Verse 7.23

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration, Word-for-word and English translation of verse 7.23:

अन्तवत् तु फलं तेषां तद् भवत्य् अल्प-मेधसाम् ।
देवान् देव-यजो यान्ति मद्-भक्ता यान्ति माम् अपि ॥ २३ ॥

antavat tu phalaṃ teṣāṃ tad bhavaty alpa-medhasām |
devān deva-yajo yānti mad-bhaktā yānti mām api || 23 ||

antavat–perishable; tu–but; phalam–fruit; teṣām–by those; tat–that; bhavati–is; alpa-medhasām–persons of meagre intelligence; devān–the demigods; deva-yajaḥ–the worshippers of the gods; yānti–achieve; mat-bhaktāḥ–My devotees; yānti–achieve; mām–to Me; api–whereas.

However, the fruit attained by such men of meagre intelligence is perishable. The worshippers of demigods achieve the planets of the demigods, whereas My devotees achieve Me.

Commentary: Sārārtha-Varṣiṇī Ṭīkā

(By Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura; the innermost intention of the commentary named ‘the shower of essential meanings’)

The results obtained by worshipping the demigods are perishable and transitory. One may raise the question, “Although the endeavour performed in both types of worship is equal, why do You award perishable results to the worshippers of the demigods, and imperishable results to Your own devotees? For You, who are the Supreme Lord, Parameśvara, this is certainly unjust.”

Śrī Bhagavān responds by saying, “This is not unjust. Those who worship the demigods attain those demigods, and My devotees attain Me. One attains the object of one’s worship. This is indeed justice. If the demigods themselves are perishable, how will their worshippers become imperishable, and why will the results of their worship not be destroyed?” For this reason, these worshippers have been called less intelligent. Bhagavān is eternal and so are His devotees, His bhakti and the results of His bhakti. They are all eternal.

Commentary: Sārārtha-Varṣiṇī Prakāśikā-vṛtti

(By Śrīla Bhaktivedānta Nārāyaṇa Gosvāmī Mahārāja; the explanation that illuminates the commentary named Sārārtha-varṣiṇī)

A question may be raised, “Since the demigods, as His opulences (vibhūtis), are also the limbs of Śrī Bhagavān, there is no difference between the worship of the demigods and that of the devotees of Bhagavān. What is the harm in worshipping these demigods if, within the worshippers, Bhagavān Himself generates faith in their worshipable deity and also grants them the result of their fruitive activities?”

In response to this Śrī Bhagavān replies, “If, being impelled by some desire, one takes shelter of the demigods, he is called hṛta-jñāna, a person who has lost his intelligence.”

Since he attains only perishable results, he is described as less intelligent. Someone may say that because Bhagavān bestows eternal results upon His bhaktas and perishable results upon the worshippers of the demigods, He is not equal to both; rather He is biased. In response it can be said that it is certainly fair and just to receive the result that one desires. Because both the demigods and their planets are temporary, their worshippers attain perishable results on perishable planets. However, the devotees of Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa, who is sac-cid-ānanda–composed of eternality, cognizance and bliss–attain eternal service to Him in His eternal abode by worshipping Him. Therefore, those who are intelligent worship the eternal form of Śrī Bhagavān even if they have material desires. They do not worship other demigods and goddesses.