यो यो यां यां तनुं भक्त: श्रद्धयार्चितुमिच्छति | तस्य तस्याचलां श्रद्धां तामेव विदधाम्यहम् || 21 || |
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“Whatever form devotees worship with faith, I make their faith firm in that very form.”
Commentary: Individuals are inclined to connect with the divine through forms that resonate with their personal experiences, cultural background, and innate leanings. Lord Krishna emphasizes that sincere devotion, directed towards any chosen deity or form, has the potential to forge a profound connection with the divine. Numerous divine manifestations are present, each serving as a guiding beacon towards ultimate liberation. The specific identity of the divine form is not as important as the central aspiration for liberation from the cycle of life and death. Regardless of the chosen path of worship, God’s boundless compassion extends impartially to all, akin to a nurturing parent responding tenderly to the varied needs of the children.God strengthens the faith of those who worship Him in their chosen form. However, it carries a caution: this devotion should not be driven by personal desires. When one’s spiritual journey is motivated solely by the pursuit of personal desires, there lies a risk. Should these desires remain unfulfilled, individuals may waver in their faith towards that divine form.
In such a situation, people might start seeking other deities or self-proclaimed ‘God-men’, hoping that by diversifying their devotions, their wishes will be granted. Alternatively, they may continue to serve the original form, not out of genuine devotion, but driven by fear or guilt, fearing repercussions for abandoning their chosen path or guilty of forgotten actions they might have performed earlier.
Yet, the passage gently guides us towards a deeper truth. It reminds us that personal desires, however numerous or fervently pursued, never find complete fulfillment. The true path to contentment lies in the singular pursuit of liberation from the cycle of life and death.
This verse resonates with the assurance that the Supreme, in His infinite compassion, recognizes and blesses our chosen form of devotion. In this journey towards liberation, devoted souls experience a tangible sense of progress, an ever-increasing certainty that they are drawing closer to the Supreme Lord.