Chapter 7, Verse 20
कामैस्तैस्तैर्हृतज्ञाना: प्रपद्यन्तेऽन्यदेवता: | तं तं नियममास्थाय प्रकृत्या नियता: स्वया ॥20॥
kāmais tais tair hṛita-jñānāḥ prapadyante ’nya-devatāḥ | taṁ taṁ niyamam āsthāya prakṛityā niyatāḥ svayā ||
"People, deprived of their wisdom by desires for various objects and guided by their own nature, resort to other deities following the relevant methods."
Key Insight:
The Bhagavad Gita teaches us through 7.20 that true peace is found when we align our actions with Dharma.
The Bhagavad Gita teaches us through 7.20 that true peace is found when we align our actions with Dharma.
Detailed Meaning
Lord Krishna explains the psychology of diverted worship. When an individual is overwhelmed by material cravings (kāma), their discriminative faculty (jñāna) is 'stolen' or clouded. Consequently, they seek immediate gratification from various celestial powers (devatās) rather than the Supreme Source. They are driven by their own 'Prakriti' (conditioned nature/samskaras) to follow specific rituals (niyamas) for specific boons. While these devatās exist within the cosmic hierarchy, they are finite and their rewards are temporary. Only the Supreme Lord can grant liberation; the devatās, being under the law of Karma themselves, can only offer what is within their delegated material jurisdiction.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core message of Gita 7.20?
People, deprived of their wisdom by desires for various objects and guided by their own nature, resort to other deities following the relevant methods.