Verse 7.23
Speaker: Krishna
Sanskrit
अन्तवत्तु फलं तेषां तद्भवत्यल्पमेधसाम् | देवान्देवयजो यान्ति मद्भक्ता यान्ति मामपि ||२३||
Transliteration (IAST)
antavattu phalaṁ teṣāṁ tadbhavatyalpamedhasām | devāndevayajo yānti madbhaktā yānti māmapi ||23||
Word-by-Word Meanings
अन्तवत्-perishable/finite
फलम्-fruit
अल्पमेधसाम्-of those of small intelligence
देवान्-to the gods
देवयजः-worshippers of gods
मद्भक्ताः-My devotees
यान्ति-go
Translation
But the fruit gained by those of small understanding is finite. The worshippers of the gods go to the gods; My devotees come to Me.
Commentary
The key distinction is between finite and infinite results. Worship of lesser deities yields temporary rewards in their realms, while devotion to the Supreme leads to liberation. This is not sectarian exclusivism but a statement about the nature of the goal - finite worship yields finite results.
Themes
bhaktimoksha