FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 11.21.32

रज:सत्त्वतमोनिष्ठा रज:सत्त्वतमोजुष: । उपासत इन्द्रमुख्यान् देवादीन् न यथैव माम् ॥ ३२ ॥
rajaḥ-sattva-tamo-niṣṭhā
[rajah-sattva-tamo-nishthaa]
rajaḥ-sattva-tamo-juṣaḥ
[rajah-sattva-tamo-jushah]
upāsata indra-mukhyān
[upaasata indra-mukhyaan]
devādīn na yathaiva mām
[devaadeen na yathaiva maam]
rajaḥ — in the mode of passion sattva — goodness tamaḥ — or ignorance niṣṭhāḥ — established rajaḥ — passion sattva — goodness tamaḥ — or ignorance juṣaḥ — who manifest upāsate — they worship indra-mukhyān — headed by Lord Indra deva-ādīn — the demigods and other deities na — but not yathā eva — in the proper way mām — Me.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
rajaḥ-sattva-tamo-niṣṭhā
rajaḥ
in the mode of passion
sattva
goodness
tamaḥ
or ignorance
niṣṭhāḥ
established
rajaḥ-sattva-tamo-juṣaḥ
rajaḥ
passion
sattva
goodness
tamaḥ
or ignorance
juṣaḥ
who manifest
upāsata indra-mukhyān
upāsate
they worship
indra-mukhyān
headed by Lord Indra
devādīn na yathaiva mām
deva-ādīn
the demigods and other deities
na
but not
yathā eva
in the proper way
mām
Me.
Those established in material passion, goodness and ignorance worship the particular demigods and other deities, headed by Indra, who manifest the same modes of passion, goodness or ignorance. They fail, however, to properly worship Me.

Although the demigods are part and parcel of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, demigod worship fosters the false idea that the demigods exist apart from the Supreme Lord. Such worship is avidhi-pūrvakam, or an improper approach to the Absolute Truth. Śrīla Madhvācārya quotes from the Hari-vaṁśa that among those primarily in the mode of ignorance there are sometimes manifestations of passion and goodness. Ignorant persons possessing a tendency toward goodness may go to hell but are also allowed a little heavenly pleasure. Thus it can be seen that a man suffering in miserable financial or political conditions sometimes enjoys the company of a beautiful wife, though his general condition is hellish. Those in ignorance mixed slightly with passion simply go to hell, and those purely in the mode of ignorance glide down to the darkest region of hell. Those devoid of devotion to the Supreme Lord are in ignorance in these three categories. Sometimes persons situated in the mode of goodness accept the supremacy of the Supreme Lord but are more attracted to the demigods, believing that through Vedic rituals they can achieve the same standard of living as the demigods. This proud tendency is certainly an obstacle in the loving service of the Supreme Lord and ultimately causes falldown.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
People established in material passion, goodness and ignorance and serving in those modes worship Indra and other devatās. But they do not worship me in the correct way. Those who are fixed in rajas, sattva or tamas serve in rajas, sattva or tamas. Though worshipping Indra is also my worship since Indra is my aṁśa, it is not correct worship. Because they do not worship properly they fall from their position. It is said: ahaṁ hi sarva-yajñānāṁ bhoktā ca prabhur eva ca | na tu mām abhijānanti tattvenātaś cyavanti te || I am the enjoyer and master of all sacrifices. Those who do not know me in truth fall down. BG 9.24
Those in passion, goodness, or ignorance worship the deities matching their mode, headed by Indra, and fail to properly worship the Lord. Mode determines worship's address.
Reflection Questions
  • Which mode currently colors my worship?
  • What practice would purify the address?
📝 My note

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