FolioCorpusBhagavad-gītā

Bhagavad-gītā 9.20

त्रैविद्या मां सोमपा: पूतपापा यज्ञैरिष्ट्वा स्वर्गतिं प्रार्थयन्ते । ते पुण्यमासाद्य सुरेन्द्रलोक- मश्न‍‍न्ति दिव्यान्दिवि देवभोगान् ॥ २० ॥
trai-vidyā māṁ soma-pāḥ pūta-pāpā
[trai-vidyaa maam soma-paah poota-paapaa]
yajñair iṣṭvā svar-gatiṁ prārthayante
[yajnair ishtvaa svar-gatim praarthayante]
te puṇyam āsādya surendra-lokam
[te punyam aasaadya surendra-lokam]
aśnanti divyān divi deva-bhogān
[ashnanti divyaan divi deva-bhogaan]
Word-for-word
trai - vidyāḥ — the knowers of the three Vedas mām — Me soma - pāḥ — drinkers of soma juice pūta — purified pāpāḥ — of sins yajñaiḥ — with sacrifices iṣṭvā — worshiping svaḥ - gatim — passage to heaven prārthayante — pray for te — they puṇyam — pious āsādya — attaining sura - indra — of Indra lokam — the world aśnanti — enjoy divyān — celestial divi — in heaven deva - bhogān — the pleasures of the gods .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
trai-vidyā māṁ soma-pāḥ pūta-pāpā
trai - vidyāḥ
the knowers of the three Vedas
mām
Me
soma - pāḥ
drinkers of soma juice
pūta
purified
pāpāḥ
of sins
yajñair iṣṭvā svar-gatiṁ prārthayante
yajñaiḥ
with sacrifices
iṣṭvā
worshiping
svaḥ - gatim
passage to heaven
prārthayante
pray for
te puṇyam āsādya surendra-lokam
te
they
puṇyam
pious
āsādya
attaining
sura - indra
of Indra
lokam
the world
aśnanti divyān divi deva-bhogān
aśnanti
enjoy
divyān
celestial
divi
in heaven
deva - bhogān
the pleasures of the gods .
Important Words
  • trai - vidyāḥ — knowers of the three Vedas
    Trai (three) + vidyā. The Vedicists who specialize in karma-kāṇḍa — Ṛg, Sāma, Yajur. Their scholarship is real; their orientation is wrong. They mistake the means (Vedic ritual) for the end (the Lord Himself, whom the Vedas point to).
  • soma - pāḥ — drinkers of soma
    Soma — the ritual drink of Vedic sacrifices, conferring momentary spiritual elevation. The trai-vidyāḥ drink soma to reach Svarga; they treat the means as the goal. Their pāna is real; their direction is not.
  • pūta — purified
    Past participle of √pū — purified. Their pāpa (sins) are pūta — really cleansed by yajña. Kṛṣṇa concedes the effect. But cleansed sins still leave merit, which still binds. Even good karma is a chain, if it is gold.
  • yajñaiḥ — by sacrifices
    Plural — many sacrifices. Their effort is enormous. The verse does not deny the work; it diagnoses the destination.
  • svaḥ - gatim — passage to heaven
    Svaḥ (heaven) + gati (passage). The goal they prārthayante — pray for. They aim at heaven and they get heaven. Kṛṣṇa concedes the efficacy. The next verse will deliver the punch line.
  • deva - bhogān — the enjoyments of the gods
    Deva (god) + bhoga (enjoyment). Sense gratification on the heavenly tier. The senses are still active, the appetite is still in charge — only the venue has improved. From earthly sandwich to celestial banquet, but the eater is unchanged.
Those who study the Vedas and drink the soma juice, seeking the heavenly planets, worship Me indirectly. Purified of sinful reactions, they take birth on the pious, heavenly planet of Indra, where they enjoy godly delights.
Classical Sanskrit analysis शास्त्रीय विश्लेषण
How Sanskrit scholars read this verse — split, rearranged, grammar-tagged. For the plain English distilled meaning, jump to Plain meaning below.
Auto-generated study layers — original analysis of the public-domain śloka. Review against a published edition for academic work.
Plain meaning (तात्पर्य · Tātparya)
Even the Veda-versed soma-drinkers technically reach Kṛṣṇa with their yajñas — but their actual prayer is for svarga, not for Him. Heaven is the reward they want, and heaven, gloriously brief, is what they get.
Further notes (विवरण · Vivaraṇa)
Trai-vidyāḥ honors the Vedic establishment yet quietly diagnoses its limit: the means is Kṛṣṇa, but the aim is enjoyment, so the result is not Kṛṣṇa. The verse moves to a metrical jagatī (longer 12-syllable pādas) signalling a topical shift toward fruitive religion. Cross-ref BG 2.42–43 (vedavāda-ratās) and the next verse's punchline.
Prose order (अन्वय · Anvaya)
त्रै-विद्याः सोम-पाः पूत-पापाः (पुरुषाः) यज्ञैः मां इष्ट्वा स्वर्-गतिं प्रार्थयन्ते । ते पुण्यं सुर-इन्द्र-लोकम् आसाद्य दिवि दिव्यान् देव-भोगान् अश्नन्ति ।
trai-vidyāḥ soma-pāḥ pūta-pāpāḥ (puruṣāḥ) yajñaiḥ māṃ iṣṭvā svar-gatiṃ prārthayante | te puṇyaṃ sura-indra-lokam āsādya divi divyān deva-bhogān aśnanti |
Knowers of the three Vedas, drinkers of soma, purified of sin, having worshipped Me with sacrifices, pray for the heavenly goal; reaching the holy realm of Indra they enjoy divine pleasures of the gods in heaven.
Word split (पदच्छेद · Padaccheda)
त्रै-विद्याः मां सोम-पाः पूत-पापाः यज्ञैः इष्ट्वा स्वर्-गतिं प्रार्थयन्ते । ते पुण्यम् आसाद्य सुर-इन्द्र-लोकम् अश्नन्ति दिव्यान् दिवि देव-भोगान् ॥
trai-vidyāḥ māṃ soma-pāḥ pūta-pāpāḥ yajñaiḥ iṣṭvā svar-gatiṃ prārthayante | te puṇyam āsādya sura-indra-lokam aśnanti divyān divi deva-bhogān ||
Grammar (व्याकरण · Vyākaraṇa)
SanskritIASTGrammarMeaning
त्रै-विद्याः trai-vidyāḥ त्रि + विद्या (f.) nom.pl. (nominative plural)m., bahuvrīhi cpd. (knowers of three Vedas) knowers of three Vedas
माम् mām अस्मद् pron. (pronoun) acc.sg. (accusative singular) Me
सोम-पाः soma-pāḥ सोम + पा (adj.) nom.pl. (nominative plural)m., upapada-tatpuruṣa cpd. (compound) soma-drinkers
पूत-पापाः pūta-pāpāḥ पूत p.p.p. (past passive participle) + पाप (n.) nom.pl. (nominative plural)m., bahuvrīhi cpd. (whose sins are purified) purified of sins
यज्ञैः yajñaiḥ यज्ञ (m.) ins.pl. (instrumental plural) by sacrifices
इष्ट्वा iṣṭvā √यज् abs. (absolutive) having worshipped
स्वर्-गतिम् svar-gatim स्वर् + गति (f.) acc.sg. (accusative singular), tatpuruṣa cpd. (compound) heaven-goal
प्रार्थयन्ते prārthayante प्र+√अर्थ् pres. (present) 3pl.ātm. (ātmanepada / middle voice) they pray for
ते te dem. (demonstrative) pron. (pronoun) nom.pl. (nominative plural)m. they
पुण्यम् puṇyam पुण्य (adj.) acc.sg. (accusative singular)m. holy
आसाद्य āsādya आ+√सद् abs. (absolutive) having reached
सुर-इन्द्र-लोकम् sura-indra-lokam सुर + इन्द्र + लोक (m.) acc.sg. (accusative singular), tatpuruṣa cpd. (compound) realm of Indra
अश्नन्ति aśnanti √अश् pres. (present) 3pl.par. (parasmaipada / active voice) they enjoy
दिव्यान् divyān दिव्य (adj.) acc.pl. (accusative plural)m. divine
दिवि divi दिव् (f.) loc.sg. (locative singular) in heaven
देव-भोगान् deva-bhogān देव + भोग (m.) acc.pl. (accusative plural), tatpuruṣa cpd. (compound) enjoyments of the gods
Purport

The word trai-vidyāḥ refers to the three Vedas – Sāma, Yajur and Ṛg. A brāhmaṇa who has studied these three Vedas is called a tri-vedī. Anyone who is very much attached to knowledge derived from these three Vedas is respected in society. Unfortunately, there are many great scholars of the Vedas who do not know the ultimate purport of studying them. Therefore Kṛṣṇa herein declares Himself to be the ultimate goal for the tri-vedīs. Actual tri-vedīs take shelter under the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa and engage in pure devotional service to satisfy the Lord. Devotional service begins with the chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra and side by side trying to understand Kṛṣṇa in truth. Unfortunately those who are simply official students of the Vedas become more interested in offering sacrifices to the different demigods like Indra and Candra. By such endeavor, the worshipers of different demigods are certainly purified of the contamination of the lower qualities of nature and are thereby elevated to the higher planetary systems or heavenly planets known as Maharloka, Janaloka, Tapoloka, etc. Once situated on those higher planetary systems, one can satisfy his senses hundreds of thousands of times better than on this planet.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
20. Knowers of the three Vedas, worshipping Me indirectly through sacrifice, drinking soma and becoming purified, pray for Svarga. Attaining puṇya in the form of the planet of Indra, they enjoy in heaven the celestial pleasures of the devas.
Commentary

Those devotees who worship Me through those three methods, and know Me as the Supreme Lord, become liberated. [Note: These three types of devotees were classed as inferior to the other types, and performed jñāna-yajña as part of bhakti. Because the worship is inferior to that of the ananya and mixed devotees, they attain less than sālokya.] But those who follow material karma do not become liberated. This is explained in two verses. Those who study and know the three Vedas, Ṛk, Yajur, and Sāma, or those who are absorbed in the karmas described in those three Vedas, not knowing that Indra and other devatās are actually My forms, and consequently worship Me (indirectly) through worshipping those forms (mām iṣṭvā), drink the remnants of the sacrifice (soma-pāḥ), and thus attain puṇya.

Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa Gauḍīya
Translation
20. Those who, knowing the three Vedas, worshipping Me indirectly through sacrifice, drinking soma and becoming purified, pray for svarga. Attaining puṇya in the form of the planet of Indra, they enjoy in heaven the pleasures of the devas.
Commentary

Having described the qualities of His devotees, in order to give a further understanding of them, he contrasts them with those who are averse to the Lord in two verses. The collection of three types of knowledge is trividyā. Those who study and know this are called traividyā according to tad adhīte tad veda (Pāṇini 4.2.59) This means those who are dedicated to the activities described in the three Vedas. Though they do not know that the forms of Indra and other devatās are My forms alone, actually they are worshipping Me situated in those respective forms by jyotiṣṭomā and other sacrifices prescribed in the three Vedas. Drinking the remnants of sacrifice, soma, and being purified of sins which obstruct their attainment of svarga (pūta papa), they pray for svarga. The rest of the verse is clear. It should be understood that the enjoyment they obtain is actually given only by Me.

Study Notes — Gauranga Priya Dāsa
Gauranga Priya Dāsa Study
Bhakti-śāstrī Notes, ISKCON Chowpatty (2009)
Theme

COMMON THEME: Result of Demigod worship mentioned here

Demigod worshippers worship Krishna only, but indirectly
They study the Vedas, drink the Soma juice, seeking the heavenly planets
Path of demigod worshipers
Purified of sinful reactions, they take birth on the pious, heavenly planet of Indra where they enjoy Godly delights
After exhausting the result of their pious activity, they return to this mortal planet again
Thus this path only offers repeated birth and death

LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 9.21 & 9.22: Texts 20 – 21 explains : “How demigods obtain the necessities of life”

Text 22 explains: “How unalloyed devotees are maintained and receive their necessities”

Focus of Learning

(a) Ultimate goal for Tri-vedis is Krishna only (9.20)

Actual Tri-vedis take shelter of lotus feet of Krishna and engage in devotional service
By chanting Hare Krishna,
And by cultivating knowledge of Krishna

(b) Simply official students of Vedas are only interested in sacrifice to demigods

Have not attained the perfection of knowledge which is to know the “Source of all” (‘Janmady asya yatah’)
Only benefits achieved:
Gets purified of lower modes
Elevation to heavenly planets with longer life and better sense gratification

(c) Disadvantage of heavenly planets as the goal

Comes back to the earth – Cycle of birth and death ‘after exhausting pious deeds’
Analogy: “Ferris wheel” compared to “Cycle of birth and death” (study 9.21 purport)
Solution offered to avoid repeated birth and death: Make spiritual world as your goal

(a) ‘Immortality’ – The energy which sustains us and which prolongs the duration of life

Classical Ācāryas
Śrī Śaṅkarācārya Classical
Translation
9.20 Those, again, who are ignorant and desirous of pleasures, trai-vidyah, who are versed in the three Vedas, who know the Rk, Yajus and Sama Vedas; somapah, who are drinkers of Soma; and who, as a result of that very drinking of Soma, are puta-papah, purified of sin; prarthayante, pray for; the svargatim, heavenly goal, the attainment of heaven-heaven itself being the goal [Ast. adds this portion-svareva gatih, heaven itself being the goal.-Tr.]-; istva, by worshipping; mam, Me, existing in the forms of gods such as the Vasus and others; yajnaih, through sacrifices such as the Agnistoma etc. And asadya, having reached; surendra-lokam, the place (world) of the kind of gods, of Indra; (which is) punyam, the result of righteousness; te, they; asnanti, enjoy; divi, in heaven; the devyan, divine, heavenly, supernatural;; deva-bhogan, pleasures of gods.
Śrī Rāmānujācārya Classical
Translation
9.20 The three Vedas consist of the Rk, Yajus and Saman. The followers of the three Vedas are called 'Trai-vidyah', but they are not devoted to Vedanta (or Trayyanta). The great souls, who rely on Vedanta, know Me, as mentioned before, to be the only object to be known from all the Vedas. Considering Me as the highest object of attainment, they worship Me through singing My names etc., caused by deep devotion to Me, and also through the sacrifice of knowledge. But the followers of the three Vedas drink the Soma beverage, forming the remainder of sacrifices in honour of Indra and other divinities, as prescribed by the Vedas. They are thery purified of evil that stand in the way of attainment of heaven. In these sacrifices, in which Indra etc., are regarded as divinties, they really worship Me in the forms of these divinities. They 'however' do not know that I abide in them in that way, and so they pray for the way to heaven etc. After attaining the world of Indra, which is free from unhappiness, they enjoy everywhere the divine pleasures.
Śrī Abhinavagupta Classical
Translation
9.20 See Comment under 9.21
Swami Sivananda Classical
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.
Commentary

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)

Swami Gambhīrānanda Classical
Translation
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.
Shri Purohit Swami Classical
Translation
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.
Related values & verses
Related values
Tyaga (Renunciation / Letting Go)Karuna (Kindness / Compassion)Ahimsa (Non-violence / Compassion)Tapas (Austerity / Discipline)Guru Bhakti (Reverence for Teacher)Maitri (Friendship / Goodwill)Daksya (Resourcefulness / Skill)
Related verses
BG 2.42 BG 2.43 BG 7.23 SB 11.3.46 SB 10.87.2 SB 4.29.46 CC Madhya 22.21 CC Ādi 1.91 CC Madhya 24.89 Muṇḍaka Upaniṣad 1.2.7Muṇḍaka Upaniṣad 1.2.10
Concepts
Yajna
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Those who study the Vedas and drink the soma, performing sacrifices to attain heaven, attain heaven and enjoy.
Practical Applications
  • Recognize that even Vedic ritual can be aimed at heaven, not Kṛṣṇa.
  • Aim higher than heavenly enjoyment.
  • Don't confuse pious goals with the highest goal.
Reflection Questions
  • What 'heavenly' goal am I working toward that I should outgrow?
  • What is the highest goal calling me?
Analogy

A man receives a letter inviting him to the palace; he reads only the address, not the signature, and travels instead to a wealthy estate the address briefly passes. He arrives, is feasted lavishly, returns home, and tells everyone the estate was the palace. The trai-vidyāḥ are this traveller: they read the Vedas and stop at the heavenly estate, not the Lord whose seal is on the envelope. They drink the soma; they do not meet the king who poured it.

📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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