Bhagavad Gita BG 9.20
Chapter 9, Verse 20 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
त्रैविद्या मां सोमपाः पूतपापा यज्ञैरिष्ट्वा स्वर्गतिं प्रार्थयन्ते । ते पुण्यमासाद्य सुरेन्द्रलोकम् अश्नन्ति दिव्यान्दिवि देवभोगान् ॥
trai-vidya mam soma-pah puta-papa yajnair ishtva svarga-tim prarthayante te punyam asadya surendra-lokam ashnanti divyan divi deva-bhogan
Meaning
The knowers of the three Vedas who drink soma, purified of sin, worshipping Me through yajnas and praying for the way to heaven — they reach the holy world of Indra, the lord of the gods, and enjoy the divine pleasures of the gods in heaven.
Understanding
The Vedic ritualist's path and its result. Trai-vidya (knowers of the three Vedas — Rig, Sama, Yajur). Soma-pah (drinkers of soma — the sacred soma juice, the ritual drink that purifies and connects to the divine). Puta-papa (purified of sin through ritual). Yajnair ishtva (worshipping through yajnas). Svarga-tim prarthayante (praying for the path to heaven). Result: punyam asadya surendra-lokam (reaching the holy world of Indra — the heavenly world of the king of gods). Ashnanti (they enjoy) — divyan deva-bhogan divi (divine pleasures in heaven). The path is genuine, the fruit is real — but as v21 reveals, it is not final.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| त्रैविद्याः | trai-vidyah | knowers of the three Vedas (Rig, Sama, Yajur) |
| सोमपाः | soma-pah | drinkers of soma — the sacred ritual drink |
| पूतपापाः | puta-papah | purified of sin (puta = pure, purified; papa = sin) |
| सुरेन्द्रलोकम् | surendra-lokam | the world of Indra (king of gods), the heavenly realm |
| देवभोगान् | deva-bhogan | the divine pleasures (enjoyments of the gods) |
| त्रैविद्याः | traividyāḥ | the knowers of the three Vedas |
| माम् | mām | Me |
| सोम-पाः | soma-pāḥ | the drinkers of soma |
| पूत-पापाः | pūta-pāpāḥ | purified of sins |
| यज्ञैः | yajñaiḥ | by sacrifices |
| इष्ट्वा | iṣṭvā | having worshipped |
| स्वर्ग-तिम् | svarga-tim | the path to heaven |
| प्रार्थयन्ते | prārthayante | they pray for, desire |
| ते | te | they |
| पुण्यम् | puṇyam | the meritorious |
| आसाद्य | āsādya | having attained |
| अश्नन्ति | aśnanti | they enjoy, they eat |
| दिव्यान् | divyān | divine |
| दिवि | divi | in heaven |
| देव-भोगान् | deva-bhogān | celestial enjoyments |
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