Bhagavad Gita Chapter 9, Verse 21

Chapter 9 – Raja Vidya Raja Guhya Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

ते तं भुक्त्वा स्वर्गलोकं विशालं
क्षीणे पुण्ये मर्त्यलोकं विशन्ति ।
एवं त्रयीधर्ममनुप्रपन्ना
गतागतं कामकामा लभन्ते ॥

Transliteration

te taṃ bhuktvā svargalokaṃ viśālaṃ kṣīṇe puṇye martyalokaṃ viśanti .
evaṃ trayīdharmamanuprapannā gatāgataṃ kāmakāmā labhante ॥

Meaning

Having enjoyed that vast heavenly world, when their merit is exhausted they enter the world of mortals again. Thus, following the ritual dharma of the three Vedas and desiring enjoyments, they attain only going and coming.

Word meanings

ते – they
तम् – that
भुक्त्वा – having enjoyed
स्वर्गलोकम् – heavenly world
विशालम् – vast
क्षीणे – when exhausted
पुण्ये – merit
मर्त्यलोकम् – world of mortals
विशन्ति – they enter
एवम् – thus
त्रयीधर्मम् – the ritual dharma of the three Vedas
अनुप्रपन्नाः – following
गतागतम् – going and coming
कामकामाः – desiring enjoyments
लभन्ते – attain

Anvaya (word order)

ते तं विशालं स्वर्गलोकं भुक्त्वा पुण्ये क्षीणे मर्त्यलोकं विशन्ति; एवं त्रयीधर्मम् अनुप्रपन्नाः कामकामाः गतागतं लभन्ते ।

Explanation

Having described heavenly enjoyment, Krishna now shows its limit. ‘They enjoy that vast heaven’: the word vishala, vast, admits that the happiness is real and great. But at once the verse continues: ‘when their merit is spent, they enter the world of mortals.’

Heaven gained by merit is like money in a bank account. One can enjoy only as much as has been deposited; when the balance runs out, one must leave. Shankara notes that such people are not free; their happiness depends on their merit, and since merit is limited, so is their joy.

Those who follow the trayi-dharma, the ritual path of the three Vedas, as the final goal, and who are kama-kamah, desirous only of enjoyment, gain only gata-agatam, going and coming. Up to heaven, down to earth, earning merit again, up again: the cycle never ends. In chapter 2 Krishna had spoken of such people as captivated by the flowery words of the Vedic ritual sections.

This is not a condemnation of the Vedas, but a statement of the limits of desire-driven action. The true aim of the Vedas is the Lord Himself; one who offers Vedic duties to Him is freed from this cycle, as the very next verse reveals.

Context

Verse 20 said that those who perform sacrifices for reward attain heaven. This verse shows that such heaven is temporary. In sharp contrast, the next verse gives the Lord’s wonderful promise to His exclusive devotees, that He carries their yoga and kshema.

Life lesson

Happiness earned by merit or effort is spent and runs out. Lasting peace lies only in union with God. Make the imperishable, not passing pleasures, the goal of life.

Key terms

Trayi-dharma: the ritual dharma of the three Vedas pursued for reward
Kama-kama: one who desires enjoyments
Gatagata: going and coming, the cycle of rebirth
Martyaloka: the world of mortals