Commentary

Commentary

After the magnificent declarations of verses 16-19 where Krishna identifies Himself with all of existence, He now addresses a common misunderstanding: the pursuit of heavenly enjoyment through Vedic ritual. This verse begins a two-verse teaching that reveals the limitation of seeking temporary rewards, even through legitimate religious practice.

Traividya — The Knowers of Three Vedas

Traividyaah — the word indicates those who have studied the three Vedas (Rig, Yajur, and Sama). A Brahmin who has studied all three is called trivedi, and this carries great social respect. But Krishna is making a subtle point: mere Vedic scholarship, without understanding the ultimate purpose of the Vedas, leads only to temporary destinations.

Soma Drinkers and Purified Souls

Somapaah — those who drink the soma juice as part of elaborate Vedic sacrifices. Poota-paapaa — purified of sins through these rituals. The sacrifices do genuinely cleanse. The rituals do genuinely produce results. Krishna does not deny this. The worshippers are sincere, their practice is authentic, and their results are real.

The Attainment — Heavenly Pleasures

And the results are magnificent by worldly standards: they reach surendra-lokam, the realm of Indra, the king of the devas. There they enjoy divyaan deva-bhogaan — the divine pleasures of the gods. Sensory pleasures of a quality millions of times superior to anything available on earth.

The Catch

But notice what is missing from this verse: any mention of permanence. The worshippers pray for heaven, and they get heaven. But the next verse will reveal the devastating limitation of this transaction. The pleasures are real but temporary. The elevation is genuine but reversible. This is the fundamental difference between karma-kanda (ritualistic Vedic practice aimed at rewards) and bhakti (devotion aimed at the Divine Himself).