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Chapter 7 · Knowledge of the Absolute · 30 verses

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Nature & guṇasChapter 7 · Knowledge of the Absolute
7.207.22

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 7.21

Desire, demigod worship and temporary fruits

यो यो यां यां तनुं भक्त: श्रद्धयार्चितुमिच्छति ।

तस्य तस्याचलां श्रद्धां तामेव विदधाम्यहम् ॥ २१ ॥

yo yo yāṁ yāṁ tanuṁ bhaktaḥ

śraddhayārcitum icchati

tasya tasyācalāṁ śraddhāṁ

tām eva vidadhāmy aham

Translation

I am in everyone’s heart as the Supersoul. As soon as one desires to worship some demigod, I make his faith steady so that he can devote himself to that particular deity.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

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

Faith and the Supreme Lord

  1. 1As the Supersoul in everyone’s heart, Kṛṣṇa steadies a person’s faith in the demigod they wish to worship.
  2. 2Prabhupāda explains that the Lord allows people to pursue material desires, but both worshipers and demigods depend on His will.
  3. 3Follow the Lord’s ultimate instruction: give up all other engagements and fully surrender to Him. This brings happiness.

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 7.21 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 7.20Desire, 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 7.21 — 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.