Bhagavad Gita 7.20

Jnana Vijnana Yoga · English Translation

Those whose wisdom has been rent away by this or that desire, go to other gods, following this or that rite, led by their own nature.

Sanskrit

कामैस्तैस्तैर्हृतज्ञानाः प्रपद्यन्तेऽन्यदेवताः | तं तं नियममास्थाय प्रकृत्या नियताः स्वया ||७-२०||

Transliteration

kāmaistaistairhṛtajñānāḥ prapadyante.anyadevatāḥ . taṃ taṃ niyamamāsthāya prakṛtyā niyatāḥ svayā ||7-20||

What Does This Verse Mean?

In this verse, Lord Krishna explains that when a person's clarity of mind is clouded by intense personal desires, they lose sight of the ultimate truth and begin to worship various lesser deities instead. The speaker, Krishna, addresses Arjuna on the battlefield, teaching that true wisdom remains steady only when one does not let temporary wants dictate their spiritual path. This verse highlights how uncontrolled desire acts as a veil, causing individuals to follow specific rituals for other gods based solely on their own changing nature rather than universal principles.

The Teaching Behind It

This teaching belongs to the Jnana Vijnana Yoga (the path of Knowledge and Realization), specifically developing the concept of how desire acts as an obstacle to spiritual vision. It explains that when wisdom is obscured by craving, the mind naturally gravitates toward fragmented forms of worship rather than the unified Absolute Truth.

Word by Word

कामैः by desires, तैः तैः by this or that, हृतज्ञानाः those whose wisdom has been rent away, प्रपद्यन्ते approach, अन्यदेवताः other gods, तम् तम् this or that, नियमम् rite, आस्थाय having followed, प्रकृत्या by nature, नियताः led, स्वया by ones own

Classical Commentary

Those who desire wealth, children, the (small) Siddhis, etc., are deprived of discrimination. They devote themselves to other minor gods such as Indra? Mitra? Varuna, etc., impelled or driven by their own nature or Samskaras acired in their previous births. They perform some kinds of rites to propitiate these lower deities. (Cf. IX.23)

Where This Happens

This verse occurs in Chapter 7 during Krishna's discourse to Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra within the epic Mahabharata. Just prior to this teaching, Krishna has revealed his divine nature as the Supreme Being and explained how he is the source of all existence. Arjuna, who was initially confused about fighting his relatives, is now being instructed on why some people remain attached to material success rather than seeking liberation. The context sets the stage for understanding that while many paths exist, only devotion to the One leads to ultimate freedom.

Living It Out Today

Consider a professional facing burnout at work who starts chasing new certifications or switching careers every few months solely because of momentary anxiety about their current role. Instead of finding stability through deep reflection and long-term purpose, they scatter their energy across various quick-fix solutions offered by different mentors or methods based on fleeting fears. This verse advises that until the mind is calm from these 'desires' for immediate relief, one will keep cycling through new strategies without ever achieving true professional fulfillment.

Explained for Children

Imagine you really want a new toy or candy so much that your mind gets foggy and you can't see what is truly important. When this happens, people might start looking at different shiny things to feel better instead of knowing the one big truth they already have inside them. Just like if you are very hungry for snacks, you might forget about eating a healthy meal first, strong desires make us chase after many temporary wishes and lose our way.

Daily Reflection

You may find today that your longing to feel secure drives you to seek validation through specific rules, people, or outcomes other than the Divine itself. It is natural for our nature (svayā) to chase after whatever seems to promise immediate satisfaction, but this often fragments our awareness. True peace arrives not by adding more rituals to satisfy every whim, but by recognizing that all these diverse forms are merely reflections of a single source.

A Practice for Today

Sit quietly and observe how your current desires are shaping the focus of your mind, pulling it toward various external forms or rituals for comfort. Ask yourself if you are seeking a temporary relief from want rather than the enduring wisdom that comes from seeing the One in all things.

Key Teachings

The Obscuring Power of Desire
When the mind is dominated by specific wants (kāma), its capacity for clear, higher wisdom (jñāna) becomes obscured or 'rent away'. This state causes the seeker to lose sight of the ultimate reality in favor of fragmented solutions.
The Diversity of Devotional Forms
Those driven by desire turn toward various deities and specific rites (niyama) that align with their immediate needs. This leads to a proliferation of practices where the seeker follows different paths based on what appeals to them in that moment.
The Law of Intrinsic Nature
Even when seeking other gods, individuals are ultimately acting according to their own inherent nature (prakṛtyā niyatāḥ svayā). Their choices and worship styles are not random but are dictated by the conditioning of their mind and past tendencies.

Themes

Desire and WisdomDevotion vs RitualsNature of the SelfMental ClarityPath to LiberationSurrender

Related Verses

2.47 3.30 4.18 6.5 18.66

Read This Next

2.47 — To understand how one acts without being attached to results, countering the desire-driven mindset described in verse 7.20.
3.30 — This verse teaches offering all actions to Krishna, providing a practical method for transcending the fragmentation of worship mentioned earlier.
12.15 — To see the qualities of one who is dear to Krishna and has moved beyond desire-driven confusion into steady devotion.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does it mean when wisdom is 'rent away' by desires?

It means that strong cravings and material wants act like a fog, obscuring our ability to see spiritual truth or the bigger picture. Just as clouds hide the sun but do not destroy it, these temporary desires block clear perception until they are removed through discipline.

Does this verse forbid worshipping other gods?

This term refers to individuals whose minds have been clouded by specific desires for material gain, such as wealth or health. They turn to various deities associated with those needs because their focus is on temporary satisfaction rather than eternal liberation.

How does this verse relate to the concept of 'svayā prakṛtya' (by one's own nature)?

It suggests that when wisdom fades, people act according to their inherent instincts and conditioned habits rather than higher spiritual principles. Their actions become a reaction to immediate needs dictated by their current state of mind instead of conscious choice.

In Other Languages: Bhagavad Gita 7.20 →