BHAGAVAD-GITA 8:15

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BHAGAVAD-GITA 8:15

 

mam upetya punar janma

duhkhalayam asasvatam

napnuvanti mahatmanah

samsiddhim paramam gatah

 

WORD FOR WORD

 

mam--Me; upetya--achieving; punah--again; janma--birth;

duhkha-alayam--place of miseries; asasvatam--temporary; na--never;

apnuvanti--attain; maha-atmanah--the great souls;

samsiddhim--perfection; paramam--ultimate; gatah--having achieved.

 

TRANSLATION

 

After attaining Me, the great souls, who are yogis in devotion, never

return to this temporary world, which is full of miseries, because

they have attained the highest perfection.

 

PURPORT

 

Since this temporary material world is full of the miseries of birth,

old age, disease and death, naturally he who achieves the highest

perfection and attains the supreme planet, Krsnaloka, Goloka

Vrndavana, does not wish to return. The supreme planet is described in

Vedic literature as avyakta and aksara and parama gati; in other

words, that planet is beyond our material vision, and it is

inexplicable, but it is the highest goal, the destination for the

mahatmas (great souls). The mahatmas receive transcendental messages

from the realized devotees and thus gradually develop devotional

service in Krsna consciousness and become so absorbed in

transcendental service that they no longer desire elevation to any of

the material planets, nor do they even want to be transferred to any

spiritual planet. They only want Krsna and Krsna's association, and

nothing else. That is the highest perfection of life. This verse

specifically mentions the personalist devotees of the Supreme Lord,

Krsna. These devotees in Krsna consciousness achieve the highest

perfection of life. In other words, they are the supreme souls.

 

Copyright 1983 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International. Used with

permission.