In the previous verse, Lord Krishna explained that after many lifetimes of spiritual struggle, the enlightened soul realizes that everything is Vasudeva—the Supreme Lord. Now, in the twentieth verse of the seventh chapter, Krishna presents a very sharp and honest reality of human nature. He explains why people remain lost in a cycle of temporary desires and external distractions.
We all go through phases where we feel completely helpless. The pressure of a high-stakes job, the sting of a failed relationship, the uncertainty of your career, or the chaotic dynamics of family life—in these moments, we often turn to prayer. We visit temples, we make vows, we seek quick fixes. Yet, often, we don't get exactly what we want. This leads to a creeping doubt: Is God not listening to me? Have my prayers failed?
There is a common misconception that many people harbor. We tend to view divinity through the lens of a transaction. We think that if we bow before any power or deity, they are obligated to grant us our 'results.' We treat spirituality like a vending machine—insert a prayer, and out comes the desired outcome. Krishna here shatters this illusion.
He says that people become so entrapped by their specific, petty desires that they lose their ability to distinguish the truth. When we chase desires, our intellect becomes clouded. We abandon the pursuit of the Ultimate Truth in favor of temporary, fleeting comforts. In today's era of social media, where everything is expected to be 'instant,' this verse forces us to pause and reflect on the nature of patience and clarity.
Have you ever considered that when you are searching for a shortcut, you aren't actually seeking what is best for your soul, but rather just trying to escape the discomfort of the moment? Krishna’s message here is both a warning and a solution. He isn't just telling us about human flaws; he is giving us the key to transform our entire perspective on life.
Youth today is filled with immense energy but often lacks the right direction. We chase after things—promotions, validation, material assets—that eventually leave us feeling empty. This verse is an invitation to shift your focus from the 'result' to the 'source.' It is not just theoretical knowledge; it is a practical tool to navigate the complexities of modern existence.
कामैस्तैस्तैर्हृतज्ञानाः प्रपद्यन्तेऽन्यदेवताः ।
तं तं नियममास्थाय प्रकृत्या नियताः स्वया ॥ ७.२० ॥
Simple Meaning:
Krishna says: 'कामैस्तैस्तैः' (by those various desires), 'हृतज्ञानाः' (whose knowledge or wisdom has been stolen), 'प्रपद्यन्ते' (they surrender), 'अन्यदेवताः' (to other deities). 'तं तं नियममास्थाय' (following those specific rules of worship), 'प्रकृत्या नियताः स्वया' (they are driven by their own material nature/conditioning).
The essence is that people lose their wisdom due to their unfulfilled desires. Forced by their own past habits and material conditioning, they worship different powers, forgetting that all fruits ultimately come from the one Supreme Lord.
Key Takeaways: 1. Intense desires steal our ability to think clearly. 2. We are often puppets of our own past conditioning. 3. True knowledge is realizing that the Supreme Lord is the ultimate provider of all results.
Perspective: Swami Ramsukhdas Ji
Swami Ramsukhdas Ji emphasizes the term 'हृतज्ञानाः' (wisdom stolen). He explains that when a person is consumed by a burning desire, their intellect ceases to function correctly. They forget the fundamental truth that the source of everything is the Divine. They mistake the 'tool' for the 'source.'
Swami Ji explains that 'other deities' here doesn't just mean celestial beings; it refers to anything—money, status, people, or temporary comforts—that we place on the pedestal of 'God' to satisfy our hunger for happiness. We make our desires our God.
He stresses that humans act according to their 'Prakriti' or ingrained habits. If our habits are tamasic (lazy/ignorant), we will chase after powers that keep us in darkness. Swami Ji urges us to realize that these are temporary. The true path to liberation is to surrender our desires at the feet of the Lord, rather than trying to get the Lord to fulfill our desires.
Perspective: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Prabhupada views this through the lens of pure Bhakti (devotion). He explains that Krishna is speaking with deep compassion for the conditioned soul. Prabhupada notes that those who do not know Krishna's supreme position go to lesser deities for material gains, unaware that even those deities are subordinates of Krishna.
He describes these people as 'alpamedhasam' (those of less intelligence). He uses the analogy: why go to a candle when you can go to the Sun? Krishna is the source of everything. Even if one gets a result through other means, it is only by the sanction of the Supreme Lord.
Prabhupada emphasizes that our prayers need purification. Instead of asking for 'this or that,' we should reach a stage of devotion where we say, 'Lord, engage me in whatever way You see fit.' This is the hallmark of a true devotee—aligning their will with the Divine Will.
Perspective: Swami Mukundananda Ji
Swami Mukundananda Ji connects this to modern-day stress. He explains that desires act like 'software' running in the background of our minds, controlling our behavior. When we are obsessed with an outcome, our mental software crashes.
He gives the analogy of a child crying for a toy, believing the toy is the entire world. A professional today does the same with a promotion or a relationship. When the expectation isn't met, the person spirals into misery. That is the nature of desire—it tricks the intellect.
Mukundananda Ji clarifies that worshipping is not wrong; worshipping *with the baggage of intense desire* is what clouds our path. He encourages the youth to manage their desires. If you don't control your desires, they will control you. This is what 'प्रकृत्या नियताः स्वया' means—we have become slaves to our own conditioning.
Real-Life Scenarios
Imagine a student named Rahul. He is anxious because he isn't getting into his dream college. He runs from one ritual to another, desperate for a specific result. His mind is 'hritajnana'—completely stolen by the desire. He cannot see the big picture. When he reads this verse, he realizes he has been treating God as a business partner. He shifts his prayer: 'Lord, give me the strength to handle whatever happens.' Suddenly, the pressure lifts.
Consider a professional who feels that their boss's validation is the only way to be happy. They live in constant anxiety. This is a classic case of desire stealing wisdom. Using the practice of 'bringing the mind back,' whenever they feel the urge to obsess over approval, they consciously shift the focus to doing their best work and detaching from the outcome. This loop of 'distraction and return' is the essence of spiritual practice.
Q&A: Addressing Your Doubts
Q1: Is it wrong to pray for things?
Swami Ramsukhdas Ji says it is not 'wrong,' but it is limited. Prayer should be a medium to purify the heart, not just a way to satisfy our shopping list of worldly desires.
Q2: How do I know if my desire is clouding my wisdom?
Swami Mukundananda Ji suggests that if the failure to achieve that desire makes you lose your peace or question your faith, then that desire has successfully 'stolen' your wisdom.
Q3: How do I ask Krishna directly?
Prabhupada teaches us to ask for devotion and service. When we ask for the ability to serve, the Lord automatically provides what is truly best for us, which we often cannot foresee.
Q4: Is this verse criticizing other religions or deities?
No. It is a psychological observation about the human tendency to seek quick fixes for selfish gains rather than understanding the absolute Truth.
Q5: Will this change my life?
Yes, it will change your perspective. Instead of being a beggar of 'things,' you become a seeker of 'truth.' That is a massive shift in how you handle success and failure.
🙏 Hare Krishna — Jai Shri Krishna 🙏
📖 Also Read: Are You Still Praying Only for Your Needs? 🧐