What Happens After Death?

The Wisdom of Srila Prabhupada: Lesson 10

Question:

What happens to the soul after the death of the body?

Answer:

At the time of death, the soul leaves the body and takes on a new body according to its karma and desires. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that this cycle of birth and death, known as samsāra, continues until the soul becomes liberated through devotional service to Kṛṣṇa.

Explanation:

The Bhagavad-gītā (2.22) describes the process of reincarnation: vāsāṁsi jīrṇāni yathā vihāya navāni gṛhṇāti naro ‘parāṇi tathā śarīrāṇi vihāya jīrṇāny anyāni saṁyāti navāni dehī—”As a person puts on new garments, giving up old ones, similarly, the soul accepts new material bodies, giving up the old and useless ones.”

This verse illustrates that the body is like a set of clothes for the soul. When the body becomes unfit, the soul moves on to a new one. However, the type of body the soul receives is not random. It is determined by the individual’s past actions (karma) and consciousness at the time of death. Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasized that whatever one thinks of at the moment of death influences the next birth, as confirmed in the Bhagavad-gītā (8.6): yaṁ yaṁ vāpi smaran bhāvaṁ tyajaty ante kalevaram taṁ tam evaiti kaunteya sadā tad-bhāva-bhāvitaḥ—”Whatever state of being one remembers when he quits his body, that state he will attain without fail.”

For those who have cultivated Kṛṣṇa consciousness, death is not a fearful event but a gateway to eternal life in the spiritual world. Such souls transcend the cycle of birth and death and return to their original, blissful relationship with Kṛṣṇa. Śrīla Prabhupāda often stated that Kṛṣṇa consciousness prepares one to face death with clarity and purpose, ensuring liberation.

On the other hand, those attached to material desires remain bound within samsāra, taking birth in various species according to their karma. Śrīla Prabhupāda likened this to a prisoner being transferred from one cell to another, perpetually trapped until they reform their behavior and are released.

The ultimate goal of life, therefore, is to prepare for the moment of death by chanting the holy names of Kṛṣṇa and dedicating one’s actions to Him. By doing so, one ensures a favorable destination after leaving the body.

Suggested Reading:

To understand the soul’s journey after death, read Śrīla Prabhupāda’s Bhagavad-gītā As It Is, 2.22, including the purport. This verse and its explanation vividly describe reincarnation and the eternal nature of the soul.