The import of the question is now being delineated. Firstly an aspirant having exclusively offered all activities unto the Supreme Lord without having performed any activities for attaining svarga loka or the heavenly spheres does not arrive there. Secondly failing to obtain success in yoga or the science of the individual consciousness attaining communion with the ultimate consciousness by dhyana or meditation one does not attain moksa or liberation from the material existence either. Thus not qualified for both and deluded on the path leading to the Brahman or the spiritual substratum pervading all existence and atma tattva or realisation of the soul. Does such a one perish or does such a one escape death? This is the question posed to Lord Krishna. A metaphor concerning the destrution of such a one is given by the example of a detached cloud in the sky being disconnected from the mass and unable to attach to another is dissolved in the interval is it not so for such a one.

Now before Lord Krishna answers him. Arjuna also wishes to know what becomes of the person who is performing actions for the Supreme Lord without any consideration of personal gains and does not succeed in perfecting yoga or the science of the individual consciousness attaining communion with the ultimate consciousness. Because such a person was not performing any actions for entering heaven they will subsequently be unqualified for access to heaven and hence not connected anywhere. This is what Arjuna is meaning in his analogy of a cloud split off from a greater cloud but unable to join an even greater cloud. The purport is that the yogi abandoned karma yoga or prescribed Vedic activities to become established in the highest path of yoga by dhyana or meditation; but subsequently failed to perfect it in their life. So missing the chance to enter svarga loka or the heavenly worlds and also failing to attain atma tattva or realisation of the soul do they perish?