9.21 - Bhagavad Gita - Chapter 9, Verse 21

ते तं भुक्त्वा स्वर्गलोकं विशालं
क्षीणे पुण्ये मर्त्यलोकं विशन्ति ।
एवं त्रयीधर्ममनुप्रपन्ना
गतागतं कामकामा लभन्ते ॥21॥

Audio Narration

English Transliteration

te taṁ bhuktvā swarga-lokaṁ viśhālaṁ
kṣhīṇe puṇye martya-lokaṁ viśhanti
evaṁ trayī-dharmam anuprapannā
gatāgataṁ kāma-kāmā labhante

Hindi Translation of Bhagavad Gita 9.21

श्लोक २१: स्वर्ग के अपार सुखों का आनंद लेने और अपने पुण्यों का क्षय होने के बाद, वे मृत्यु लोक में लौट आते हैं। इसलिए, जो लोग सांसारिक सुखों की खोज में वैदिक अनुष्ठान करते हैं, वे इस संसार के जन्म मृत्यु के चक्र में फंसे रहते हैं।

English Translation of Bhagavad Gita 9.21

Shloka 21: After having enjoyed the immense pleasures of heaven and depleting their merits, they return to the mortal realm. Thus, those who engage in rituals given in the three Vedas, seeking worldly pleasures, cycle back and forth in this world.

Summary of Bhagavad Gita 9.21

In verse 9.21 of the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna explains the limitations of worshipping deities for material gain. He describes how those who perform Vedic rituals seeking heavenly pleasures eventually return to the mortal world: "Having enjoyed the vast heaven-world, when their merits are exhausted, they enter the world-of-the-mortals."

The Sanskrit verse "te taṁ bhuktvā svarga-lokaṁ viśālaṁ kṣīṇe puṇye martya-lokaṁ viśanti" clearly outlines this cycle – after enjoying the vast heavenly realms, when their accumulated good karma (punya) is depleted, these worshippers must return to earth. Krishna is addressing those who follow the ritualistic portions of the Vedas primarily seeking sensory pleasures rather than spiritual liberation.

These devotees are described as "kāma-kāmā" or those who desire sense enjoyments. While they diligently follow Vedic injunctions and perform prescribed rituals, their motivation remains attached to material rewards. Their actions earn them temporary residence in heavenly realms where they can enjoy divine pleasures, but this is not a permanent solution to the cycle of birth and death.

Krishna points out that such worshippers are trapped in "gatāgatam" – the continuous cycle of coming and going between heaven and earth. Despite their religious adherence to "trayī-dharmam" (the doctrines of the three Vedas), they remain bound to samsara because their worship is motivated by desire rather than devotion. This creates a perpetual pattern of birth, death, and rebirth as they exhaust their merit in heaven and return to earth to accumulate more.

While Krishna acknowledges that these worshippers indirectly worship Him since He is the ultimate source of all divine powers, their limited understanding prevents them from achieving permanent liberation. Their focus on temporary heavenly pleasures rather than eternal spiritual connection keeps them bound to the material world. They may enjoy celestial delights temporarily, but these pleasures are finite and ultimately unsatisfying.

This verse serves as a gentle reminder from Krishna about the limitations of materialistic religious practice. Even religious activities, when performed with selfish motives, cannot lead to permanent happiness or liberation. The verse highlights the importance of intention in spiritual practice – rituals performed for temporary gains yield temporary results, while devotion aimed at connecting with the divine brings lasting spiritual fulfillment.

The cosmic cycle described in this verse reflects a profound truth about attachment to rewards. Just as heavenly pleasures eventually fade, all material achievements in life are temporary. Krishna is guiding Arjuna (and all spiritual seekers) to look beyond transient rewards and seek the eternal divine connection that transcends the endless cycle of birth and death. Only by shifting focus from material gains to spiritual devotion can one break free from this cycle and achieve lasting peace.

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