Question
What are the “Three Worlds” referred to in the Bhagavad Gita 3.22?
Answer
The Brhadaranyaka Upanishad V.xiv.1 (Swami Madhavananda translator) says:
'Bhumi' (the earth), 'Antariksa' (sky) and 'Dyaus' (heaven) make eight syllables, and the first foot of the Gayatri has eight syllables. So the above three worlds constitute the first foot of the Gayatri. He who knows the first foot of the Gayatri to be such wins as much as there is in those worlds.
There are other references throughout the Upanishads. Search for Gayatri on this website for more references. The three worlds are sometimes referred to as the three cities also. There was a prior question on the three cities.
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