Srimad Bhagavad Gita -Ramanujacharya 266

Srimad Bhagavad Gita -Ramanujacharya

Chapter-8 Tāraka Brahma Yogaḥ

Sri Krishna next teaches the reason for the return to Samsāra (cycle of rebirth) of those who aspire for power & wealth (aiśvarya) and for the non-return to Samsāra of those who have reached Him: — ābrahma bhuvanāllokāḥ punar-āvartino’rjuna | mām-upetya tu kaunteya punar-janma na vidyate || 16 || 16. All the worlds, from the realm of Brahma down, are subject to return, O Arjuna, but after attaining Me, O Son of Kunti, there is no rebirth. Commentary “All the realms of the universe, from the realm of Brahma downwards are spheres in which enjoyment and power are experienced, but they are all impermanent, and those who attain them are [eventually] subjected to rebirth. Therefore return is unavoidable for those who aspire for [spiritual] enjoyment (bhoga) and power (aiśvarya), as the realms in which these things are attained are transient. On the other hand, there is no rebirth to those who attain Me. Sri Krishna now clarifies the Divine time-frame determined in regard to the evolution and dissolution of the realms of existence including the realm of Brahma and those who are within them.