Bhagavad-Gita: Chapter 8, Verse 7

Rudra Vaisnava Sampradaya:

Visnuswami

Sridhara Swami's Commentary

It is natural that the aggregate impressions previously enacted in one's life will be the points of remembrance at the time of death; and as it is impossible for a catatonic, moribund person to make a special effort for recollecting the Supreme Lord. Lord Krishna is thus compassionately advising to always remember Him in everything one does meditating on Him within. But as it is a reality that constant meditation is not possible without purity of mind then one must first performed their prescribed duties according to varnashram or ones position and rank in society. In Arjuna's case being a ksatriya or warrior, it was his duty to fight battles for protecting righteousness and so Lord Krishna advises him to fight with his mind devoted to the Supreme Lord and in this way he will attain purity of mind. Thus by surrendering one's mind which is reflective and one's intellect which is determinative both in devotion to Lord Krishna exclusively one will attain Him without fail.

Brahma Vaisnava Sampradaya:

Madhvacarya
There is no commentary for this verse.

Sri Vaisnava Sampradaya:

Ramanuja

Ramanuja's Commentary

In as much as the last flash of consciousness of a dying person determines a persons destination and specification in their very next birth. This flash will naturally be that which one pondered and contemplated and became accustomed and habituated to performing as a daily practice. Therefore it is imperative that if one desires to achieve the ultimate goal of human existence they shall learn about the Supreme Lord Krishna and becoming attached to Him unceasingly meditate upon Him until the very moment of departure from this material existence at the moment of death. Lord Krishna also advises with the words anusmara yudhya meaning fight while remembering Him. This was applicable to Arjuna who was a ksatriya or warrior from the royal line and it is his duty to protect righteousness. But it also applies to everyone to perform their prescribed duties according to the injunctions enjoined in the Vedic scriptures. This includes ones daily duties and sometimes special occasional duties as ordained by varnasrama or one's position and rank within society. Thus while performing ones specific duties daily adhering and following the ordinances of the Vedic scriptures one should meditate upon the Supreme Lord with every action one performs. In this way one will be constantly thinking of Him and perpetually He will be infused in ones consciousness. This is the most perfect and expedient way to succeed in keeping the mind and will fixed upon Lord Krishna and thus naturally at the moment of death one who has meditated throughout their life on Him will of course easily be remembering Him at the final moment of departure from the physical body and will immediately transcend to join Him in the eternal spiritual worlds according to their wish. There is no doubt about this whatsoever.

Lord Krishna having explained in general for everyone that the achievement of a particular form and destination in the next life is determined by the very last thought in this life, He will elucidate the different modes of meditative devotion appropriate for each class and compatible with the goal they cherish to attain. First He will describe in the next verse the type of meditation practised by the artharthis or those seeking wealth and fortune as well as the type final thought adopted by them consistent with the mode of meditation they use.

Kumara Vaisnava Sampradaya:

Nimbaditya

Kesava Kasmiri's Commentary

So the reality being that the attainment of a particular cherished goal in the next life is determined and destined by constant contemplation upon it has been duly revealed by Lord Krishna. As Arjuna is a worthy aspirant for moksa or liberation from material existence he is being instructed to judiciously think of the Supreme Lord Krishna with every action he performs. This is what is being indicated by the word tasmat meaning therefore. The reason is that whatever thoughts the mind is set upon due to habituation it remains fixed to at the moment when death arises. Therefore one should set their mind on Lord Krishna, the Supreme controller and bestower of all boons at all times. At the same time one should carefully avoid all sins in the form of neglecting to perform one's obligatory duties and occasional duties ordained by the injunctions of the Vedic scriptures according to varnasrama or ones position and rank in society. Arjuna was a ksatriya or warrior who was from the royal class and it was his duty to protect righteousness in the world. With our minds and will being free from impurity by performing natural occupational duties accordingly being unconditionally devoted to the Supreme Lord, we will attain Him without a doubt.