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Chapter 7 · Knowledge of the Absolute · 30 verses

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How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Remember who is speaking. Kṛṣṇa is speaking. Take the verse as He directs.
  2. 2Say the verse and its words. Read the Sanskrit, then each word with its meaning.
  3. 3Read the translation as it is. Let the translation say what it says, without adding your own meaning.
  4. 4Read the purport. Hear the verse through the disciplic succession.
  5. 5Bring your own question. Ask: where does this verse meet my life, my trouble, my doubt?
  6. 6Act on it, remembering Kṛṣṇa. Carry one instruction into your work today.
Read the full guide: how to read the Bhagavad-gītā ›
Nature & guṇasChapter 7 · Knowledge of the Absolute
7.227.24

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 7.23

Desire, demigod worship and temporary fruits

Īśvara · God

अन्तवत्तु फलं तेषां तद्भ‍वत्यल्पमेधसाम् ।

देवान्देवयजो यान्ति मद्भ‍क्ता यान्ति मामपि ॥ २३ ॥

antavat tu phalaṁ teṣāṁ

tad bhavaty alpa-medhasām

devān deva-yajo yānti

mad-bhaktā yānti mām api

Translation

Men of small intelligence worship the demigods, and their fruits are limited and temporary. Those who worship the demigods go to the planets of the demigods, but My devotees ultimately reach My supreme planet.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

What this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.

3 study points

Different Worship, Different Destinations

  1. 1

    Demigod worship gives limited, temporary results and leads to their planets. The Supreme Lord’s devotees reach His supreme planet.

  2. 2

    Prabhupāda explains that demigods are parts of the Supreme Lord, not separate rivals. Worshiping them does not lead to the same destination as devotion to Him.

  3. 3

    Serve the Supreme Lord with pure devotion rather than seek temporary rewards. His pure devotees attain eternal, blissful life full of knowledge.

Key points from the purport

Result of worshipping demigods — Only perishable results of no eternal benefit

a

This verse refutes that worship of any demigod can take one to the Supreme Lord

Worship of demigods lead to their respective planets

b

Another philosophy — If demigods are different parts of the body of the Supreme Lord then the same end should be achieved by worshipping them

Response: They do not know, to what part of the body food must be supplied i.e. the stomach

Similarly the Supreme Lord is the source of all demigods and the demigods in themselves are not separate gods

c

Perfect knowledge — To know, not only demigods but also living entities as parts and parcels of the Supreme Lord

Brahmanas are the head

Ksatriyas are the arms

Vaishyas are the waist and

Sudras are the legs

d

Result of worshiping demigods vs. devotional service to Krishna

Results of demigod worship are perishable because

Within the material world the planets, the demigods and their worshippers are all perishable

Devotional service – The Supreme Lord is unlimited; His favour is unlimited and His mercy is unlimited

Connected verses · 1

Texts 7.23 & 7.24

In addition to the demigod worshipers, another class of men who surrender, but improperly, are the Impersonalists. They are described next.

Further reading

Surrender To Demigods And Impersonalism

Those who surrender to demigods and those who are impersonalists have no knowledge of Krishna and in their foolishness, do not surrender to Him

Chapter 7, section V: Surrender To Demigods And Impersonalism
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. anta-vatperishable
  2. tubut
  3. phalamfruit
  4. teṣāmtheir
  5. tatthat
  6. bhavatibecomes
  7. alpa-medhasāmof those of small intelligence
  8. devānto the demigods
3

Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Key ideas: prakṛti, guṇa.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 7.23 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to nature & guṇas?

Practice

Observe which mode shaped your last decision.

5

The story behind it

Mahābhārata episodes and stories from the purports that shed light on this verse.

All stories for chapter 7 ›
6

Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

BG 7.20Desire, demigod worship and temporary fruitsBG 7.21Desire, demigod worship and temporary fruits
Live this todayKnowing Kṛṣṇa and SurrenderingA practice from BG 7.19, close to this verse

Study notes are editorial summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport.

  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 4 of 9 · 10 minChapters & storiesGo chapter by chapter, with the Mahābhārata stories that explain what is happening.Back · LearnPrabhupāda's Introduction