"What has to be discarded is the Deha, this physical case; what has to be earned is Parabrahmam, the universal absolute. The Deha has your reality, your Swarupam, the un-discardable, indestructible, undying Sathyam and Nithyam. That reality is the entity called Atma, or what is the same thing, Paramatma. Since you are that, you cannot cast it off. Casting off the body is akin to shifting from a house occupied for some years, and birth is your entry into a new one. Both these are physical acts, not affecting the Atma. Arjuna! The Atma does not come in, nor does it go out. Those who are toiling in the falsehood of Dehatathwa cannot have the Atma revealed to them. The Dehatathwa is liable to decay and death. Therefore, more than the six items mentioned by Me already, the Pranava which is such a potent instrument of liberation has to be understood clearly. All the long years of life are to be utilised for this consummation - the mind being fixed on Pranava when the body is being cast off. You belch the flavour of the food you have taken; your last thought indicates the food you have fed on."

"Your Sadgathi is in accordance with your Sadhana; progress is in accordance with practice. Be always aware of the need to fix the mind on holy thoughts, when the body is got rid of. That is to say, immerse yourself in holy thought every moment of your life."

Arjuna inquired, "O Lord! Has one to strive for it from now on, if one wishes to get holy thoughts at the last moment of life? Can we not get them at that time itself?" The Lord realised his doubt and replied, "Your intelligence seems to have been blunted a great deal! For you are hesitating to accept the need to develop holy thoughts from now on. Arjuna! The mind has to be educated into the habit, through what is called Abhyasayoga, the discipline of constant practice. It has to be trained to avoid other thoughts and concentrate on the Lord only. Then only can you reach the Paramapurusha, the oversoul, the supreme spirit. Unless you systematically teach it and train it, you will not remember the Paramapurusha at the moment of death."

"You might ask me the reason. Well. Think of your own case. You are able to use these weapons of offence and defence in the battle that is imminent because you taught yourself the art of handling them over many years, is it not? Could you have used them with confidence, without preparation, on the spur of the moment? Is it ever possible? The Kshatriya will be called upon to wield weapons some day, so he is taught the art from childhood so that he may be ready for any emergency."