Bhagavad Gita Chapter 9 Verse 20 — Meaning & Life Application
Sanskrit Shloka (Original)
त्रैविद्या मां सोमपाः पूतपापा यज्ञैरिष्ट्वा स्वर्गतिं प्रार्थयन्ते | ते पुण्यमासाद्य सुरेन्द्रलोक- मश्नन्ति दिव्यान्दिवि देवभोगान् ||९-२०||
Transliteration
traividyā māṃ somapāḥ pūtapāpā yajñairiṣṭvā svargatiṃ prārthayante . te puṇyamāsādya surendralokaṃ aśnanti divyāndivi devabhogān ||9-20||
Word-by-Word Meaning
📖 Translation
9.20 The knowers of the three Vedas, the drinkers of Soma, purified of all sins, worshipping Me by sacrifices, pray for the way to heaven; they reach the holy world of the Lord of the gods and enjoy in heavn the divine pleasures of the gods.
।।9.20।। तीनों वेदों के ज्ञाता (वेदोक्त सकाम कर्म करने वाले), सोमपान करने वाले एवं पापों से पवित्र हुए पुरुष मुझे यज्ञों के द्वारा पूजकर स्वर्ग प्राप्ति चाहते हैं; वे पुरुष अपने पुण्यों के फलरूप इन्द्रलोक को प्राप्त कर स्वर्ग में दिव्य देवताओं के भोग भोगते हैं।।
How to Apply This Verse in Modern Life
💼 At Work & Career
If your career focus is solely on external rewards like salary, promotions, or status (the 'divine pleasures' of the corporate world), you might achieve them, but they are often temporary and can lead to a cycle of seeking and eventual dissatisfaction. Cultivate a deeper purpose, skill mastery, or impactful contribution that provides lasting fulfillment, rather than getting swept away by fleeting successes.
🧘 For Stress & Anxiety
Chasing temporary comforts or superficial solutions (like excessive indulgence, escapism, or constant external validation) to alleviate stress might offer momentary relief, akin to heavenly pleasures. However, these don't address the root causes and lead to a continuous cycle of striving. True mental well-being comes from developing inner resilience, discernment, and focusing on sustainable practices that lead to genuine peace.
❤️ In Relationships
Building relationships primarily for personal gain, excitement, or superficial validation ('divine pleasures' in a relational context) may provide temporary highs. Such relationships often lack depth and sustainability, and when the initial 'merit' or immediate gratification is exhausted, they may falter. Seek genuine connection, mutual growth, and selfless contribution for lasting, meaningful bonds that transcend fleeting attractions.
When to Chant/Recall This Verse
Solves These Life Problems
Key Message in One Line
“Temporary rewards, no matter how appealing or 'divine', divert us from lasting fulfillment and perpetuate a cycle of desire; discern and pursue the ultimate.”
🕉️ Council of Sages
Compare interpretations from revered Acharyas and scholars
🌍 English Interpretations
Swami Sivananda
9.20 त्रैविद्याः the knowers of the three Vedas? माम् Me? सोमपाः the drinkers of Soma? पूतपापाः purified from sin? यज्ञैः by sacrifices? इष्ट्वा worshipping? स्वर्गतिम् way to heaven? प्रार्थयन्ते pray? ते they? पुण्यम् holy? आसाद्य having reached? सुरेन्द्रलोकम् the world of the Lord of gods? अश्नन्ति eat (enjoy)? दिव्यान् divine? दिवि in heaven? देवभोगान् the divine pleasures.Commentary May aspirants climb up to a certain height on the ladder of Yoga. They are irresistibly swept away by the temptation of the higher planes (the heaven? and the plane of the celestial beings? etc.). They lose their power of discrimination and right understanding and thery lose themselves in heavenly enjoyments. The dwellers of the higher planes? the shining ones? tempt the aspirants in a variety of ways. They say unto them? O Yogi? we are very much pleased with your austerities and dispassion? spiritual practices and divine alities. This is the plane for your final resting which you have obtained through your merit and your austerities. We are all your servants to obey your orders and carry out your ?nds or behests. Here is the celestial car for you. You can move about anywhere you like. Here are the celestial damsels to attend on you. They will please you with their celestial music. Here is the wishfulfilling ree which will give you whatever you want. Here is the celestial nectar in the golden cup? which will make you immortal. Here is the celestial lake of supreme joy. You can swim freely in this lake. The uncautious Yogi is easily carried away by the invitations of the gods and the sweet flowery speeches. He gets false satisfaction or contentment. He thinks that he has reached the highest goal of Yoga. He yields to the templations and his energy is dissipated in various directions. As soon as his merits are exhausted he comes down to this earthplane. He will have to start his upward climb on the spiritual lader once more. But that dispassionate Yogi who is endowed with strong discrimination rejects ruthlessly these invitations from the gods? marches boldly on his spiritual path and stops not till he attains the highest rung on the ladder of Yoga or the highest summit on the hill of knowledge or Nirvikalpa Samadhi. He is fully conscious that enjoyments in heaven are as much worthless as those of this illusory world. The pleasures of heaven are subtle? exceedingly intense and extremely intoxicating. That is the reason why the uncautious? nonvigilant and less dispassionate aspirant yields easily to the temptations of the higher planes. Even in this physical plane? in the West and in America where there is abundance of wealth? plenty of dollars and gold? people enjoy subtle and intense sensual pleasures. Every day scientists bring out new inventions? new forms of sensual pleasures for the gratification of the mischievous and revolting senses. Even an abstemious man of simple habits of India becomes a changed man when he lives in America or Europe for some time. He yields to the temptations. Such is the power of Maya. Such is the influence of temptation. Such is the strength of the senses. That man who is endowed with strong discrimination? sustained dispassion? good selfanalytic power? and burning yearning for liberation? can resist temptations and he aloen can be really happy. He alone can attain the highest goal of life? the final beatitude or the sublime vision of the Infinite.Those who drink the Soma juice are purified from sin.Sacrifices Such as the Agnistoma? Jyotistoma. They worship Me as the Vasus and other deities (Rudras and Adityas) by sacrifices such as the Agnistoma.Indra is the Lord of the gods. He is called Satakratu because he had performed a hundred sacrifices. The divine pleasures are the supernatural pleasures of the heaven.DivyaBhoga An enjoyment that is beyond the reach of man or an enjoyment that can be had only by the celestial body of the gods or an enjoyment given by the gods in the heaven. The term Bhoga indicates sensual pleasures. Though the heavenly pleasuresare of a very subtle nature? yet,they are sensual pleasures only. (Cf.II.45)
Shri Purohit Swami
9.20 Those who are versed in the scriptures, who drink the mystic Soma-juice and are purified from sin, but who while worshipping Me with sacrifices pray that I will lead them to heaven; they reach the holy world where lives the Controller of the Powers of Nature, and they enjoy the feasts of Paradise.
Dr. S. Sankaranarayan
9.20. The masters of the three Vedas, the Somadrinkers, purified of their sins, aspire for the heavengoal by offering sacrifices to Me. They attain the meritorious world of the lord of gods and taste in the heaven the heavenly pleasures of the gods.
Swami Adidevananda
9.20 Those who are versed in the three Vedas, being purified from sin by drinking the Soma juice, pray for the passage to heaven and worship Me by sacrifices. Reaching the holy realm of the chief of the gods, they enjoy in heaven celestial pleasures of the gods.
Swami Gambirananda
9.20 Those who are versed in the Vedas, who are drinkers of Soma and are purified of sin, pray for the heavenly goal by worshipping Me through sacrifices. Having reached the place (world) of the king of gods, which is the result of righteousness, they enjoy in heaven th divine pleasure of gods.
🇮🇳 Hindi Interpretations
Swami Chinmayananda
।।9.20।। च्ड्ढड्ढ क्दृथ्र्थ्र्ड्ढदद्यठ्ठद्धन्र् द्वदड्डड्ढद्ध 9.21
Swami Ramsukhdas
।।9.20।। व्याख्या--'त्रैविद्याः मां सोमपाः ৷৷. दिव्यान्दिवि देवभागान्'--संसारके मनुष्य प्रायः यहाँके भोगोंमें ही लगे रहते हैं उनमें जो भी विशेष बुद्धिमान् कहलाते हैं, उनके हृदयमें भी उत्पत्ति-विनाशशील वस्तुओंका महत्त्व रहनेके कारण जब वे ऋक्, साम और यजुः -- इन तीनों वेदोंमें कहे हुए सकाम कर्मोंका तथा उनके फलका वर्णन सुनते हैं, तब वे (वेदोंमें आस्तिकभाव होनेके कारण) यहाँके भोगोंकी इतनी परवाह न करके स्वर्गके भोगोंके लिये ललचा उठते हैं और स्वर्गप्राप्तिके लिये वेदोंमें कहे हुए यज्ञोंके अनुष्ठानमें लग जाते हैं। ऐसे मनुष्योंके लिये ही यहाँ 'त्रैविद्याः' पद आया है। सोमलता अथवा सोमवल्ली नामकी एक लता होती है। उसके विषयमें शास्त्रमें आता है कि जैसे शुक्लपक्षमें प्रतिदिन चन्द्रमाकी एक-एक कला बढ़ते-बढ़ते पूर्णिमाको कलाएँ पूर्ण हो जाती हैं और कृष्णपक्षमें प्रतिदिन एक-एक कला क्षीण होते-होते अमावस्याको कलाएँ सर्वथा क्षीण हो जाती हैं ऐसे ही उस सोमलताका भी शुक्लपक्षमें प्रतिदिन एक-एक पत्ता निकलते-निकलते पूर्णिमातक पंद्रह पत्ते निकल आते हैं और कृष्णपक्षमें प्रतिदिन एक-एक पत्ता गिरते-गिरते अमावस्यातक पूरे पत्ते गिर जाते हैं (टिप्पणी प0 506)। उस सोमलताके रसको सोमरस कहते हैं। यज्ञ करनेवाले उस सोमरसको वैदिक मन्त्रोंके द्वारा अभिमन्त्रित करके पीते हैं, इसलिये उनको 'सोमपाः' कहा गया है।वेदोंमें वर्णित यज्ञोंका अनुष्ठान करनेवाले और वेदमन्त्रोंसे अभिमन्त्रित सोमरसको पीनेवाले मनुष्योंके स्वर्गके प्रतिबन्धक पाप नष्ट हो जाते हैं। इसलिये उनको 'पूतपापाः' कहा गया है।भगवान्ने पूर्वश्लोकमें कहा है कि सत्-असत् सब कुछ मैं ही हूँ, तो इन्द्र भी भगवत्स्वरूप ही हुए। अतः यहाँ 'माम्' पदसे इन्द्रको ही लेना चाहिये; क्योंकि सकाम यज्ञका अनुष्ठान करनेवाले मनुष्य स्वर्ग-प्राप्तिकी इच्छासे स्वर्गके अधिपति इन्द्रका ही पूजन करते हैं और इन्द्रसे ही स्वर्गप्राप्तिकी प्रार्थना करते हैं।स्वर्गप्राप्तिकी इच्छासे स्वर्गके अधिपति इन्द्रकी स्तुति करना और उस इन्द्रसे स्वर्गलोककी याचना करना-- इन दोनोंका नाम प्रार्थना है। वैदिक और पौराणिक विधि-विधानसे किये गये सकाम यज्ञोंके द्वारा इन्द्रका पूजन करने और प्रार्थना करनेके फलस्वरूप वे लोग स्वर्गमें जाकर देवताओंके दिव्य भोगोंको भोगते हैं। वे दिव्य भोग मनुष्यलोकके भोगोंकी अपेक्षा बहुत विलक्षण हैं। वहाँ वे दिव्य शब्द, स्पर्श, रूप, रस और गंध -- इन पाँचों विषयोंका भोग (अनुभव) करते हैं। इनके सिवाय दिव्य नन्दनवन आदिमें घूमना, सुखआराम लेना, आदरसत्कार पाना, महिमा पाना आदि भोगोंको भी भोगते हैं।
Swami Tejomayananda
।।9.20।। तीनों वेदों के ज्ञाता (वेदोक्त सकाम कर्म करने वाले), सोमपान करने वाले एवं पापों से पवित्र हुए पुरुष मुझे यज्ञों के द्वारा पूजकर स्वर्ग प्राप्ति चाहते हैं; वे पुरुष अपने पुण्यों के फलरूप इन्द्रलोक को प्राप्त कर स्वर्ग में दिव्य देवताओं के भोग भोगते हैं।।
📜 Sanskrit Commentaries
Sri Madhavacharya
।।9.20 -- 9.21।।तथापि मद्भजनमेवान्यदेवताभजनाद्वरमिति दर्शयति -- त्रैविद्या इत्यादिना।
Sri Anandgiri
।।9.20।।भगवद्भक्तानामपि निष्कामाना(णा)मेव मुक्तिरिति दर्शयितुं सकामानां पुंसां संसारमवतारयति -- ये पुनरिति। तिस्रो विद्या अधीयते विदन्तीति वा? त्रैविद्या वेदविदस्तदाह -- ऋगिति। वस्वादीत्यादिशब्देन सवनद्वयेशानादित्यारुद्राश्च गृह्यन्ते। शुद्धकिल्बिषाः निरस्तपापा इति यावत्।
Sri Vallabhacharya
।।9.20 -- 9.21।।त्रैविद्या इति। त्रिगुणात्मकत्रिवेदविद्यायां निष्णाताः? तथा च त्रिगुणकर्मकारिणः तथाविधैरेव यज्ञैस्तत्तद्देवताविशेषं समाराध्य वस्तुतस्तत्राहमेवेति मामित्युक्तम्। स्वर्गतिं प्रार्थयन्ते।।स्वर्गतिमित्युपलक्षणं कर्मानुगुणलोकानाम्। तथाहि निबन्धे -- सात्त्विकः सात्त्विकं कर्म यथा श्रुतिपरः कृती। स्वर्गलोकस्तस्य सिद्धयेद्विमानैस्त्रीभिरावृतः।।पुण्यस्य तु तिरोधाने पतत्यर्वाक्शिरास्ततः। पुण्यशेषं समादाय समीचीनेषु जायते। राजसं कर्म कुर्वाणो मेर्वादिसुखभाग्भवेत्। तामसं कर्म कुर्वाणोऽधोलोके सुखभाग्भवेत्।।राजसं सात्विकं कुर्वन् दैत्यसर्गेषु जायते। राजसं कर्म कुर्वाणश्चन्द्रलोके सुखी भवेत्। वृष्टिद्वाराऽन्नरूपः सन् रेतोयोनिषु जायते। तामसं कर्म कुर्वाणो यक्षलोके सुखी भवेत्। तामसः सात्विकं कुर्वन् पितृलोके महीयते। राजसं कर्म कुर्वाणो भूतादिसुखमाप्नुयात्।।तामसं कर्म कुर्वाणः सर्पादिसुखभाग्भवेत्। सर्वेषां पुनरावृत्तिस्तथा कर्म पुनर्भवः इति। तदाह -- क्षीणे पुण्ये इति। न तु क्षीणे लोके तद्यथेह कर्मजितो [चितो] लोकः क्षीयत एवमेव अमुत्र पुण्यजितो [चितो] लोकः क्षीयते [छां.उ.8।1।6] इति श्रुतिस्तूपचारमात्रम्। एवं त्रयीधर्मपराः कामकामा गतागतमवाप्नुवन्ति जन्ममरणपर्यावर्त्तमनुभवन्तो गुणप्रवाहमार्गे पतिता भवन्तीत्यर्थः। अयं जायस्य म्रियस्वेति तृतीयो दुष्टोऽधर्म -- (गुण) प्रवाहमार्ग उक्तः? तत्र अधर्मप्रवाहमार्गे जीवा नाङ्गीकृताः केनापि स्वरूपेण किन्तु माययेति सिद्धान्तः।
Sridhara Swami
।।9.20।।तदेवम्अवजानन्ति मां मूढा इत्यादिश्लोकद्वयेन क्षिप्रफलाशया देवतान्तरं भजन्तो मां नाद्रियन्त इत्यभक्ता दर्शिताः।महात्मानस्तु मां पार्थ इत्यादिना च भक्ता उक्तास्तत्रैकत्वेन पृथक्त्वेन वा परमेश्वरं श्रीवासुदेवं ये न भजन्ति तेषां जन्ममृत्युप्रवाहो दुर्वार इत्याह -- त्रैविद्या मामिति द्वाभ्याम्। ऋग्यजुःसामलक्षणास्तिस्रो विद्या येषां ते त्रिविद्याः एव त्रैविद्याः स्वार्थे तद्धितः। तिस्रो विद्या अधीयन्ते जानन्तीति वा त्रैविद्याः। वेदत्रयोक्तकर्मतत्परा इत्यर्थः। वेदत्रयविहितैर्यज्ञैर्मामिष्ट्वा ममैव रूपं देवतान्तरमित्यजानन्तोऽपि वस्तुत इन्द्रादिरूपेण मामेवेष्ट्वा संपूज्य यज्ञशेषं सोमं पिबन्तीति सोमपाः तेनैव पूतपापाः शोधितकल्मषाः सन्तः स्वर्गतिं स्वर्गं प्रति गतिं ये प्रार्थयन्ते ते पुण्यफलरूपं सुरेन्द्रस��य लोकं स्वर्गमासाद्य प्राप्य दिवि स्वर्गे दिव्यानुत्तमान्देवानां भोगानश्नन्ति भुञ्जते।