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Chapter 7 · Knowledge of the Absolute · 30 verses

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Nature & guṇasChapter 7 · Knowledge of the Absolute
7.197.21

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 7.20

Desire, demigod worship and temporary fruits

कामैस्तैस्तैर्हृतज्ञाना: प्रपद्यन्तेऽन्यदेवता: ।

तं तं नियममास्थाय प्रकृत्या नियता: स्वया ॥ २० ॥

kāmais tais tair hṛta-jñānāḥ

prapadyante ’nya-devatāḥ

taṁ taṁ niyamam āsthāya

prakṛtyā niyatāḥ svayā

Translation

Those whose intelligence has been stolen by material desires surrender unto demigods and follow the particular rules and regulations of worship according to their own natures.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

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

Depend on the Supreme Lord

  1. 1Material desires steal intelligence, leading people to worship demigods by rules suited to their own natures.
  2. 2Prabhupāda explains that Kṛṣṇa is the master of all. Even those with material desires become free from them by approaching Him.
  3. 3Worship and depend on Kṛṣṇa, and be satisfied with whatever He gives.

Where we are

In the story

Chapter 7, Knowledge of the Absolute: desire, demigod worship and temporary fruits.

What it teaches

Theme summary

The modes of nature condition behavior.

2

Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Key ideas: prakṛti, guṇa.

3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 7.20 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to nature & guṇas?

Practice

Observe which mode shaped your last decision.

4

The story behind it

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

All stories for chapter 7 ›
5

Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

BG 7.21Desire, demigod worship and temporary fruitsBG 7.22Desire, demigod worship and temporary fruits

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

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Ask about BG 7.20 — get a simple answer linked to related ideas and verses.

Back to step 3The key ideasNext · Step 5 of 7 · 5 minLive the teachingsBring it into your day with a practice and a question, straight from Prabhupāda's purports.