Chapter VIII · Śloka 6
यं यं वापि स्मरन्भावं त्यजत्यन्ते कलेवरम् ।
तं तमेवैति कौन्तेय सदा तद्भावभावितः ॥
तं तमेवैति कौन्तेय सदा तद्भावभावितः ॥
yaṃ yaṃ vāpi smaran bhāvaṃ tyajaty ante kalevaram |
taṃ tam evaiti kaunteya sadā tad-bhāva-bhāvitaḥ ||
taṃ tam evaiti kaunteya sadā tad-bhāva-bhāvitaḥ ||
Whatever state of being one remembers when leaving the body at death, that state alone does one attain, O Kaunteya, having always been absorbed in its thought.
This verse generalises the law: the mind's habitual orientation throughout life culminates in its final impression. Whatever has saturated the consciousness — that becomes the doorway to the next birth.