Verse 9.21
Speaker: Krishna
Sanskrit
ते तं भुक्त्वा स्वर्गलोकं विशालं क्षीणे पुण्ये मर्त्यलोकं विशन्ति | एवं त्रयीधर्ममनुप्रपन्ना गतागतं कामकामा लभन्ते ||२१||
Transliteration (IAST)
te taṁ bhuktvā svarga-lokaṁ viśālaṁ kṣīṇe puṇye martya-lokaṁ viśanti evaṁ trayī-dharmam anuprapannā gatāgataṁ kāma-kāmā labhante
Word-by-Word Meanings
Translation
Having enjoyed the vast heavenly world, when their merit is exhausted, they return to the mortal realm. Thus, following the Vedic rituals for desire-fulfillment, they attain only the cycle of coming and going.
Commentary
This verse reveals the fundamental limitation of merit-based religion: heavenly rewards are temporary. When puṇya (merit) is exhausted, one falls back to mortal existence. This 'gatāgatam' (coming and going) contrasts with the permanent liberation offered through exclusive devotion in the next verse.