ते तं भुक्त्वा स्वर्गलोकं विशालं क्षीणे पुण्ये मर्त्यलोकं विशन्ति | एवं त्रयीधर्ममनुप्रपन्ना गतागतं कामकामा लभन्ते || 21 || |
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“After enjoying the vast heavenly realm, those who have exhausted their merits in the mortal world return to the mortal plane. Thus, those who are driven by desires for material pleasures, following the path of the three Vedas, repeatedly come and go in this cycle.”
Commentary: Lord Krishna explains the cycle of transmigration for those who seek heavenly pleasures through Vedic rituals and exhaust their accumulated merits. According to the verse, individuals who have performed virtuous actions and accumulated punya (merit) may ascend to the celestial realms, experiencing the vast joys and luxuries of the heavenly abodes.
However, once their merits are exhausted, these individuals cannot remain in the heavenly realm indefinitely. They are bound by the law of karma and are compelled to return to the mortal plane, the world of birth and death. This cycle of ascending to the heavens and descending back to the mortal realm continues for those who pursue material desires and adhere solely to the path prescribed by the three Vedas (Trayi Vidya).
This verse serves as a reminder that the pursuit of heavenly pleasures and adherence to ritualistic practices, while legitimate within their context, do not lead to permanent liberation or self-realization.