Demigod worshipers condemned Chapter 7 Text 20-23 Demigod worshipers condemned

Text 20 kämais tais tair håta-jïänäù prapadyante ’nya-devatäù taà taà niyamam ästhäya prakåtyä niyatäù svayä 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.

Less intelligent worship demigods akämaù sarva-kämo vä mokña-käma udära-dhéù tévreëa bhakti-yogena yajeta puruñaà param “Whether one is a pure devotee and is free from all material desires, or is full of material desires, or desires liberation from material contamination, he should in all cases surrender to Väsudeva and worship Him.” A pure devotee never goes to demigods for satisfaction of his material needs. He depends on the Supreme Lord. And is satisfied with whatever He gives.

Text 21-22 yo yo yäà yäà tanuà bhaktaù çraddhayärcitum icchati tasya tasyäcaläà çraddhäà täm eva vidadhämy aham sa tayä çraddhayä yuktas tasyärädhanam éhate labhate ca tataù kämän mayaiva vihitän hi tän 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. Endowed with such a faith, he endeavors to worship a particular demigod and obtains his desires. But in actuality these benefits are bestowed by Me alone.

Independence & dependence God has given independence to everyone; Why the all-powerful God gives facilities to the living entities for enjoying this material world? One should give up all other engagements and fully surrender unto Him. Not a blade of grass moves without the will of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The demigods cannot infuse the living entities with affinity for themselves but Paramatma. Both the demigod and the living entity are dependent on the supreme will. They are not independent even to worship or get worshipped.

Physchology behind worshipping demigods. A living entity goes to the demigods usually because he is mad to fulfill his lust. This happens when something undue is desired by the living entity and the Lord Himself does not fulfill the desire. Worship of a demigod is material and devotional service to the Supreme Lord is completely spiritual. A pure devotee of the Lord is therefore not awarded the material benefits desired by less intelligent living entities.

Text 23 antavat tu phalaà teñäà tad bhavaty alpa-medhasäm devän deva-yajo yänti mad-bhaktä yänti mäm api Men of small intelligence worship the demigods, and their fruits are limited and temporary. Those who worship the demigods go to the planets of the demigods, but My devotees ultimately reach My supreme planet.

Contrast between demigod and Krsna’s worship Different destination. E.g. food supplied to body by proper channel. All living entities are parts of Supreme Lord; e.g.Brahmana’s head and so on… Within this material world the planets, the demigods and their worshipers are all perishable. The Supreme Lord is unlimited; His favor is unlimited; His mercy is unlimited.