After enjoying the vast heaven-world, they return to the mortal world when their merit is exhausted. Thus, those who follow the ritual path of the three Vedas and seek pleasures gain repeated coming and going.
— Krishna
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Bhagavad Gita · 9.21
Hindi · हिन्दी
वे उस विशाल स्वर्गलोकके भोगोंको भोगकर पुण्य क्षीण होनेपर मृत्युलोकमें आ जाते हैं । इस प्रकार तीनों वेदोंमें कहे हुए सकाम धर्मका आश्रय लिये हुए भोगोंकी कामना करनेवाले मनुष्य आवागमनको प्राप्त होते हैं ॥
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Tap a word to focus on it.
तेtheyतम्thatभुक्त्वाhaving enjoyedस्वर्गलोकम्heaven-worldविशालम्vastक्षीणेhaving become exhaustedपुण्येmeritमर्त्यलोकम्mortal worldविशन्तिenterएवम्thusत्रयीधर्मम्the three-Veda ritual dharmaअनुप्रपन्नाःhaving resorted toगतागतम्coming and goingकामकामाdesiring pleasuresलभन्तेobtain
Read literallythey · that · having enjoyed · heaven-world · vast · having become exhausted · merit · mortal world · enter · thus · the three-Veda ritual dharma · having resorted to · coming and going · desiring pleasures · obtain
Understanding the verse
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Heaven bought with merit runs out, Krishna says, and the buyer comes back down to earth.
People who seek heavenly rewards through ritual enjoy those rewards for a while, but when their merit is used up, they return to ordinary life and the cycle continues.
02
On the battlefield
Context & commentary
Krishna is exposing the limits of reward-seeking religion. After describing ritualists who aim for heaven, he says even that highest pleasure is temporary: merit fades, the reward ends, and the person returns to mortal life.
03
In your life
What it looks like today
The promotion comes with a bonus and a holiday, and by the next quarter the hunger for the next target is back. Krishna describes the same loop: merit spent, reward over, back to the start.
The takeaway
“Short-lived rewards feel satisfying, but they do not end restlessness.”
People who seek heavenly rewards through ritual enjoy those rewards for a while, but when their merit is used up, they return to ordinary life and the cycle continues.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 9.21?
Krishna speaks this verse, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, in the chapter titled "Raja Vidya Raja Guhya Yoga" (The Royal Knowledge).
Which chapter of the Bhagavad Gita contains verse 9.21?
Verse 21 sits in Chapter 9 of the Bhagavad Gita — Raja Vidya Raja Guhya Yoga, "The Royal Knowledge". The chapter has 34 verses in total.
Why does Bhagavad Gita 9.21 matter today?
The promotion comes with a bonus and a holiday, and by the next quarter the hunger for the next target is back. Krishna describes the same loop: merit spent, reward over, back to the start.
Heaven bought with merit runs out, Krishna says, and the buyer comes back down to earth.
What this verse means
People who seek heavenly rewards through ritual enjoy those rewards for a while, but when their merit is used up, they return to ordinary life and the cycle continues.
Context & commentary
Krishna is exposing the limits of reward-seeking religion. After describing ritualists who aim for heaven, he says even that highest pleasure is temporary: merit fades, the reward ends, and the person returns to mortal life.
What it looks like today
The promotion comes with a bonus and a holiday, and by the next quarter the hunger for the next target is back. Krishna describes the same loop: merit spent, reward over, back to the start.
“Short-lived rewards feel satisfying, but they do not end restlessness.”
Explore related themes: kama (23 verses)