Two modes of leaving the body

Remaining verses (8 - 28) of the Eighth Adhyaya Lord deals primarily with two modes of leaving the body.

1. Leaving the body completely without returning back again
2. Leaving the body for coming back again

One who has mastered the process of yoga will attain the highest goal of non-return.

ओमित्येकाक्षरं ब्रह्म व्याहरन्मामनुस्मरन्।
यः प्रयाति त्यजन्देहं स याति परमां गतिम्।।8.13।।
8.13 ॐ Om, इति thus, एकाक्षरम् one-syllabled, ब्रह्म Brahman, व्याहरन् uttering, माम् Me, अनुस्मरन् remembering, यः who, प्रयाति departs, त्यजन् leaving, देहम् the body, सः he, याति attains, परमाम् supreme, गतिम् goal.

Others who fail to attain such final goal will surely return to one of the lokas.
आब्रह्मभुवनाल्लोकाः पुनरावर्तिनोऽर्जुन।
मामुपेत्य तु कौन्तेय पुनर्जन्म न विद्यते।।8.16।।
8.16 आब्रह्मभुवनात् up to the world of Brahma, लोकाः worlds, पुनरावर्तिनः subject to return, अर्जुन O Arjuna, माम् Me, उपेत्य having attained, तु but, कौन्तेय O Kaunteya, पुनर्जन्म rebirth, न not, विद्यते is.

A thousand yugas time is the day time for Brahma; Same length is a Night. As the day arrives all the beings start their activities (work and enjoyment) and as the night starts all of them dissolve.
भूतग्रामः स एवायं भूत्वा भूत्वा प्रलीयते।
रात्र्यागमेऽवशः पार्थ प्रभवत्यहरागमे।।8.19।।
8.19 भूतग्रामः multitude of beings, सः that, एव verily, अयम् this, भूत्वा भूत्वा being born again and again, प्रलीयते dissolves, रात्र्यागमे at the coming of night, अवशः helpless, पार्थ O Partha, प्रभवति comes forth, अहरागमे at the coming of day.

This process of day and night is an unceasing activity of time. The beings will keep coming back to the loka that is a mixture of darkness and light as long as they do not attain the "highest light" that is beyond all darkness.
शुक्लकृष्णे गती ह्येते जगतः शाश्वते मते।
एकया यात्यनावृत्तिमन्ययाऽऽवर्तते पुनः।।8.26।।
8.26 शुक्लकृष्णे bright and dark, गती (two) paths, हि verily, एते these, जगतः of the world, शाश्वते eternal, मते are thought, एकया by one, याति (he) goes, अनावृत्तिम् to non-return, अन्यया by another, आवर्तते (he) returns, पुनः again.

This post is primary explanation of DEATH. Key point to know here is: "DEATH" is not the end. It is another transformation to attach the subtle desires of an individual with a suitable BODY + MIND + Intellect. As long as the individual "desires" to do something/enjoy something here, or he has pending damages to pay for he will have to come back here again (and again!).

A modern day example for this:
a. Getting a passport -> clearance to leave the current country
b. Getting a visa -> entry clearance to go to another country

Only when a person has no pending cases in the current country the administration will issue him a passport and only when the person is suitable to the new country he will be given a visa by that country.

Each loka has its own rules of being (natural laws) that hold the loka in its position. Everyone should lead a life that do not go against the "natural laws" (dharma) of that loka to not get punishment. As soon as one violate the dharma the passport will be held by that loka and the individual is stuck in that loka until he restores all the damages done by him in that loka. Even at the death he keep coming back to the same loka again and again.

OR

If the individual has a desire to continue doing "work" in a loka and enjoy the "fruits of work" in that loka he keeps coming back out of his own will. (even if he has no penalty to pay back)

Only after realizing that all the fruits are temporary and generated by work; Having decided not to continue this cycle of work & enjoyment, death & birth one should get on to the path of YOGA.

Such a person will transcend all the LOKAs to reach the ultimate goal/source of no-return. This knowledge of Death is important for a seeker of truth.


om tat sat