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Bhagavad-gītā 7.20

कामैस्तैस्तैर्हृतज्ञाना: प्रपद्यन्तेऽन्यदेवता: । तं तं नियममास्थाय प्रकृत्या नियता: स्वया ॥ २० ॥
kāmais tais tair hṛta-jñānāḥ
[kaamais tais tair hrita-jnaanaah]
prapadyante ’nya-devatāḥ
[prapadyante ’nya-devataah]
taṁ taṁ niyamam āsthāya
[tam tam niyamam aasthaaya]
prakṛtyā niyatāḥ svayā
[prakrityaa niyataah svayaa]
Word-for-word
kāmaiḥ — by desires taiḥ taiḥ — various hṛta — deprived of jñānāḥ — knowledge prapadyante — surrender anya — to other devatāḥ — demigods tam tam — corresponding niyamam — regulations āsthāya — following prakṛtyā — by nature niyatāḥ — controlled svayā — by their own .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
kāmais tais tair hṛta-jñānāḥ
kāmaiḥ
by desires
taiḥ taiḥ
various
hṛta
deprived of
jñānāḥ
knowledge
prapadyante ’nya-devatāḥ
prapadyante
surrender
taṁ taṁ niyamam āsthāya
prakṛtyā niyatāḥ svayā
anya
to other
devatāḥ
demigods
tam tam
corresponding
niyamam
regulations
āsthāya
following
prakṛtyā
by nature
niyatāḥ
controlled
svayā
by their own .
Important Words
  • kāmaiḥ — by desires
    Instrumental plural. Plural matters: not one big desire but many small ones, in collective action, that strip the intelligence. The verse names the mechanism: kāma as the agent of cognitive theft.
  • hṛta — deprived of
    Past participle of √hṛ (to take, to carry off). With jñāna in the verse: those whose knowledge has been taken. Same idiom as 7.15's apahṛta. Knowledge is something that can be removed from the bearer — by the bearer's own desires.
  • devatāḥ — demigods
    From devatā — deity. The verse pairs it with anya (other) — that is, other than Kṛṣṇa. The technical term in bhakti literature for non-supreme objects of worship. The category, not the insult.
  • niyamam — regulations
    From ni + √yam (to restrain). The ritual prescriptions specific to each demigod. The verse acknowledges these are real systems with real rules — not random — but driven by individual nature, not by truth.
  • prakṛtyā — by nature
    Instrumental singular of prakṛti — 'by nature.' Coupled in the verse with svayā (one's own): the choice of which demigod to worship is mechanical — your guṇa-conditioning chooses for you. The verse demystifies popular worship without yet condemning it.
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.
Classical Sanskrit analysis शास्त्रीय विश्लेषण
How Sanskrit scholars read this verse — split, rearranged, grammar-tagged. For the plain English distilled meaning, jump to Plain meaning below.
Auto-generated study layers — original analysis of the public-domain śloka. Review against a published edition for academic work.
Plain meaning (तात्पर्य · Tātparya)
Desires distort cognition. Those carried off by them, hemmed in by their own nature, adopt sectarian rules and turn to lesser devatās — not because the deities are unreal but because the seeker's vision is limited by want. The verse sets up Kṛṣṇa's gracious response in 7.21–22.
Further notes (विवरण · Vivaraṇa)
Hṛta-jñānāḥ ('knowledge carried off') is gentler than apahṛta-jñānāḥ (7.15) — these people are misled, not malicious. Their prakṛti (psychological constitution shaped by prior karma) determines which rituals and devatās fit them. The Gītā does not demonize this; it just notes it as developmentally lower than direct devotion to Kṛṣṇa, and as ultimately unable to cross māyā (7.14).
Prose order (अन्वय · Anvaya)
तैः तैः कामैः हृत-ज्ञानाः स्वया प्रकृत्या नियताः (जनाः) तं तं नियमम् आस्थाय अन्य-देवताः प्रपद्यन्ते ।
taiḥ taiḥ kāmaiḥ hṛta-jñānāḥ svayā prakṛtyā niyatāḥ (janāḥ) taṃ taṃ niyamam āsthāya anya-devatāḥ prapadyante |
Those whose knowledge has been carried off by various desires — bound by their own nature — adopt this or that observance and take refuge in other deities.
Word split (पदच्छेद · Padaccheda)
कामैः तैः तैः हृत-ज्ञानाः प्रपद्यन्ते अन्य-देवताः । तं तं नियमम् आस्थाय प्रकृत्या नियताः स्वया ॥
kāmaiḥ taiḥ taiḥ hṛta-jñānāḥ prapadyante anya-devatāḥ | taṃ taṃ niyamam āsthāya prakṛtyā niyatāḥ svayā ||
Grammar (व्याकरण · Vyākaraṇa)
SanskritIASTGrammarMeaning
कामैः kāmaiḥ काम (m.) ins.pl. (instrumental plural) by desires
तैः तैः taiḥ taiḥ तद् pron. (pronoun) ins.pl. (instrumental plural)m. (distrib.) various / this and that
हृत-ज्ञानाः hṛta-jñānāḥ √हृ p.p.p. (past passive participle) + ज्ञान (n.) bahuvrīhi cpd. (compound) nom.pl. (nominative plural)m. whose knowledge is carried off
प्रपद्यन्ते prapadyante प्र+√पद् pres. (present) 3pl. ātm. (ātmanepada / middle voice) they take refuge in
अन्य-देवताः anya-devatāḥ अन्य + देवता (f.) karmadhāraya cpd. (compound) acc.pl. (accusative plural) other deities
तं तम् taṃ tam तद् pron. (pronoun) acc.sg. (accusative singular)m. (distrib.) this and that
नियमम् niyamam नियम (m.) acc.sg. (accusative singular) rule / observance
आस्थाय āsthāya आ+√स्था abs. (absolutive) having taken up / adopted
प्रकृत्या prakṛtyā प्रकृति (f.) ins.sg. (instrumental singular) by nature
नियताः niyatāḥ नि+√यम् p.p.p. (past passive participle) nom.pl. (nominative plural)m. constrained / governed
स्वया svayā स्व pron. (pronoun)/adj. ins.sg. (instrumental singular)f. their own
Purport

Those who are freed from all material contaminations surrender unto the Supreme Lord and engage in His devotional service. As long as the material contamination is not completely washed off, they are by nature nondevotees. But even those who have material desires and who resort to the Supreme Lord are not so much attracted by external nature; because of approaching the right goal, they soon become free from all material lust. In the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam it is recommended that 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 Vāsudeva and worship Him. As stated in the Bhāgavatam (2.3.10) : akāmaḥ sarva-kāmo vā mokṣa-kāma udāra-dhīḥ tīvreṇa bhakti-yogena yajeta puruṣaṁ param Less intelligent people who have lost their spiritual sense take shelter of demigods for immediate fulfillment of material desires. Generally, such people do not go to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, because they are in the lower modes of nature (ignorance and passion) and therefore worship various demigods. Following the rules and regulations of worship, they are satisfied. The worshipers of demigods are motivated by small desires and do not know how to reach the supreme goal, but a devotee of the Supreme Lord is not misguided. Because in Vedic literature there are recommendations for worshiping different gods for different purposes (e.g., a diseased man is recommended to worship the sun), those who are not devotees of the Lord think that for certain purposes demigods are better than the Supreme Lord. But a pure devotee knows that the Supreme Lord Kṛṣṇa is the master of all. In the Caitanya-caritāmṛta ( Ādi 5.142) it is said, ekale īśvara kṛṣṇa, āra saba bhṛtya: only the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, is master, and all others are servants. Therefore a pure devotee never goes to demigods for satisfaction of his material needs. He depends on the Supreme Lord. And the pure devotee is satisfied with whatever He gives.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
20. Those who have become foolish because of their many desires worship various devatās, adopting various rules, under the control of their low natures.
Commentary

“It is understood from what you have said that the sakāma-bhaktas, because they worship You, the Lord, who responds to them, become somewhat successful. But what happens to those who have material desires and worship the devatās with the desire to remove their suffering or gain material pleasure?” Four verses answer this question. These people, having no intelligence (hṛta-jñāna), think that the devatās like Sūrya will give immediate relief from afflictions like sickness, whereas Viṣṇu will not. They therefore surrender to the devatās. They are under the control of their natures (prakṛtyā niyatā svayā), which are corrupted, averse to surrender to Me.

Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa Gauḍīya
Translation
20. Those who have become foolish because of their many desires worship various devatās, adopting various rules under the control of their individual desire.
Commentary

It has just been stated that even those who worship Me with material desires become liberated by the power of devotion to Me. But those who worship devatās because of desire for immediate happiness continue to take birth. This is explained in four verses. With various desires, such as desire for relief from suffering, they become devoid of intelligence (hṛta jñānāḥ), thinking that the sun god and others can quickly destroy sickness or other problems, but that Viṣṇu cannot. Hṛtajñānāḥ means people who have lost all intelligence. They thus worship the devatās. They follow particular rules (tam tam niyamam) controlled by their individual impressions (prakṛtyā svayā). This means that their impressions are such that it makes them opposed to surrendering to Me.

Bhūrijana Dāsa Gauḍīya
Commentary

This is a different category of persons: they are neither among those who don't surrender nor among those who do surrender to Krsna. They are called 'hrta‑jnanah', deprieved of knowledge (less intelligent). Krsna wants us do not be deprived of knowledge and surrender ‑ to Him.

Study Notes — Gauranga Priya Dāsa
Gauranga Priya Dāsa Study
Bhakti-śāstrī Notes, ISKCON Chowpatty (2009)
Theme

People whose intelligence is stolen by material desires often surrender to demigods

Their choice of worship depends upon the influence of the material modes
Focus of Learning

(a) Who surrenders to the Supreme Lord and engages in devotional service – One who is freed from

material contamination

(b) What if material contamination is not completely washed away

They are by nature non-devotees
Even those who have material desires and still resort to the Supreme Lord, they:
Are not so much attracted by the external nature; because of the right goal
Soon become free from all material lust
Ref. SB 2.3.10: “akamah sarva kamo...” Therefore in any condition one should only approach Vasudeva

(c) Then why do people still go to demigods – They are less intelligent

Attitude – They have lost the spiritual sense
Desire –They want immediate fulfillment of material desire
Modes – Affected by lower modes, therefore they do not go to the Supreme Lord
Level of motivation – Motivated by small desires and do not know how to realize Supreme Goal
Level of satisfaction – Satisfied by the rules and regulations of their worship
Conception – They think demigods are better for certain purpose as per their study of Veda e.g. Sun god for better health

(d) Understanding of pure devotees

Ref. CC: “Only Krishna is the Supreme master and all others are servants”
Never goes to the demigods for material needs
Depends on the Supreme Lord and is satisfied with whatever he gives

SUMMARISED THEME 7B

WHY ARE DEMIGOD WORSHIPERS ARE CALLED LESS INTELLIGENT (7.20 – 7.23)

A) Intelligence stolen by material desires (Lust)– Fruits are limited and temporary (7.20 & 7.24)

B) Basis of choice of worship – Different modes and Natures – Different demigods (7.20)

C) Lack of knowledge of Krishna that:

Krishna is the source of everything (7.6)
Krishna makes faith steady, required by a living entity to worship the demigods (7.21)
Krishna bestows benefits through the demigods to the living entities (7.22)

D) Result: Go to demigod planets (7.23) (keeps one in the material world, a place of misery)

E) Krishna’s devotees – Go to the supreme planet of Krishna

Result of demigod worship are all perishable
Result of devotional service unto Krishna is unlimited and eternal
Classical Ācāryas
Śrī Śaṅkarācārya Classical
Translation
7.20 People, hrta-jnanah, deprived of their wisdom, deprived of their discriminating knowledge; taih taih kamaih, by desires for various objects, such as progeny, cattle, heaven, etc.; and niyatah, guided, compelled; svaya prakrtya, by their own nature, by particular tendencies gathered in the past lives; prapadyante, resort; anya-devatah, to other deities, who are different from Vasudeva, the Self; asthaya, following taking the help of; tam tam niyamam,the relevant methods-those processes that are well known for the adoration of the concerned deities.
Śrī Rāmānujācārya Classical
Translation
7.20 All men of this world are 'controlled', i.e., constantly accompanied by their own nature consisting in the Vasanas (subtle impressions) resulting from relation with the objects formed of the Gunas. Their knowledge about My essential nature is robbed by various Karmas, i.e., by objects of desire corresponding to their Vasanas (subtle impressions) born of their Karmas and constituted of Gunas. In order to fulfil these various kinds of desires they take refuge in, i.e., seek and worship, other divinities who are regarded as different from Me, such as Indra and others, observing various disciplines, i.e., practising rituals which are specially meant to propitiate only these divinities.
Śrī Abhinavagupta Classical
Translation
7.20 See Comment under 7.23
Swami Sivananda Classical
Translation
7.20 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.
Commentary

7.20 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.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)

Swami Gambhīrānanda Classical
Translation
7.20 People, deprived of their wisdom by desires for various objects and guided by their own nature, resort to other deities following the relevant methods.
Shri Purohit Swami Classical
Translation
7.20 They in whom wisdom is obscured by one desire or the other, worship the lesser Powers, practising many rites which vary according to their temperaments.
Related values & verses
Related values
Tyaga (Renunciation / Letting Go)Karuna (Kindness / Compassion)Tapas (Austerity / Discipline)Guru Bhakti (Reverence for Teacher)Atma Nigraha (Self-control)Daksya (Resourcefulness / Skill)Maitri (Friendship / Goodwill)Abhaya (Fearlessness)
Related verses
BG 9.23 BG 9.25 BG 2.43 SB 2.3.10 SB 6.3.25 SB 10.24.20 CC Madhya 22.93 CC Madhya 9.262 CC Madhya 25.86 Kaṭha Upaniṣad 1.2.1Muṇḍaka Upaniṣad 1.2.9
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Those whose intelligence is stolen by various desires worship demigods, following rituals according to their natures.
Practical Applications
  • Notice when various desires steal your intelligence.
  • Recognize secondary worship as desire-driven, not ultimate.
  • Refuse to bargain with secondary deities for primary needs.
Reflection Questions
  • What desires have stolen my intelligence recently?
  • What worship of mine has been desire-driven?
Analogy

A thirsty man, offered ocean water, drinks because the cup is shining. The thirst is real; the offer is wrong. So the desire-driven worship secondary devatās not because of their supremacy but because the desire is loud and the discrimination is gone. The intelligence has been pickpocketed — hṛta-jñānāḥ.

📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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