Bhagavad Gita Chapter 7, Verse 20

Chapter 7 – Jnana Vijnana Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

कामैस्तैस्तैर्हृतज्ञानाः प्रपद्यन्तेऽन्यदेवताः ।
तं तं नियममास्थाय प्रकृत्या नियताः स्वया ॥

Transliteration

kāmaistaistairhṛtajñānāḥ prapadyante.anyadevatāḥ .
taṃ taṃ niyamamāsthāya prakṛtyā niyatāḥ svayā ॥

Meaning

Those whose understanding has been carried away by various desires take refuge in other deities, following this or that rule of worship, led by their own nature.

Word meanings

कामैः – by desires
तैः तैः – by various, by this and that
हृतज्ञानाः – whose understanding has been carried away
प्रपद्यन्ते – take refuge in
अन्यदेवताः – other deities
तम् तम् – this or that
नियमम् – rule, observance
आस्थाय – following
प्रकृत्या – by nature
नियताः – led, constrained
स्वया – by their own

Anvaya (word order)

तैः तैः कामैः हृतज्ञानाः (जनाः) स्वया प्रकृत्या नियताः तं तं नियमम् आस्थाय अन्यदेवताः प्रपद्यन्ते ।

Explanation

In the previous verse Krishna described the rare great soul who takes refuge in Him knowing that 'Vasudeva is all'. Now He explains why most people do not do so and follow other paths instead.

Kamais tais tair hrita-jnanah — their discrimination has been carried away by various desires. One wants wealth, another children, another relief from illness, another victory over enemies, another heaven. These desires are so strong that they cover the search for the highest truth. A person thinks: what have I to do with God? I just want this one thing.

Such people prapadyante 'nya-devatah — take refuge in other deities, thinking that this or that deity will grant this or that fruit quickly. They adopt tam tam niyamam — the particular rules, vows and rituals of that deity's worship. And they do all this prakritya niyatah svaya — led by their own nature and past impressions. Shankara explains prakriti here as the particular tendencies acquired in previous lives.

It is worth noticing that Krishna does not condemn the deities here. The deities too are powers and glories of the Lord. The problem lies not in worship itself but in the purpose behind it — when worship is only for limited worldly ends and the highest truth is neglected. In the next verses Krishna shows how generously He treats even such worshippers.

Context

Verse 7.19 described the rare great soul who knows that 'Vasudeva is all'. This verse concerns those who worship other deities because of their desires. In the next verse (7.21) Krishna says that He steadies the faith of even such devotees.

Life lesson

Examine the purpose behind your prayers and worship. Do you go to God only to obtain something? Asking is not wrong, but learn to move beyond it and desire God Himself — only then does worship become a doorway to true knowledge.

Key terms

Hrita-jnana: one whose discrimination has been carried away (by desires)
Anya-devata: deities worshipped as separate from the Supreme
Niyama: particular rule, vow or ritual of worship
Prakriti: nature; tendencies from past lives