Chapter VIII · Śloka 5
अन्तकाले च मामेव स्मरन्मुक्त्वा कलेवरम् ।
यः प्रयाति स मद्भावं याति नास्त्यत्र संशयः ॥
यः प्रयाति स मद्भावं याति नास्त्यत्र संशयः ॥
anta-kāle ca mām eva smaran muktvā kalevaram |
yaḥ prayāti sa mad-bhāvaṃ yāti nāsty atra saṃśayaḥ ||
yaḥ prayāti sa mad-bhāvaṃ yāti nāsty atra saṃśayaḥ ||
Whoever, at the time of death, gives up the body remembering Me alone, reaches My state — of this there is no doubt.
The pivotal teaching of this chapter: the final thought at death determines the nature of one's next existence. Remembering Krishna at that moment brings liberation into his very being, without any exception.