Chapter 7 · Shloka 20— The Yoga of Knowledge & Realization

kāmais tais tair hṛita-jñānāḥ prapadyante ’nya-devatāḥ taṁ taṁ niyamam āsthāya prakṛityā niyatāḥ svayā

kāmaiḥ

— by material desires

taiḥ taiḥ

— by various

hṛita-jñānāḥ

— whose knowledge has been carried away

prapadyante

— surrender

anya

— to other

devatāḥ

— celestial gods

tam tam

— the various

niyamam

— rules and regulations

āsthāya

— following

prakṛityā

— by nature

niyatāḥ

— controlled

svayā

— by their own

"Kamais tais tair hrta-jnanah prapadyante 'nya-devatah, tam tam niyamam asthaya prakrtya niyatah svaya." — Those whose knowledge is carried away by various desires resort to other deities, following various rules, impelled by their own nature. Krishna now explains why many people worship lesser deities rather than seeking the Supreme directly. The cause is 'kamais tais tair hrta-jnanah' — their discernment (jnana) is carried away (hrta) by various desires (kama). When the mind is dominated by particular cravings — for health, wealth, success, progeny, and so on — the higher knowledge that would lead one to seek the Supreme itself is obscured. Such people 'prapadyante anya-devatah' — take refuge in other deities, the various devas (gods) who are understood to grant particular boons. They follow 'tam tam niyamam' — this or that specific rule, rite, or discipline appropriate to the deity and the desired boon. The deep cause, Shankaracharya notes, is given in the last phrase: 'prakrtya niyatah svaya' — impelled, governed by their own nature (prakriti, here meaning their accumulated tendencies and disposition). People are drawn to particular forms of worship according to their inner conditioning and the desires that conditioning generates. This verse is not a harsh condemnation. Krishna observes, with understanding, that desire-driven worship of lesser powers is natural to those whose discernment is clouded by craving. It is a description of where people are, governed by their nature — and, as the following verses show, even this worship is accommodated and in the final reckoning woven into the divine plan. Yet it implicitly points beyond itself: the highest worship seeks not particular boons but the Supreme itself.

Krishna observes, without harsh judgment, why people chase various lesser powers instead of the highest: their discernment gets 'carried away by desires,' and they're impelled by their own conditioning. Translate this beyond deities: when you're consumed by a specific craving — for success, validation, a particular outcome — your clarity gets hijacked, and you'll pursue whatever promises that specific thing, governed by your existing patterns. The insight is psychologically sharp: our desires literally shape where we direct our energy and devotion, often below the level of conscious choice. We worship (give our time, attention, effort to) whatever our cravings point us toward. The quiet invitation: notice what your desires are making you chase, and ask whether you're settling for a small boon when something far greater is available.

Krishna observes, without harsh judgment, why people chase various lesser powers instead of the highest: their discernment gets 'carried away by desires,' and they're driven by their own conditioning. Translate it beyond deities: when you're consumed by a specific craving — for success, validation, a particular outcome — your clarity gets hijacked, and you'll chase whatever promises THAT specific thing, on autopilot from your existing patterns. The insight is psychologically sharp: your desires literally shape where you direct your energy and devotion, often below conscious choice. We 'worship' (give our time, attention, effort to) whatever our cravings point us at. The quiet invitation: notice what your desires are making you chase — and ask if you're settling for a tiny payoff when something way bigger is on the table.

Krishna explains why some people pray to smaller gods for specific wishes instead of seeking the highest God. He says it's because their strong wishes — for things like money or success — cloud their clear thinking, and they follow their habits. It's a bit like wanting a small candy so badly that you forget there's a whole wonderful feast available! Krishna isn't being mean about it — he understands. But he gently hints: there's something much greater to seek than just small wishes — the Divine itself!