Bhagavad Gita 7.22
Spoken by Krishna · Verse 22 of 30
स तया श्रद्धया युक्तस्तस्याराधनमीहते | लभते च ततः कामान्मयैव विहितान्हि तान् ||२२||
sa tayā śraddhayā yuktas tasyārādhanam īhate | labhate ca tataḥ kāmān mayaiva vihitān hi tān || 22 ||
With that faith, the devotee worships that deity and gains the desired objects — these being dispensed by Me alone.
Word by word (3)
- sa tayā śraddhayā yuktaḥ tasyā ārādhanam īhate
- — endued with that faith, that devotee engages in worship of that deity · sa = that one (the devotee of V21). tayā = with that (the same śraddhā just described — the faith made unwavering by the Supreme in V21). śraddhayā = with faith (instrumental). yuktaḥ = endued with, equipped with, united with (the same 'yukta' root as yoga — here describing the devotee as equipped/unified with the śraddhā). tasyā = of that (the same deity chosen). ārādhanam = worship, adoration (ārādhana = the act of worship — from ā + √rādh = to satisfy, to please; ārādhana = the complete act of honoring/pleasing a deity). īhate = engages in, endeavors (from √īh = to strive for, to engage in). The sequence from V21-22: Supreme makes the faith unwavering (V21) → devotee, with that unwavering faith, worships the chosen deity (V22a).
- labhate ca tataḥ kāmān mayā eva vihitān hi tān
- — and from it gains the desired objects — these being verily dispensed by Me alone · labhate = gains, obtains (from √labh = to get, to obtain). ca = and. tataḥ = from that (from the worship, from the deity). kāmān = the desired objects, the desires fulfilled (the specific goals the devotee sought when approaching the deity — health, wealth, success, protection). mayā eva = by Me alone (mayā = by Me; eva = alone, exclusively — the emphatic 'alone'). vihitān = dispensed, granted, arranged (from vi + √dhā — the same root as V21's vidadhāmi; vihita = that which has been arranged/dispensed). hi = indeed (emphatic). tān = these (the kāma-fulfillments). The most theologically significant phrase: 'mayā eva vihitān hi tān' — the specific boons/favors granted through the other deities are ultimately dispensed by the Supreme alone. The form-worship works (the devotee gains the desired objects), but the ultimate source of even those blessings is the Supreme, working through the deity as instrument.
- mayā eva vihitān — the hidden dispensation
- — dispensed by Me alone — the Supreme as the ultimate source of all blessings, even those mediated through other deities · This phrase reveals the metaphysical structure behind V21-22's theology: the devotee worships Deity X for Blessing Y. Deity X appears to grant Blessing Y. But the ultimate source of Blessing Y is the Supreme (mayā eva vihitān — by Me alone dispensed). The deity is the instrument; the Supreme is the ultimate bestower. This has several implications: (1) No blessing lies outside the Supreme's domain — all are ultimately from the Supreme; (2) The specific form of the deity is a 'focusing lens' through which the devotee's śraddhā makes contact with the underlying divine power; (3) The Supreme's universal management of blessings applies even in realms that appear to belong to other deities. V22 thus qualifies V21's pluralism: all forms are sustained by Me (V21), all blessings are ultimately from Me (V22), but the results are limited (V23).
Filled with that faith, the devotee worships that form and gains the desires sought — though it is I alone who grant them.
A modern analogy
A municipal water system has many faucets in many buildings. The water flows from a central reservoir through pipes to each faucet. The occupant of any apartment opens their particular faucet and receives water. The faucet is the form; the reservoir is the source. This verse's theology: the deity is the faucet; the Supreme is the reservoir; the water (blessing) comes from the reservoir, through the faucet, to the devotee.
What it does NOT mean
This verse does NOT say desire-motivated deity-worship is fraudulent or ineffective. It IS effective — the devotee gains the kāmān (desired objects). The next verse will give the limitation (the boon is finite and transient). But this verse establishes that the worship genuinely works: with faith, worship produces results. The Gita does not dismiss other-deity worship as superstition.
Take with you
- The phrase 'mayā eva vihitān' (dispensed by Me alone) is deeply reassuring: no blessing lies outside the Supreme's domain. Whether you receive benefit through conventional medicine, through prayer to a specific deity, through a spiritual practice — the ultimate source of all genuine benefit is the Supreme. This prevents both the nihilism of 'nothing works' and the idol-worship error of 'only this deity grants blessings.'
- This verse and the one before it together are the Gita's teaching on the nature of deity worship: the faith is made unwavering by the Supreme; the benefits come through the deity but are ultimately from the Supreme. This preserves both the efficacy of specific forms of worship (they work) and the recognition of the ultimate source (the Supreme).
- Read this verse with the next as a complete teaching: this verse shows that desire-motivated worship produces results; the next shows those results are finite. The complete teaching: desire-worship works, but produces only temporary satisfaction. Only the orientation toward the Supreme — the recognition that Vāsudeva is all — produces the infinite result.
Public-domain translations (6) compare all →
Endued with that faith, he worships that form; and his desires are granted by Me alone. [1]
Endued with that Shraddha, he engages in the worship of that, and from it, gains his desires — these being verily dispensed by Me alone. [4]
Armed with that devotion he seeks reverence from this or that Shining One, and thence obtains his desires, Me alone ordaining them. [5]
With his faith he worships that deity, and from it receives the objects of his wishes, though in reality the benefits thus conferred on him proceed from me. [6]
Seeking for such gifts, he doth adore with earnest faith; and getting them, those gifts come actually from Me — for I the Giver am. [7]
Imbued with that faith, he betakes himself to the worship of that form, and from it, he gets those gains, which verily are ordained by me alone. [9]
This verse speaks to
Where this thread continues
Whatever form a devotee seeks to worship with śraddhā — that very faith I make unwavering.
The fruit of those of little understanding is finite — god-worshippers go to the gods; My devotees come to Me.
Rājasic yajña: performed targeting fruit and for ostentation — know this, O best of Bharatas.
Brahman-become, serene, neither grieving nor desiring, equal to all beings — he attains supreme bhakti to Me.
With mind attached, practising yoga, taking refuge in Me — hear how you shall know Me fully, without doubt.
Acting for reward is the lowest form of action. Seek the wisdom that transcends reward-seeking.
Verse 22 of 30 · back to Chapter 7