Verse 16

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In plain words

From the world of Brahma downward, all worlds are subject to return, Arjuna; but having reached Me, son of Kunti, there is no rebirth.

Word for word

Up to and including the world of Brahmā the worlds are subject to return, O Arjuna; but having reached Me, O son of Kuntī, there is no birth again.

Sri Satchitananda Sai
Other commentaries

The commentators

Bhagavadgītābhāṣyam

किं पुनः त्वत्तः अन्यत् प्राप्ताः पुनरावर्तन्ते इति, उच्यते —

आ ब्रह्मभुवनात् भवन्ति अस्मिन् भूतानि इति भुवनम् , ब्रह्मणो भुवनं ब्रह्मभुवनम् , ब्रह्मलोक इत्यर्थः, आ ब्रह्मभुवनात् सह ब्रह्मभुवनेन लोकाः सर्वे पुनरावर्तिनः पुनरावर्तनस्वभावाः हे अर्जुन । माम् एकम् उपेत्य तु कौन्तेय पुनर्जन्म पुनरुत्पत्तिः न विद्यते ॥ १६ ॥

In plain words

But what about those who reach something other than you — do they come back again? To that, this is said:

Take the phrase "as far as Brahmā's world." Beings come to be in a place, and that is why it is called a bhuvana, a world; Brahmā's bhuvana is brahmabhuvana — the world of Brahmā, that is all it means. So: as far as Brahmā's world, and counting Brahmā's world itself, every world is a place you come back from. Returning is simply what they are made of, Arjuna. But reach Me, and Me alone, son of Kuntī, and there is no birth again — no second arising at all.

Close to the Sanskrit

But then — do those who have attained something other than you return again? Thus (the question); it is said —

"As far as Brahmā's world": beings come to be in this — thus, bhuvana; Brahmā's bhuvana is brahmabhuvana; the world of Brahmā, that is the meaning. As far as Brahmā's world, together with Brahmā's world, all the worlds are punarāvartinaḥ, that is, of the nature of returning again, O Arjuna. But having reached Me alone, O son of Kuntī, rebirth — a second arising — does not exist.

Gītā Vāhini

“కృష్ణా! బ్రహ్మలోక పర్యంతం ఏ లోకమునకు వెళ్ళిననూ పునర్జన్మము తప్పదనిన, ఇక రాహిత్యమునకు మార్గమేది? అట్టి వారి గతి అంతేనా?”

In plain words

“Kṛṣṇa! If rebirth cannot be escaped whatever world one goes to, up to Brahmaloka itself, then what is the path to freedom from it? Is that all there is for such people?”