Verse 8.16
Speaker: Krishna
Sanskrit
आब्रह्मभुवनाल्लोकाः पुनरावर्तिनोऽर्जुन | मामुपेत्य तु कौन्तेय पुनर्जन्म न विद्यते ||१६||
Transliteration (IAST)
ā-brahma-bhuvanāl lokāḥ punar āvartino 'rjuna | mām upetya tu kaunteya punar janma na vidyate ||16||
Word-by-Word Meanings
ā-brahma-bhuvanāt-up to the realm of Brahma
lokāḥ-worlds
punar āvartinaḥ-subject to return
mām upetya-having attained Me
punar janma-rebirth
na vidyate-does not exist
Translation
All worlds, from the realm of Brahma downward, are subject to return, O Arjuna. But having attained Me, O son of Kunti, there is no rebirth.
Commentary
Krishna establishes a crucial distinction: even Brahmaloka, the highest material realm, is subject to the cycle of creation and dissolution. Only attainment of the Supreme transcends all cyclical existence. Madhva explains that this verse refutes the notion that reaching any created heaven constitutes final liberation.
Themes
mokshatimejnana