te taṁ bhuktvā svarga-lokaṁ viśālaṁ kṣīṇe puṇye martya-lokaṁ viśanti evaṁ trayī-dharmam anuprapannā gatāgataṁ kāma-kāmā labhante
"Having enjoyed the vast heavenly realm, when their merit is exhausted, they return to the mortal world. Thus following the religious rites of the three Vedas, desiring pleasures, they attain only coming and going."
What This Means:
After enjoying heaven, when the merit runs out (kshine punye), they RETURN to earth. The cycle continues—going up, coming down, going up, coming down. As long as they desire pleasures, they get cycling, not liberation.
Going Deeper:
Heaven is like a vacation—enjoyable but temporary. You return when the money runs out. Those who desire sense pleasures (kama-kama) keep cycling. Liberation requires wanting something beyond pleasure.
How To Apply This:
What do you really want? Pleasure (temporary) or freedom (permanent)? Be honest. There's no shame in wanting pleasure—but recognize it leads to cycling, not completion.
Key Sanskrit Terms: