7.23 - Bhagavad Gita - Chapter 7, Verse 23

In this verse of the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna brings out a profound and timeless principle regarding the nature of worship and its consequences. He explains that those who direct their devotion toward various deities, or devatas, achieve results that align with their object of worship. Yet, there is a vital distinction: the rewards obtained from such worship are inherently temporary, reflecting the impermanent nature of the devatas and their realms. Through this insight, Krishna clarifies the difference between pursuing transient gains and aspiring for the eternal.

Krishna describes the worshipers of devatas as “alpa-medhasām,” which translates to people of limited or finite intelligence. This characterization does not demean their devotion, but it highlights a limitation in their vision—their focus is on the immediate, the tangible, and the material. When someone approaches a devata seeking specific blessings, such as wealth, health, or success, their prayers may be answered, but the outcomes are necessarily bound by the temporal laws of the universe. Both the givers (the devatas) and their abodes are subject to change, decay, and eventual dissolution. Thus, the fruit of such worship is inevitably perishable, ceasing to exist with time or circumstance.

In contrast, Krishna presents Himself as the eternal, unchanging reality. He emphasizes that those who worship Him, the Supreme Being, attain a result of a different order—one that is not subject to decay or limitation. The difference here is not simply in the method of worship, but in the very nature of the goal being sought. The Supreme Lord is beyond the cycles of birth and death, and so union with Him grants the soul a place in the eternal spiritual world, far surpassing any material reward.

To illustrate, imagine a traveler at a crossroads. One path leads to a vibrant city known for its momentary pleasures and entertainments, but all who enter must eventually leave when their visit ends. The other path leads home—a place of lasting comfort and belonging, where entry is not subject to time or expiry. The traveler’s destination depends entirely on their chosen direction. Similarly, the object of one’s worship determines the nature of the result they experience. Worship aimed at the temporary yields what is temporary; devotion focused on the eternal brings eternal reward.

This verse does not criticize the worship of devatas as inherently wrong or futile; after all, Krishna acknowledges their place in the cosmic structure. Rather, He draws attention to the intention and understanding behind acts of worship. When one seeks only fleeting benefits, the result matches the aspiration—finite and destined to end. But when the heart aspires for the ultimate, for a relationship with the Supreme, the result is limitless, transcending the bounds of space and time.

Krishna’s message also reveals a universal spiritual law: where the mind and heart are fixed, there the soul goes. Those who adore and serve the devatas attain their realms, experiencing joy and prosperity commensurate with those deities. Yet, just as those realms themselves are part of the ever-changing material cosmos, the joys experienced there too must eventually fade. On the other hand, those who devote themselves to Krishna, aligning their lives with the infinite, are welcomed into His eternal presence.

In a broader sense, this teaching serves as a reminder of the choices we constantly face—between what is lasting and what is ephemeral, between surface-level fulfillment and deeper meaning. The verse encourages the seeker to reflect on the true nature of their aspirations and to recognize the significance of directing one’s devotion toward that which endures eternally. Just as a seed sown in fertile, lasting soil yields an abundant harvest that sustains, so too does the soul’s devotion, when placed upon the eternal, lead to unending fulfillment.

Ultimately, Krishna’s words invite us to examine our motivations and the focus of our worship. The measure of the reward lies in the nature of what we seek. Temporary goals, though sometimes satisfying, cannot offer abiding peace. But by aspiring for union with the Supreme, by seeking that which is deathless and infinite, the soul transcends all limitation and finds its true, everlasting home. This is the essence of the principle Krishna conveys in Bhagavad Gita 7.23—a principle that remains as relevant and profound today as it was millennia ago.