Bhagavad Gita Chapter 7, Verse 21

Chapter 7 – Jnana Vijnana Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

यो यो यां यां तनुं भक्तः श्रद्धयार्चितुमिच्छति ।
तस्य तस्याचलां श्रद्धां तामेव विदधाम्यहम् ॥

Transliteration

yo yo yāṃ yāṃ tanuṃ bhaktaḥ śraddhayārcitumicchati .
tasya tasyācalāṃ śraddhāṃ tāmeva vidadhāmyaham ॥

Meaning

Whatever form of the divine any devotee wishes to worship with faith, I make that very faith of his firm and unwavering.

Word meanings

यः यः – whoever
याम् याम् – whichever
तनुम् – form, divine embodiment
भक्तः – devotee
श्रद्धया – with faith
अर्चितुम् – to worship
इच्छति – wishes
तस्य तस्य – of each such one
अचलाम् – unwavering, firm
श्रद्धाम् – faith
ताम् – that
एव – very
विदधामि – make, establish
अहम् – I

Anvaya (word order)

यः यः भक्तः यां यां तनुं श्रद्धया अर्चितुम् इच्छति, तस्य तस्य ताम् एव श्रद्धाम् अहम् अचलां विदधामि ।

Explanation

This verse reveals the Lord's wonderful generosity and tolerance. The previous verse spoke of those who, led by desires, worship various deities. Krishna does not rebuke or reject them; He says: whatever deity anyone wishes to worship with faith, I make that very faith of his firm.

Behind this lies a deep truth: all deities are glories of the Lord, various forms — tanu, bodies — of His power. Therefore sincere faith in any deity ultimately reaches the Lord. And faith itself is His gift; as the inner controller He awakens and steadies faith in every heart.

Why does the Lord make faith unwavering? Because faith is the seed of spiritual growth. Even if it begins with a limited form, if it is steady and sincere, it gradually purifies the mind and finally leads toward the highest truth. As a mother begins a child's learning through games the child enjoys, the Lord moves each person forward according to his own nature.

Ramanuja says that the Lord is the indwelling Self of those deities, and the deities are His body; therefore it is He who steadies the worshipper's faith. This verse underlies the tolerance of the Indian spiritual tradition, which accepts many forms of worship.

Context

Verse 7.20 described those who worship other deities out of desire; this verse says the Lord steadies even their faith. The next verse (7.22) says that the fruits they obtain through that faith are also granted by the Lord.

Life lesson

Respect the faith and worship of others, even when it differs from yours. Sincere faith, in whatever form, is precious. Make your own faith firm and sincere — God Himself will carry it forward.

Key terms

Tanu: body, form — here a form of the divine
Shraddha: faith, trust, devotional conviction
Achala: unwavering, steady
Vidadhami: I establish, I make firm