7.20 - Bhagavad Gita - Chapter 7, Verse 20

Verse 7.20 of the Bhagavad Gita presents Krishna's explanation of those who worship deities other than Himself. The Sanskrit text "kāmais tais tair hṛta-jñānāḥ prapadyante 'nya-devatāḥ taṁ taṁ niyamam āsthāya prakṛtyā niyatāḥ svayā" translates to "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."

This verse comes at a significant point in Krishna's discourse. He has just finished describing four types of people who worship Him and four types who don't surrender to Him at all. Now, Krishna addresses an interesting middle category – those who do surrender, but not directly to Him. Instead, they surrender to other deities (anya-devatāḥ).

Krishna explains that these people have their knowledge and discrimination "stolen" or "usurped" (hṛta-jñānāḥ) by material desires (kāmais). Their intelligence becomes clouded by the immediate material benefits they seek, preventing them from seeing the bigger spiritual picture. They are driven by desires for finite things – objects, situations, or outcomes that they believe will make them feel complete.

According to Krishna, these individuals are "compelled by their own nature" (prakṛtyā niyatāḥ svayā) to worship these demigods. This refers to how their inherent qualities, based on the three modes of material nature (sattva, rajas, and tamas), influence their choices and behaviors. People with different natures are attracted to different deities who they believe can fulfill their specific desires more quickly or effectively than approaching Krishna directly.

These worshippers follow specific "rules and regulations" (niyamam) corresponding to the particular deity they've chosen. Krishna is not condemning these people but rather explaining their position in the spiritual spectrum. They are neither completely materialistic nor fully surrendered to the Supreme. They acknowledge a higher power but are still focused primarily on material gains rather than spiritual liberation.

Interestingly, Krishna distinguishes Himself as separate from these other deities (anya-devatāḥ), clearly establishing His supreme position. He's indicating that not all divine beings are on the same level – He stands apart as the Supreme Godhead. This is a subtle but important theological point that Krishna develops further in subsequent verses where He explains that even the benefits received from worshipping these demigods ultimately come from Him.

The verse reveals Krishna's compassionate understanding of human nature. He recognizes that people at different stages of spiritual evolution will naturally approach divinity in different ways, according to their current understanding and desires. Rather than rejecting those who worship other deities, Krishna acknowledges their position and, as we see in later verses, even facilitates their worship by strengthening their faith. This demonstrates the inclusive nature of Krishna's teachings – He meets people where they are in their spiritual journey while gently pointing to the higher path of direct devotion to Him, which leads not just to temporary material benefits but to ultimate spiritual fulfillment and liberation.