Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.17.34
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
It is even sometimes seen that demigods like Indra and Candra are worshiped and offered sacrificial awards, yet the rewards of all such sacrifices are awarded to the worshiper by the Supreme Lord, and it is the Lord only who can offer all welfare to the worshiper. The demigods, although worshiped, cannot do anything without the sanction of the Lord because the Lord is the Supersoul of everyone, both moving and nonmoving.
In Bhagavad-gītā (9.23) the Lord Himself confirms this in the following śloka:
ye ’py anya-devatā-bhaktā yajante śraddhayānvitāḥ te ’pi mām eva kaunteya yajanty avidhi-pūrvakam
“Whatever a man may sacrifice to other gods, O son of Kuntī, is really meant for Me alone, but it is offered without true understanding.”
The fact is that the Supreme Lord is one without a second. There is no God other than the Lord Himself. Thus the Supreme Lord is eternally transcendental to the material creation. But there are many who worship the demigods like the sun, the moon and Indra, who are only material representatives of the Supreme Lord. These demigods are indirect, qualitative representations of the Supreme Lord. A learned scholar or devotee, however, knows who is who. Therefore he directly worships the Supreme Lord and is not diverted by the material, qualitative representations. Those who are not so learned worship such qualitative, material representations, but their worship is unceremonious because it is irregular.
“But the devatās should also be worshipped, not just Bhagavān.” He is the soul of those who are worshipped such as Indra. Or they are forms of him alone. He distributes material happiness (kāmān) for us citizens moving and non-moving, and spiritual happiness (śam). Like air, he can be realized inside and outside. If you exist here, this will not be the situation.
- Where am I treating the Lord as far when sacrifice would prove Him near?
- What simple offering today could reach Him?
My note
Source: vedabase.io