काङ् क्षन्त: कर्मणां सिद्धिं यजन्त इह देवता: | क्षिप्रं हि मानुषे लोके सिद्धिर्भवति कर्मजा || 12 || |
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“Those desiring success in this world worship the celestial gods, since material rewards manifest quickly”
Commentary
The Absolute Formless God manifests in various celestial forms as deities, demi-gods and angels. Material rewards and success will manifest if one performs actions in accordance with the laws of prosperity and pleases the celestial deities with various kinds of offerings. These tangible and intangible rewards are in the limited domain of the five senses. The material world is also created to induce desires for such experiences through the senses. As the senses and the body are temporary, all material achievements have to be left at the time of death.
Lord Krishna says material rewards manifest quickly (क्षिप्रं, Kshipram) if one performs actions accordingly, so in comparison what is difficult to achieve then? It is difficult to achieve permanent happiness which is found in union with God. If the devotee asks for God’s love alone, he has to wait for a relatively long period of time because God tests if the devotee is sincere. Why does He test? Once God gives away His love, everything that belongs to Him will belong to the devotee for eternity. When the devotee draws God into the magnetic range of his heart through intense devotion, then God surrenders.