Self-Knowledge and Enlightenment
Verse 7.22
स तया श्रद्धया युक्तस्तस्याराधनमीहते। लभते च ततः कामान्मयैव विहितान् हि तान्।।7.22।।
sa tayā śhraddhayā yuktas tasyārādhanam īhate labhate cha tataḥ kāmān mayaiva vihitān hi tān
Word Meanings
saḥ—he; tayā—with that; śhraddhayā—faith; yuktaḥ—endowed with; tasya—of that; ārādhanam—worship; īhate—tries to engange in; labhate—obtains; cha—and; tataḥ—from that; kāmān—desires; mayā—by me; eva—alone; vihitān—granted; hi—certainly; tān—those
Translation · English
Endowed with that faith, he engages in the worship of that form and obtains his desired outcome, which is ordained by Me alone.
Deep Meaning · English
In this verse, Krishna reveals the profound subtlety of the divine administration of the universe. When a devotee directs their faith toward a specific deity or form of the Divine, they are not merely performing a ritual; they are engaging in a transactional exchange facilitated by the Supreme. Krishna underscores that the efficacy of these lesser worships—and the fulfillment of the resulting desires—is not inherent in the subordinate deity itself, but flows entirely from the Supreme Lord, who acts as the ultimate Governor of the laws of karma and fruition. This emphasizes the omnipresence of the Lord; even when a soul is not yet ready to worship the Infinite, their limited devotion is nurtured by the Divine, who provides the fruits of their actions to maintain their progress on the spiritual path. From the perspective of Advaita and Bhakti, this verse serves as a compassionate bridge. It teaches that the Divine does not abandon the seeker for their lack of higher knowledge or their worldly attachments. Instead, Krishna acts as the silent Enabler, granting the objects of desire so that the devotee might eventually experience the insufficiency of material gains. By fulfilling these desires, the Lord gently leads the seeker through the cycle of karma toward the realization that all blessings ultimately originate from, and lead back to, the One. It is a testament to the Lord's infinite patience, meeting the devotee exactly where they are to slowly elevate their consciousness toward the Ultimate Truth.
All human desires and the fruition of our faith are ultimately sustained and dispensed by the one Supreme Consciousness, which gently guides every soul toward higher realization.
Connected Verses
This verse reinforces the same theme, explaining that even those who worship other deities with faith are actually worshiping Krishna alone, albeit incorrectly.
Highlights that states of existence (Sattva, Rajas, Tamas) emanate from Krishna, framing the mechanism through which worldly desires are structured.
Krishna declares that as people surrender to Him, He rewards them, echoing the truth that all spiritual and material paths are governed by His grace.
Connects to the necessity of unwavering focus, suggesting that where there is intense attachment to material enjoyment, the intellect remains clouded by desire.
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