilam amṛtam athedam bhasmāntaṁ śarīram | oṁ krato smara kṛtaṁ smara krato smara kṛtaṁ smara ||
"Let this life-breath merge into the immortal Air. Let this body end in ashes. OM! O mind, remember — remember what has been done. O mind, remember — remember what has been done."
What This Means:
This is a prayer at the moment of death. The breath returns to the cosmic air; the body returns to ash. But there's an urgent call to the mind: remember! Remember what you've learned. Remember your purpose. Don't forget at the crucial moment.
Going Deeper:
Krato (from kratu, meaning will, purpose, or intelligence) is addressed twice with urgency. At death, the mind tends to scatter. The dying person is urged to hold onto awareness, to remember their spiritual purpose, to carry consciousness through the transition.
How To Apply This:
Live in such a way that when death comes, you have something worth remembering. Daily spiritual practice builds a habit of remembrance that will serve you at the final moment. Don't wait until it's too late to remember what matters.
Key Sanskrit Terms: