Bhagavad Gita 8.16
आब्रह्मभुवनाल्लोकाः पुनरावर्तिनोऽर्जुन | मामुपेत्य तु कौन्तेय पुनर्जन्म न विद्यते ||
ā-brahma-bhuvanāl lokāḥ punar āvartino'rjuna | mām upetya tu kaunteya punar janma na vidyate ||
Translation
All worlds, O Arjuna, up to the world of Brahmā, are subject to return; but on reaching me, O son of Kuntī, there is no rebirth.
Reflection
Which heavenly stay have you been quietly aiming at?
Read this verse in its chapter: Chapter Eight
He widens the frame. Every world, including the highest, the world of Brahma himself, ends and returns its inhabitants to the round. Even the longest stay there is finite. Only reaching Him ends the return. This sets the heavens in their place. The seeker who aimed at a long heavenly stay aimed too low. The reward of merit runs out. The frame the verse opens is the largest possible. There are only two outcomes. To remain inside the circuit, even high up, and to be returned. Or to step out of it, by reaching Him. The middle position, of permanent residence at altitude, does not exist.