कामैस्तैस्तैर्हृतज्ञाना: प्रपद्यन्तेऽन्यदेवता: | तं तं नियममास्थाय प्रकृत्या नियता: स्वया || 20 || |
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“Those whose knowledge has been robbed by desires surrender to various celestial deities. Following particular rituals according to their own rules and regulations, they are bound by their respective nature.”
Commentary: Lord Krishna describes how individuals whose intellect has been clouded by personal desires and attachments turn to worshipping various celestial deities. Due to their limited understanding, they seek fulfillment of worldly desires through these deities. They engage in specific rituals and practices that align with their inclinations and natural tendencies.
Individuals often establish their own guidelines due to a fear that a specific God will penalize them. However, these self-imposed rules tend to be limiting rather than empowering. These regulations don’t necessarily bring believers closer to God. Instead, they are often driven by personal desires, which end up trapping them in rigid thought patterns for extended periods.
People might even become overly strict with themselves and others for minor transgressions, out of concern that any deviation from these rules could provoke divine anger, leading to curses and punishment. This fear-driven mindset can result in a sense of enslavement to their self-imposed regulations, preventing them from experiencing a more meaningful and liberating connection with the divine.
This verse serves as a reminder that true spiritual progress lies in transcending material desires and seeking the ultimate reality, the Supreme. Worshiping various deities for material gains may provide temporary fulfillment, but it does not lead to true liberation or spiritual enlightenment.