FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.9.25

ततो गन्तासि मत्स्थानं सर्वलोकनमस्कृतम् । उपरिष्टाद‍ृषिभ्यस्त्वं यतो नावर्तते गत: ॥ २५ ॥
tato gantāsi mat-sthānaṁ
[tato gantaasi mat-sthaanam]
sarva-loka-namaskṛtam
[sarva-loka-namaskritam]
upariṣṭād ṛṣibhyas tvaṁ
[uparishtaad rishibhyas tvam]
yato nāvartate gataḥ
[yato naavartate gatah]
tataḥ — thereafter gantā asi — you will go mat-sthānam — to My abode sarva-loka — by all planetary systems namaḥ-kṛtam — offered obeisances upariṣṭāt — situated higher ṛṣibhyaḥ — than the planetary systems of the ṛṣis tvam — you yataḥ — wherefrom na — never āvartate — will come back gataḥ — having gone there.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
tato gantāsi mat-sthānaṁ
tataḥ
thereafter
gantā asi
you will go
mat-sthānam
to My abode
sarva-loka-namaskṛtam
sarva-loka
by all planetary systems
namaḥ-kṛtam
offered obeisances
upariṣṭād ṛṣibhyas tvaṁ
upariṣṭāt
situated higher
ṛṣibhyaḥ
than the planetary systems of the ṛṣis
tvam
you
yato nāvartate gataḥ
yataḥ
wherefrom
na
never
āvartate
will come back
gataḥ
having gone there.
The Personality of Godhead continued: My dear Dhruva, after your material life in this body, you will go to My planet, which is always offered obeisances by the residents of all other planetary systems. It is situated above the planets of the seven ṛṣis, and having gone there you will never have to come back again to this material world.

In this verse the word nāvartate is very significant. The Lord says, “You will not come back to this material world, for you will reach mat-sthānam, My abode.” Therefore Dhruvaloka, or the polestar, is the abode of Lord Viṣṇu within this material world. Upon it there is an ocean of milk, and within that ocean there is an island known as Śvetadvīpa. It is clearly indicated that this planet is situated above the seven planetary systems of the ṛṣis, and because this planet is Viṣṇuloka, it is worshiped by all other planetary systems. It may be questioned here what will happen to the planet known as Dhruvaloka at the time of the dissolution of this universe. The answer is simple: Dhruvaloka remains, like other Vaikuṇṭhalokas beyond this universe. Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura has commented in this connection that the very word nāvartate indicates that this planet is eternal.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
You will go to my abode, worshipped by all planets, higher than the Big Dipper, from which you will not return, having gone there. “From which you will not return” indicates the place is eternal.
After this life, you will come to My abode and never return to material existence. The Lord is the destination, not just the helper; His promise is final relocation.
Reflection Questions
  • Where do I treat the Lord as a tool for my current life rather than as my final home?
  • What would change if I really believed I am being prepared for a non-return ticket?
📝 My note

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