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Chapter 9 · The Most Confidential Knowledge · 34 verses

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How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Remember who is speaking. Kṛṣṇa is speaking. Take the verse as He directs.
  2. 2Say the verse and its words. Read the Sanskrit, then each word with its meaning.
  3. 3Read the translation as it is. Let the translation say what it says, without adding your own meaning.
  4. 4Read the purport. Hear the verse through the disciplic succession.
  5. 5Bring your own question. Ask: where does this verse meet my life, my trouble, my doubt?
  6. 6Act on it, remembering Kṛṣṇa. Carry one instruction into your work today.
Read the full guide: how to read the Bhagavad-gītā ›
Liberation & destinyChapter 9 · The Most Confidential Knowledge
9.209.22

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 9.21

The temporary results of heavenly attainment

Karma · Action

ते तं भुक्त्वा स्वर्गलोकं विशालं

क्षीणे पुण्ये मर्त्यलोकं विशन्ति ।

एवं त्रयीधर्ममनुप्रपन्ना

गतागतं कामकामा लभन्ते ॥ २१ ॥

te taṁ bhuktvā svarga-lokaṁ viśālaṁ

kṣīṇe puṇye martya-lokaṁ viśanti

evaṁ trayī-dharmam anuprapannā

gatāgataṁ kāma-kāmā labhante

Translation

When they have thus enjoyed vast heavenly sense pleasure and the results of their pious activities are exhausted, they return to this mortal planet again. Thus those who seek sense enjoyment by adhering to the principles of the three Vedas achieve only repeated birth and death.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

What this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.

3 study points

Heavenly Pleasure Does Not Last

  1. 1

    Those seeking heavenly pleasure through the three Vedas return to earth when their pious rewards run out, facing repeated birth and death.

  2. 2

    Prabhupāda explains that without understanding Kṛṣṇa, the cause of all causes, one keeps moving between higher and lower planets.

  3. 3

    Aim for the spiritual world, where life is eternal, full of bliss and knowledge, with no return to material suffering.

Key points from the purport

These notes cover verses 9.20–21

Result of Demigod worship mentioned here

Demigod worshippers worship Krishna only, but indirectly

They study the Vedas, drink the Soma juice, seeking the heavenly planets

Path of demigod worshipers

Purified of sinful reactions, they take birth on the pious, heavenly planet of Indra where they enjoy Godly delights

After exhausting the result of their pious activity, they return to this mortal planet again

Thus this path only offers repeated birth and death

a

Ultimate goal for Tri-vedis is Krishna only (9.20)

Actual Tri-vedis take shelter of lotus feet of Krishna and engage in devotional service

By chanting Hare Krishna,

And by cultivating knowledge of Krishna

b

Simply official students of Vedas are only interested in sacrifice to demigods

Have not attained the perfection of knowledge which is to know the “Source of all” (‘Janmady asya yatah’)

Only benefits achieved:

Gets purified of lower modes

Elevation to heavenly planets with longer life and better sense gratification

c

Disadvantage of heavenly planets as the goal

Comes back to the earth – Cycle of birth and death ‘after exhausting pious deeds’

Analogy: “Ferris wheel” compared to “Cycle of birth and death” (study 9.21 purport)

Solution offered to avoid repeated birth and death: Make spiritual world as your goal

Connected verses · 1

Texts 9.21 & 9.22

Texts 20 — 21 explains : “How demigods obtain the necessities of life”

Further reading

Fools Neglect Bhakti: The Divine Don’t

Duratmas – Fools who think Krishna’s form is ordinary are defeated in their endeavours (9.11 – 9.12)

Mahatmas – Those who know that Krishna has a transcendental form take shelter of Him and worship Him (9.13 – 9.14)

Indirect worshippers – All who take shelter of a conception of Supreme and worship it, are ultimately worshipping Krishna, but they worship Him indirectly – These are of 3 types:

Ekatvena – the monist, the lowest, worships himself as one with the Supreme (9.11 – 9.12)

Visvato-mukham – a worshiper of the material, universal form is the best (9.16 – 9.19)

Prthakvena – a demigod worshiper, is situated higher than the ‘ekatvena’ (9.20 – 9.25)

Chapter 9, section III: Fools Neglect Bhakti: The Divine Don’t
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tethey
  2. tamthat
  3. bhuktvāhaving enjoyed
  4. svarga-lokamheaven
  5. viśālamvast
  6. kṣīṇebeing exhausted
  7. puṇyethe results of their pious activities
  8. martya-lokamto the mortal earth
3

Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Key ideas: mokṣa, dhāma.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 9.21 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to liberation & destiny?

Practice

Reflect on what you want to remember at life's end.

5

Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

BG 9.20The temporary results of heavenly attainment
Live this todayKṛṣṇa Carries and PreservesA practice from BG 9.22, close to this verse

Study notes are editorial summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport.

  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
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