Bhagavad Gita Chapter 8, Verse 5
यं यं वापि स्मरन्भावं त्यजत्यन्ते कलेवरम् | तं तमेवैति कौन्तेय सदा तद्भावभावित: ||
yaṁ yaṁ vāpi smaran bhāvaṁ tyajaty ante kalevaram taṁ tam eva eti kaunteya sadā tad-bhāva-bhāvitaḥ
O Arjuna, whatever state of being one remembers at the end, when leaving the body, that state alone one attains, being always absorbed in that thought.
Krishna reveals the universal principle: 'Yam yam vapi smaran bhavam'—whatever state of being (bhavam) one remembers (smaran) at the end (ante), when leaving (tyajati) the body (kalevaram), 'tam tam eva eti'—that state alone (eva) one attains (eti). 'Sada tad-bhava-bhavitah'—being always (sada) absorbed in (bhavitah) that thought (tad-bhava). This is the law of consciousness: what you think about daily becomes your state at death. If you're always absorbed in material thoughts, you'll remember material things at death. If you're always absorbed in spiritual thoughts, you'll remember the Supreme at death. This verse explains why daily practice matters—what you cultivate daily becomes your death state. You can't suddenly remember Krishna at death if you've never thought about Him during life.