Gita 9.20
त्रैविद्या मां सोमपाः पूतपापायज्ञैरिष्ट्वा स्वर्गतिं प्रार्थयन्ते।
ते पुण्यमासाद्य सुरेन्द्रलोकमश्नन्ति दिव्यान्दिवि देवभोगान्।।
trai-vidyā māṁ soma-pāḥ pūta-pāpā yajñair iṣṭvā svar-gatiṁ prārthayante te puṇyam āsādya surendra-lokam aśnanti divyān divi deva-bhogān
"Those who study the three Vedas, drink the soma, purified of sins, worship Me through sacrifices seeking passage to heaven. Reaching the meritorious world of Indra, they enjoy celestial pleasures of the gods."
What This Means:
Vedic ritualists who worship properly DO get what they seek—they go to heaven and enjoy divine pleasures. Their efforts work. But there's a catch coming in the next verse...
Going Deeper:
Krishna acknowledges the efficacy of Vedic religion. It's not wrong or ineffective. But it's limited. The worship leads to temporary heaven, not permanent liberation.
How To Apply This:
Your spiritual efforts produce results according to what you're seeking. This is good news and a warning—you'll get what you ask for, so examine what you're truly asking for.
Key Sanskrit Terms:
Trai-vidya= Knowers of three VedasSoma-pāḥ= Drinkers of soma (ritual offering)Deva-bhogān= Divine pleasures