Bhagavad Gita Chapter 9, Verse 21

English Translation

After having enjoyed that vast heavenly world, they enter into the human world on the exhaustion of their merit. Thus, those who follow the rites and duties prescribed in the three Vedas, and are desirous of pleasures, attain the state of going and returning.

Detailed Commentary

।।9.21।। Explanation — 'ते तं भुक्त्वा स्वर्गलोकं ... कामकामा लभन्ते' — Svargaloka is vast; its lifespan and objects of enjoyment are also abundant. Hence, Indraloka is described as expansive. Those who desire Svarga do not take refuge in Bhagavan, nor do they rely on the means of attaining Bhagavan. They only take refuge in the desire-driven actions prescribed in the Vedas. Hence, they are said to take refuge in Trayī Dharma. 'Gatāgatam' means — coming and going. Those who perform desire-filled rituals go to Svarga as a result of their *punyas* (merits), and when their *punyas* are exhausted, they return to *Mrityuloka* (the mortal realm). Thus, their cycle of repeatedly going to Svarga and returning to *Mrityuloka* continues. They are never freed from this cycle. If the word 'pūtapāpāḥ' from the previous *śloka* (verse) is taken to mean those whose sins are completely destroyed, and 'kṣīṇe puṇye' here is taken to mean those whose merits are completely exhausted, then they (with both sins and merits gone) should attain liberation; however, they do not attain liberation but rather *āgamana-gamana* (the cycle of coming and going). Therefore, 'pūtapāpāḥ' here refers to those whose sins, which were obstacles to going to Svarga, have been destroyed by performing *yajñas* (sacrifices), and 'kṣīṇe puṇye' refers to those whose merits for attaining Svarga have been depleted by enjoying happiness there. Hence, the complete destruction of all sins and merits is not implied here. Connection — Those who follow Trayī Dharma have to pray to the *Devatas* (deities). But those who take refuge solely in Me do not have to worry, resolve, or pray in their minds for their *yogakṣema* (welfare and preservation) — Bhagavan explains this in the next *śloka*.