Bhagwad Gita (English) | Chapter 9 | Verse 20

Chapter 9, Verse 20

The Most Confidential Knowledge

Those who study the Vedas and drink the soma juice, seeking the heavenly planets, worship Me indirectly. They take birth on the planet of Indra, where they enjoy godly delights.

Verse

त्रैविद्या मां सोमपाः पूतपापा
यज्ञैरिष्ट्वा स्वर्गतिं प्रार्थयन्ते।
ते पुण्यमासाद्य सुरेन्द्रलोक
मश्नन्ति दिव्यान्दिवि देवभोगान्।।9.20।।

trai-vidyā māṁ soma-pāḥ pūta-pāpā
yajñair iṣhṭvā svar-gatiṁ prārthayante
te puṇyam āsādya surendra-lokam
aśhnanti divyān divi deva-bhogān

Meaning of each word

trai-vidyāḥ — the science of karm kāṇḍ (Vedic Rituals);
mām — me;
soma-pāḥ — drinkers of the Soma juice;
pūta — purified;
pāpāḥ — sins;
yajñaiḥ — through sacrifices;
iṣhṭvā — worship;
svaḥ-gatim — way to the abode of the king of heaven;
prārthayante — seek;
te — they;
puṇyam — pious;
āsādya — attain;
sura-indra — of Indra;
lokam — abode;
aśhnanti — enjoy;
divyān — celestial;
divi — in heaven;
deva-bhogān — the pleasures of the celestial gods

Interpretation

In this verse, Krishna is talking about people who study the Vedas, which are ancient Indian scriptures containing various knowledge about rituals, philosophy, and spirituality. When Krishna mentions 'trai-vidya,' he refers to the three main parts of the Vedas: the Sama, Yajur, and Rg Vedas. Normally, those who understand and study these texts are seen as very knowledgeable and are respected in society.

Now, there's a special type of person who studies all three Vedas deeply, and we call them 'tri-vedis.' These individuals might be focused on performing rituals (yajnas) to worship various demigods, such as Indra, the king of the heavenly realms. In their worship, they often seek rewards like going to heaven and enjoying divine pleasures.

However, Krishna points out that many of these scholars miss the bigger picture. The real goal of studying the Vedas is to connect with Him, Krishna, and engage in true devotion. You can think of it like studying for an exam but failing to understand the subject's true meaning.

Those who worship the demigods do so to cleanse themselves of their negative karmas (bad actions) and to rise to higher heavenly realms where they can enjoy a much more pleasant life than they do here on Earth. So while they get to enjoy the results of their sacrifices in places like the heavenly kingdom of Indra, where they experience happiness that seems divine, they are still not realizing the ultimate purpose of their studies.

Krishna emphasizes that while performing sacrifices and rituals can lead to temporary happiness, a deeper connection, pure devotion to Him, and chanting His name is where true fulfilment lies. Just like how some people do good deeds to get rewards, Krishna wants us to do our actions out of love and devotion to Him, which brings lasting peace and joy rather than just temporary pleasures.

In a nutshell, Krishna is reminding us that while chasing after heavenly pleasures is fine, understanding and realizing Him and engaging in loving devotion is the ultimate goal for true fulfillment.

Other Verses of Chapter 9

Verse 1
The Supreme Lord said: My dear Arjuna, because you are never envious of Me, I shall impart to you this most secret wisdom, knowing which you shall be relieved of the miseries of material existence.

Verse 2
This knowledge is the king of education, the most secret of all secrets. It is the purest knowledge, and because it gives direct perception of the self by realization, it is the perfection of religion. It is everlasting, and it is joyfully performed.

Verse 3
Those who are not faithful on the path of devotional service cannot attain Me, O conqueror of foes, but return to birth and death in this material world.

Verse 4
By Me, in My unmanifested form, this entire universe is pervaded. All beings are in Me, but I am not in them.

Verse 5
And yet everything that is created does not rest in Me. Behold My mystic opulence! Although I am the maintainer of all living entities, and although I am everywhere, still My Self is the very source of creation.

Verse 6
As the mighty wind, blowing everywhere, always rests in ethereal space know that in the same manner all beings rest in Me.

Verse 7
O son of Kunti, at the end of the millennium every material manifestation enters into My nature, and at the beginning of another millennium, by My potency I again create.

Verse 8
The whole cosmic order is under Me. By My will it is manifested again and again, and by My will it is annihilated at the end.

Verse 9
O Dhananjaya, all this work cannot bind Me. I am ever detached, seated as though neutral.

Verse 10
This material nature is working under My direction, O son of Kunti, and it is producing all moving and unmoving beings. By its rule this manifestation is created and annihilated again and again.

Verse 11
Fools deride Me when I descend in the human form. They do not know My transcendental nature and My supreme dominion over all that be.

Verse 12
Those who are thus bewildered are attracted by demonic and atheistic views. In that deluded condition, their hopes for liberation, their fruitive activities, and their culture of knowledge are all defeated.

Verse 13
O son of Prtha, those who are not deluded, the great souls, are under the protection of the divine nature. They are fully engaged in devotional service because they know Me as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, original and inexhaustible.

Verse 14
Always chanting My glories, endeavoring with great determination, bowing down before Me, these great souls perpetually worship Me with devotion.

Verse 15
Others, who are engaged in the cultivation of knowledge, worship the Supreme Lord as the one without a second, diverse in many, and in the universal form.

Verse 16
But it is I who am the ritual, I the sacrifice, the offering to the ancestors, the healing herb, the transcendental chant. I am the butter and the fire and the offering.

Verse 17
I am the father of this universe, the mother, the support, and the grandsire. I am the object of knowledge, the purifier and the syllable om. I am also the Rk, the Sama, and the Yajur [Vedas].

Verse 18
I am the goal, the sustainer, the master, the witness, the abode, the refuge and the most dear friend. I am the creation and the annihilation, the basis of everything, the resting place and the eternal seed.

Verse 19
O Arjuna, I control heat, the rain and the drought. I am immortality, and I am also death personified. Both being and nonbeing are in Me.

Verse 21
When they have thus enjoyed heavenly sense pleasure, they return to this mortal planet again. Thus, through the Vedic principles, they achieve only flickering happiness.

Verse 22
But those who worship Me with devotion, meditating on My transcendental form-to them I carry what they lack and preserve what they have.

Verse 23
Whatever a man may sacrifice to other gods, O son of Kunti, is really meant for Me alone, but it is offered without true understanding.

Verse 24
I am the only enjoyer and the only object of sacrifice. Those who do not recognize My true transcendental nature fall down.

Verse 25
Those who worship the demigods will take birth among the demigods; those who worship ghosts and spirits will take birth among such beings; those who worship ancestors go to the ancestors; and those who worship Me will live with Me.

Verse 26
If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, fruit, or water, I will accept it.

Verse 27
O son of Kunti, all that you do, all that you eat, all that you offer and give away, as well as all austerities that you may perform, should be done as an offering unto Me.

Verse 28
In this way you will be freed from all reactions to good and evil deeds, and by this principle of renunciation you will be liberated and come to Me.

Verse 29
I envy no one, nor am I partial to anyone. I am equal to all. But whoever renders service unto Me in devotion is a friend, is in Me, and I am also a friend to him.

Verse 30
Even if one commits the most abominable actions, if he is engaged in devotional service, he is to be considered saintly because he is properly situated.

Verse 31
He quickly becomes righteous and attains lasting peace. O son of Kunti, declare it boldly that My devotee never perishes.

Verse 32
O son of Prtha, those who take shelter in Me, though they be of lower birth-women, vaisyas [merchants], as well as sudras [workers]-can approach the supreme destination.

Verse 33
How much greater then are the brahmanas, the righteous, the devotees and saintly kings who in this temporary miserable world engage in loving service unto Me.

Verse 34
Engage your mind always in thinking of Me, offer obeisances and worship Me. Being completely absorbed in Me, surely you will come to Me.

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