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. Hover 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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It shifts the mind from chasing temporary payoff to seeing the loop beneath it.
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
On the Kurukshetra field, 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 seeker returns to mortal life.
03
In your life
Why this verse still matters
You finally get the promotion, the applause, the bonus trip — and by Monday the hunger is back. Krishna points to the exhaustion behind every reward that depends on accumulation.
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?
You finally get the promotion, the applause, the bonus trip — and by Monday the hunger is back. Krishna points to the exhaustion behind every reward that depends on accumulation.
It shifts the mind from chasing temporary payoff to seeing the loop beneath it.
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
On the Kurukshetra field, 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 seeker returns to mortal life.
Why this verse still matters
You finally get the promotion, the applause, the bonus trip — and by Monday the hunger is back. Krishna points to the exhaustion behind every reward that depends on accumulation.
“Short-lived rewards feel satisfying, but they do not end restlessness.”
Explore related themes: kama (23 verses)