Bhagavad Gita 8.15 — Great Souls Who Reach the Supreme Do Not Return to the Temporary World of Suffering
मामुपेत्य पुनर्जन्म दुःखालयमशाश्वतम् ।
नाप्नुवन्ति महात्मानः संसिद्धिं परमां गताः ॥ ८.१५ ॥
🔊 Listen to meaning of this shloka
Current voice: —
Ready
Text-to-speech is not supported by this browser.
Having attained Me, the great souls, who have reached the highest perfection, do not take birth again in this temporary world, which is full of suffering.
Transliteration (IAST)
Word Separation
The Sanskrit verse is separated into individual words (Padched) for easier study.
Word Meanings
| Line 1 | |
|---|---|
| Sanskrit Word | Meaning |
| mām | to Me |
| upetya | having attained, having reached |
| punaḥ | again |
| janma | birth |
| duḥkha-ālayam | abode of suffering |
| aśhāśhvatam | temporary, impermanent |
| Line 2 | |
|---|---|
| Sanskrit Word | Meaning |
| na | not |
| āpnuvanti | attain, take |
| mahā-ātmānaḥ | great souls |
| saṁsiddhim | perfection |
| paramām | highest |
| gatāḥ | having reached |
| Line 1 | Line 2 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sanskrit Word | Meaning | Sanskrit Word | Meaning |
| mām | to Me | na | not |
| upetya | having attained, having reached | āpnuvanti | attain, take |
| punaḥ | again | mahā-ātmānaḥ | great souls |
| janma | birth | saṁsiddhim | perfection |
| duḥkha-ālayam | abode of suffering | paramām | highest |
| aśhāśhvatam | temporary, impermanent | gatāḥ | having reached |
Detailed Meaning
Introduction
Lord Krishna now describes the fruit of reaching Him. Great souls who attain Him, having reached the highest perfection, no longer take rebirth in this temporary world, which is the abode of suffering.
Essence
Freedom from the Place of Sorrow
This verse reveals what the great souls gain by reaching the Lord. It describes the nature of the world they leave behind, and the peace they attain.
Mām upetya (having attained Me): The word upetya means 'having approached' or 'having reached'. The seeker has arrived at the Supreme, and this arrival makes all the difference.
Punar janma (rebirth): In the Gita's worldview, beings undergo repeated births and deaths, carried by the momentum of their desires and actions. This cycle is called saṁsāra.
Duḥkhālayam (the abode of sorrow): The Lord describes the world of repeated birth as a place where suffering is a constant feature. Even in the best of circumstances, there is the pain of loss, aging, illness, and separation. Joy comes, but it never lasts. This is not a pessimistic judgment but a clear observation. It encourages us to look for a more lasting source of fulfilment.
Aśāśvatam (impermanent): Everything in this realm is temporary. Whatever we gain, we must eventually leave, which is why clinging to it leads to grief.
Nāpnuvanti mahātmānaḥ (the great souls do not attain it again): The word mahātmā refers to those who have grown great through devotion and wisdom. Having reached the Lord, they do not return to the cycle of suffering.
Saṁsiddhiṁ paramāṁ gatāḥ (having reached the highest perfection): The state they attain is the highest perfection, in which all longing is fulfilled in the Supreme.
A hopeful message: The verse is not meant to make us despise the world. It simply recognises that the world, being impermanent, cannot give final satisfaction. By pointing us towards the lasting, it helps us to enjoy life's gifts without desperately depending on them.
Message for Everyday Life (Enjoy the World Without Clinging)
Accept the impermanence of things: Much of our suffering comes from expecting temporary things to last. When we recognise their nature, we can appreciate them more gently.
Practical approach: Enjoy your relationships, work, and comforts with gratitude, while reminding yourself that they are changing. Cultivate an inner source of peace, such as prayer or reflection, which does not depend on external conditions. This makes you resilient when circumstances change.
Freedom from the Place of Sorrow
This verse reveals what the great souls gain by reaching the Lord. It describes the nature of the world they leave behind, and the peace they attain.
Mām upetya (having attained Me): The word upetya means 'having approached' or 'having reached'. The seeker has arrived at the Supreme, and this arrival makes all the difference.
Punar janma (rebirth): In the Gita's worldview, beings undergo repeated births and deaths, carried by the momentum of their desires and actions. This cycle is called saṁsāra.
Duḥkhālayam (the abode of sorrow): The Lord describes the world of repeated birth as a place where suffering is a constant feature. Even in the best of circumstances, there is the pain of loss, aging, illness, and separation. Joy comes, but it never lasts. This is not a pessimistic judgment but a clear observation. It encourages us to look for a more lasting source of fulfilment.
Aśāśvatam (impermanent): Everything in this realm is temporary. Whatever we gain, we must eventually leave, which is why clinging to it leads to grief.
Nāpnuvanti mahātmānaḥ (the great souls do not attain it again): The word mahātmā refers to those who have grown great through devotion and wisdom. Having reached the Lord, they do not return to the cycle of suffering.
Saṁsiddhiṁ paramāṁ gatāḥ (having reached the highest perfection): The state they attain is the highest perfection, in which all longing is fulfilled in the Supreme.
A hopeful message: The verse is not meant to make us despise the world. It simply recognises that the world, being impermanent, cannot give final satisfaction. By pointing us towards the lasting, it helps us to enjoy life's gifts without desperately depending on them.
Message for Everyday Life (Enjoy the World Without Clinging)
Accept the impermanence of things: Much of our suffering comes from expecting temporary things to last. When we recognise their nature, we can appreciate them more gently.
Practical approach: Enjoy your relationships, work, and comforts with gratitude, while reminding yourself that they are changing. Cultivate an inner source of peace, such as prayer or reflection, which does not depend on external conditions. This makes you resilient when circumstances change.
Next Topic
Lord Krishna has said that great souls who reach Him are free from rebirth in the abode of suffering. He now contrasts this with all other worlds, which, even up to the highest, are subject to return, in the next verse.
Hidden Messages In This Shloka
Reflect on this verse from different perspectives and see which deeper message opens up for you.
Wisdom Nuggets
Reaching the Divine is reaching home.
Nothing built on sand lasts; build on the eternal.
To need nothing is to be free.
Perfection is the Divine itself.
The cycle can be completed.
See the world clearly and you will not cling.
Greatness is surrender, not conquest.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 'punaḥ janma' (birth again) mean in this verse?
Why is the world called 'duḥkha-ālayam' (abode of suffering) and 'aśhāśhvatam' (temporary)?
Who are the 'mahā-ātmānaḥ' (great souls) described here?
What does 'saṁsiddhim paramām' (highest perfection) mean?
What is the practical message of this verse?
Explore related topics
More shlokas on the themes this verse touches: