In Bhagavad Gita 9.21, Krishna says that having enjoyed the vast world of heaven, when their merit is exhausted they return to the world of mortals; seeking desires, they go and come.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
ते तं भुक्त्वा स्वर्गलोकं विशालं
क्षीणे पुण्ये मर्त्यलोकं विशन्ति
एवं त्रयीधर्ममनुप्रपन्ना
गतागतं कामकामा लभन्ते ॥ ९-२१ ॥
te taṃ bhuktvā svargalokaṃ viśālaṃ
kṣīṇe puṇye martyalokaṃ viśanti
evaṃ trayīdharmamanuprapannā
gatāgataṃ kāmakāmā labhante
English transliteration te tam bhuktvaa svargalokam vishaalam
ksheene punye martyalokam vishanti
evam trayeedharmamanuprapannaa
gataagatam kaamakaamaa labhante ॥ 9.21 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Having enjoyed the vast heavenly world, when their merit is exhausted they enter the world of mortals. Thus, following the dharma of the three Vedas and desiring enjoyments, they attain going and returning.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ते te | they |
| तम् tam | that |
| भुक्त्वा bhuktvā | having enjoyed |
| स्वर्गलोकम् svargalokam | heavenly world svarga (heaven) + lokam (world) |
| विशालम् viśālam | vast |
| क्षीणे kṣīṇe | exhausted |
| पुण्ये puṇye | merit |
| मर्त्यलोकम् martyalokam | world of mortals martya (mortals) + lokam (world) |
| विशन्ति viśanti | enter |
| एवम् evam | thus |
| त्रयीधर्मम् trayīdharmam | the dharma of the three Vedas trayī (three Vedas) + dharmam (dharma) |
| अनुप्रपन्नाः anuprapannāḥ | following |
| गतागतम् gatāgatam | going and returning gata (going) + āgatam (returning) |
| कामकामाः kāmakāmāḥ | desiring enjoyments kāma (enjoyments) + kāmāḥ (desiring) |
| लभन्ते labhante | attain |
Word-wise Chanting
- te taṃ bhuk–tvā svar–ga–lo–kaṃ vi–śā–laṃ 11 syllables te tam bhuk-tvaa svar-ga-lo-kam vi-shaa-lam
- kṣī–ṇe puṇ–ye mar–tya–lo–kaṃ vi–śan–ti | 11 syllables kshee-ne pun-ye mar-tya-lo-kam vi-shan-ti
- e–vaṃ tra–yī–dhar–ma–ma–nup–ra–pan–nā 11 syllables e-vam tra-yee-dhar-ma-ma-nup-ra-pan-naa
- ga–tā–ga–taṃ kā–ma–kā–mā la–bhan–te || 9-21 11 syllables ga-taa-ga-tam kaa-ma-kaa-maa la-bhan-te
How to read this
How to chant: each line is one pāda (quarter-verse); chant it in one breath. The hyphen (-) divides the syllables, inside a word and across a sandhi join, so every pāda shows its 8 syllables (11 in triṣṭubh verses). A consonant cluster is divided after its first consonant (kar-ma, vet-ti): that syllable is held longer. Mark above a syllable: guru, long (two beats); laghu, short (one beat). | closes the half-verse, || the verse; the number is the syllable count of the pāda.
Deeper Explanation – Chapter 9 Verse 21
Context
Krishna continues his contrast (9.20–9.22).
Meaning
Heaven is vast but not eternal. When the merit that earned it is exhausted, kṣīṇe puṇye, the soul returns to the mortal world. Those who follow ritual religion for the sake of enjoyment are caught in gatāgata, an endless coming and going.
This is like spending savings: no matter how large, they run out. Lasting freedom requires something more than accumulated merit; it requires turning to the Divine itself.
In Practice
Reflect on what in your life is like “spending savings” and what is truly lasting. Invest in the lasting.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 9: Raja Vidya Raja Guhya Yoga (The Royal Knowledge and Royal Secret). Read the chapter overview, browse every verse of the Gita, or return to the chapter-by-chapter guide. For a reading plan, see how to study the Bhagavad Gita and the study resources.