Bhagavad Gita Chapter 9 Verse 21 (9.21)
Bhagavad Gita Chapter 9 Verse 21 (9.21)
ते तं भुक्त्वा स्वर्गलोकं विशालं । क्षीणे पुण्ये मर्त्यलोकं विशन्ति | | एवं त्रयीधर्ममनुप्रपन्ना | गतागतं कामकामा लभन्ते | | ९-२१ | |
te taṁ bhuktvā svargalokaṁ viśhālaṁ kṣhīṇe puṇye martyalokaṁ viśhanti evaṁ trayīdharmamanuprapannā gatāgataṁ kāmakāmā labhante
Word-by-word guide:
Line 1:
- ते
(te)— वे(they) - तम्
(tam)— उस(that) - भुक्त्वा
(bhuktva)— भोगकर(having enjoyed) - स्वर्ग-लोकम्
(svarga-lokam)— स्वर्गलोक(heavenly world) - विशालम्
(vishalam)— विशाल(vast)
Line 2:
- क्षीणे
(kshine)— समाप्त होने पर(when exhausted) - पुण्ये
(punye)— पुण्य के(of merit) - मर्त्य-लोकम्
(martya-lokam)— मृत्यु लोक में(mortal world) - विशन्ति
(vishanti)— प्रवेश करते हैं(enter)
Line 3:
- एवम्
(evam)— इस प्रकार(thus) - त्रयी-धर्मम्
(trayi-dharmam)— तीन वेदों के कर्मकांड को(threefold Vedic ritual path) - अनुप्रपन्नाः
(anuprapannah)— अनुसरण करने वाले(following)
Line 4:
-
gajoined in gatāgataṁ - तम्
(tam)— उस(that) -
gajoined in gatāgataṁ - तम्
(tam)— उस(that) - काम-कामाः
(kama-kamah)— इच्छाओं के इच्छुक(desiring desires) - लभन्ते
(labhante)— पाते हैं(obtain)
English: Yet although they enjoy the spacious glories of Paradise, nevertheless, when their merit is exhausted, they are born again into this world of mortals. They have followed the letter of the scriptures, yet because they have sought but to fulfill their own wants, they must depart and return again and again.
Learnings from Shloka 21:
- Transient Enjoyment:: Clinging to sensory pleasure, even in higher realms, is a temporary escape.
- Seek the Changeless:: Direct your spiritual aim toward the eternal Supreme rather than fleeting desires.
Gita/Sanskrit Language Quiz
Practice this shloka vocabularyMatch Sanskrit words from shloka 9.21 with their Hindi and English meanings.
Practice vocabulary
Having enjoyed the vast heavenly world, they return to the mortal realm when their merit is spent. Following external rituals for material desires leads only to transient coming and going.