Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Srimad Bhagavatam 7.15.50-51

dravya-sukshma-vipakas ca

dhumo ratrir apakshayah

ayanam dakshinam somo

darsa oshadhi-virudhah

annam reta iti kshmesa

pitri-yanam punar-bhavah

ekaikasyenanupurvam

bhutva bhutveha jayate

SYNONYMS

dravya-sukshma-vipakah -- the paraphernalia offered as oblations in the fire, such as food grains mixed with ghee; ca -- and; dhumah -- turned to smoke, or the demigod in charge of smoke; ratrih -- the demigod in charge of night; apakshayah -- in the dark fortnight of the moon; ayanam -- the demigod in charge of the passing of the sun; dakshinam -- in the southern zone; somah -- the moon; darsah -- returning; oshadhi -- plant life (on the surface of the earth); virudhah -- vegetation in general (the birth of lamentation); annam -- food grains; retah -- semen; iti -- in this way; kshma-isa -- O King Yudhishthira, lord of the earth; pitri-yanam -- the way of taking birth from the father's semen; punah-bhavah -- again and again; eka-ekasyena -- one after another; anupurvam -- successively, according to the gradation; bhutva -- taking birth; bhutva -- again taking birth; iha -- in this material world; jayate -- one exists in the materialistic way of life.

TRANSLATION

My dear King Yudhishthira, when oblations of ghee and food grains like barley and sesame are offered in sacrifice, they turn into celestial smoke, which carries one to successively higher planetary systems like the kingdoms of Dhuma, Ratri, Krishnapaksha, Dakshinam and ultimately the moon. Then, however, the performers of sacrifice descend again to earth to become herbs, creepers, vegetables and food grains. These are eaten by different living entities and turned to semen, which is injected into female bodies. Thus one takes birth again and again.

PURPORT

This is explained in Bhagavad-gita (9.21):

te tam bhuktva svarga-lokam visalam

kshine punye martya-lokam visanti

evam trayi-dharmam anuprapanna

gatagatam kama-kama labhante

"When those who follow the pravritti-marga have enjoyed heavenly sense pleasure, they return to this mortal planet again. Thus, through the Vedic principles, they achieve only flickering happiness." Following the pravritti-marga, the living entity who desires to be promoted to the higher planetary systems performs sacrifices regularly, and how he goes up and comes down again is described here in Srimad-Bhagavatam, as well as in Bhagavad-gita. It is also said, traigunya-vishaya vedah: "The Vedas deal mainly with the three modes of material nature." The Vedas, especially three Vedas, namely Sama, Yajur and Rik, vividly describe this process of ascending to the higher planets and returning. But Krishna advises Arjuna, traigunya-vishaya veda nistraigunyo bhavarjuna: one has to transcend these three modes of material nature, and then one will be released from the cycle of birth and death. Otherwise, although one may be promoted to a higher planetary system such as Candraloka, one must again come down (kshine punye martya-lokam visanti [Bg. 9.21]). After one's enjoyment due to pious activities is finished, one must return to this planet in rainfall and first take birth as a plant or creeper, which is eaten by various animals, including human beings, and turned to semen. This semen is injected into the female body, and thus the living entity takes birth. Those who return to earth in this way take birth especially in higher families like those of brahmanas.

It may be remarked in this connection that even the modern so-called scientists who are going to the moon are not able to stay there, but are returning to their laboratories. Therefore, whether one goes to the moon by modern mechanical arrangements or by performing pious activities, one must return to earth. That is clearly stated in this verse and explained in Bhagavad-gita. Even if one goes to the higher planetary systems (yanti deva-vrata devan [Bg. 9.25]), one's place there is not secure; one must return to martya-loka. Abrahma-bhuvanal lokah punar avartino 'rjuna: [Bg. 8.16] aside from the moon, even if one goes to Brahmaloka, one must return. Yam prapya na nivartante tad dhama paramam mama: but if one goes back home, back to Godhead, he need not return to this material world.

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His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder Acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness