कामैस्तैस्तैर्हृतज्ञानाः प्रपद्यन्तेऽन्यदेवताः। तं तं नियममास्थाय प्रकृत्या नियताः स्वया।।7.20।।
kāmais tais tair hṛta‑jñānāḥ prapadyante ’nyadevataḥ | taṁ taṁ niyamam āsthāya prakṛtyā niyatāḥ svayā ||7.20||
Translation
Those whose wisdom has been taken away by various desires surrender to other demigods, following each their own regulations, according to their nature and their own inclinations.
Word Meanings
kāmaiḥ — by desires; taiḥ taiḥ — various; hṛta — deprived of; jñānāḥ — knowledge; prapadyante — surrender; anya — to other; devatāḥ — demigods; tam tam — corresponding; niyamam — regulations; āsthāya — following; prakṛtyā — by nature; niyatāḥ — controlled; svayā — by their own.
Understanding the Verse
In this verse Krishna explains how the material mind, clouded by incessant cravings, loses its ability to perceive the Supreme Reality. The term kāmaiḥ (by desires) indicates that when the intellect is overwhelmed by the endless pursuit of sensory pleasures, the subtle faculty of true knowledge (jñāna) becomes obscured (hṛta). Once this veil is in place, the individual no longer seeks the ultimate cause but turns toward the many demigods (devatāḥ) who represent various facets of nature – the sun, the moon, fire, the wind, etc. This shift is not a conscious rebellion but a natural outcome of prakṛti's (material nature's) conditioning.
Each person, following their own nature (prakṛtyā niyatāḥ svayā), adopts the rituals (niyamam) appropriate for the specific deity they worship. The phrase taṁ taṁ niyamam āsthāya conveys that the prescribed duties, sacrifices, and hymns differ according to the divine form one venerates. For instance, a devotee of Agni performs fire offerings, while a devotee of Indra conducts rain‑invoking rites. The devotion is thus limited to the external forms and promises of temporary material benefits rather than the pursuit of eternal knowledge.
Krishna's observation serves a dual purpose. First, it highlights the trapped state of those who, consumed by desire, are bound to the cycle of birth and death (samsāra) through ritualistic activity that merely maintains the status quo. Second, it offers a diagnostic tool for spiritual aspirants: by recognizing where one's consciousness has been diverted, one can consciously redirect the mind away from external worship toward the inner realization of the Supreme (paramātman).
The verse also underscores the concept of svadharma – acting in alignment with one's own nature. While it might appear that worship of demigods is a flaw, Krishna affirms that this is the natural course for those whose knowledge is still under the influence of desire. The spiritual path, therefore, is progressive: one first purifies the mind, reduces the grip of kāma, and then gradually transcends the multiplicity of deities to focus on the one all‑pervading Brahman. This progression is the essence of bhakti yoga, moving from external worship (bahir‑bhakti) to internal devotion (antar‑bhakti).
In contemporary terms, the verse can be applied to modern life where consumerism and endless pursuit of wealth, fame, and sensory gratification dominate many minds. Just as the ancient seekers were drawn to the manifold gods for material gains, today’s individuals may be drawn to material success, status symbols, or even various ideologies promising fulfillment. Recognizing this pattern enables a conscious shift toward practices that nurture inner wisdom – meditation, self‑inquiry, and service – ultimately leading to liberation from the endless cycle of desire‑driven actions.
