kiḿ punar brāhmaṇāḥ puṇyā
bhaktā rājarṣayas tathā
anityam asukhaḿ lokam
imaḿ prāpya bhajasva mām
Translation of Bhagavad Gita 9.33
How much more this is so of the righteous brahmanas, the devotees and the saintly kings. Therefore, having come to this temporary, miserable world, engage in loving service unto Me.
Commentary by Sri A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada of Gaudiya Sampradaya:
In this material world there are classifications of people, but, after all, this world is not a happy place for anyone. It is clearly stated here, anityam asukham lokam: this world is temporary and full of miseries, not habitable for any sane gentleman. This world is declared by the Supreme Personality of Godhead to be temporary and full of miseries. Some philosophers, especially Mayavadi philosophers, say that this world is false, but we can understand from Bhagavad-gita that the world is not false; it is temporary. There is a difference between temporary and false. This world is temporary, but there is another world, which is eternal. This world is miserable, but the other world is eternal and blissful.
Arjuna was born in a saintly royal family. To him also the Lord says, “Take to My devotional service and come quickly back to Godhead, back home.” No one should remain in this temporary world, full as it is with miseries. Everyone should attach himself to the bosom of the Supreme Personality of Godhead so that he can be eternally happy. The devotional service of the Supreme Lord is the only process by which all problems of all classes of men can be solved. Everyone should therefore take to Krishna consciousness and make his life perfect.
Commentary by Sri Vishvanatha Chakravarthi Thakur of Gaudiya Sampradaya:
What then to speak of brahmanas born in pure families, of good conduct who are devotees? Therefore worship me.
Commentary by Sri Ramanuja of Sri Sampradaya:
9.32 – 9.33 Women, Vaisyas and Sudras, and even those who are of sinful birth, can attain the supreme state by taking refuge in Me. How much more then the well-born Brahmanas and royal sages who are devoted to me! Therefore, roayl sage that you are, do worship Me, as you have come to this transient and joyless world stricken by the threefold afflictions. Sri Krsna now describes the nature of Bhakti:
Commentary by Sri Sridhara Swami of Rudra Sampradaya:
When it known that even the lowest born who surrender wholly to Lord Krishna are completely redeemed and attain the Supreme Lord by bhakti or loving devotion then it is crystal clear that those devotees of Lord Krishna of noble birth and righteous conduct without question attain the supreme destination of eternal association with Him in the spiritual worlds. Brahmins and Vaisnavas who constantly perform bhakti to Lord Krishna or any of His authorised incarnations and expansions, ksatriyas or the royal ruling and warrior class who are also sages as well as kings also can attain the Supreme destination. Therefore having been blessed to receive a human body use this opportunity fully to acccept a bonafide spiritual preceptor in authorised disciplic succession and propitiate Lord Krishna with loving devotion without delay. Having taking birth in this temporary, impermanent, transient and ephemeral material existence one should utilise their time wisely, efficiently evolving themselves with spiritual knowledge under the guidance of a bonafide spiritual preceptor engaging in Krishna bhakti.
Commentary by Sri Madhvacharya of Brahma Sampradaya:
Sri Madhvacharya did not comment on this sloka.
Commentary by Sri Keshava Kashmiri of Kumara Sampradaya:
When it known that even the lowest born who surrender wholly to Lord Krishna are completely redeemed and attain the Supreme Lord by bhakti or loving devotion then it is crystal clear that those devotees of Lord Krishna of noble birth and righteous conduct without question attain the supreme destination of eternal association with Him in the spiritual worlds. Brahmins and Vaisnavas who constantly perform bhakti to Lord Krishna or any of His authorised incarnations and expansions, ksatriyas or the royal ruling and warrior class who are also sages as well as kings also can attain the Supreme destination. Therefore having been blessed to receive a human body use this opportunity fully to acccept a bonafide spiritual preceptor in authorised disciplic succession and propitiate Lord Krishna with loving devotion without delay. Having taking birth in this temporary, impermanent, transient and ephemeral material existence one should utilise their time wisely, efficiently evolving themselves with spiritual knowledge under the guidance of a bonafide spiritual preceptor engaging in Krishna bhakti.
Commentary by Sri Adi Shankaracharya of Advaita Sampradaya:
9.33 Kim punah, what to speak of; the punyah brahmanah, holy Bramanas, of sacred birth; tatha, as also; of the bhaktah, devout; rajarsayah, kind-sages-those who are kings and, at the same time, sages! Since this is so, therefore, prapya, having come; imam, to this; anityam, ephemeral, ever changeful; and asukham, miserable, unhappy; lokam, world, the human world-having attained this human life which is a means to Liberation; bhajasva, do you worship, devoted yourself; mam to Me. How?
Commentary by Sri Abhinavagupta of Kaula Tantra Sampradaya:
9.32-34 Man hi etc; upto Matparayanah. Those who are of sinful birth : I.e., the animals, birds, reptiles etc. Women denotes the ignorant. Men of working class denotes those who find pleasure in different vocations, like agriculture etc. Men of the fourth caste : those who do not have any claim whatsoever for [performing] the Vedic rituals and whose livelihood depend on others. By taking refuge [solely] in Me, even these all attain Me alone. The deeds of the exceedingly compassionate Bhagavat, like the one granting liberation to a chief of the elephants are heard in thousands [in the Puranas]. Certainly it must be so, for those whose behaviour is just the opposite to that of these persons. Some (commentators] declare : The present sentence [of the Lord] intends to glorify the twice-born and members of the ruling class, and it is not uttered with the intention of speaking of the attainment of liberation in the case of the women etc. Indeed these persons [aim to] break into pieces the Graceous-to-all Power of the Bhagavat by foistering upon It, a limited applicability; likwise they do not tolerate the profoundly compassionate nature of the Absolute Lord; they contradict the [Lord’s own] statements ‘To Me none is hateful and none is dear (IX, 30)’, ‘Even a highly evil-doer etc. (IX, 31)’, and other similar statements, very clearly of the same import; with all effort they [strive to] bring in something indicative of duality even in the Absolute-being, Whose non-dual nature has been well established firmly by the diversity of the best reasonings; they are not mindful of other contradictions [that lurk in their theory] with the revealed literature; when simply questioned ‘How is this ?’ and ‘How is that ?’, these persons, having their internal organ totally possessed by the mighty devil of the caste [considerations], concealed within, and having their tongue, face and eyes all twisted by their sense of jealously, hypocrisy and shame-they prattle evil for the entire humanity; and thus they put upon themselves the status of being an object of ridicule. Therefore the above explanation [of ours] does good to all.
Sanskrit Shloka Without Transliteration Marks:
kim punar brahmanah punya
bhakta rajarsayas tatha
anityam asukham lokam
imam prapya bhajasva mam
Sanskrit to English Word for Word Meanings:
kim — how much; punaḥ — again; brāhmaṇāḥ — brāhmaṇas; puṇyāḥ — righteous; bhaktāḥ — devotees; rāja-ṛṣayaḥ — saintly kings; tathā — also; anityam — temporary; asukham — full of miseries; lokam — planet; imam — this; prāpya — gaining; bhajasva — be engaged in loving service; mām — unto Me.
