Bhagavad Gita Chapter 7, Verse 22 (BG 7.22) — Meaning, Translation & Commentary

7.22 सः he? तया with that? श्रद्धया with faith? युक्तः endowed? तस्य of it? आराधनम् worship? ईहते engages in? लभते obtains? च and? ततः from that? कामान् desires? मया by Me? एव surely? विहितान् ordained? हि verily? तान् those.Commentary The last two words Hi and Tan are taken as one word? Hitan meaning benefits. This is another interpretation. The devotee who worships the lesser gods attains the objects of his desire (minor psychic powers? etc.). Those objects are ordained by the Lord only as He alone knows exactly the relation between the actions and their results or rewards and as He is the Inner Ruler of all beings. Unwise or undiscriminating people only take recourse to the means of getting these finite rewards which can hardly give entire satisfaction. Pitiable indeed is their lot They have,no power of eniry (VicharaSakti) or right understanding. They get hold of pieces of glass instead of attaining the jewel of the Self? of incalculabe value.

Commentaries

Contemporary scholarly and practical interpretations for modern seekers.

This interpretation draws on a specific tradition and may not represent the view of any single school. For authoritative guidance within a specific tradition, seek a qualified teacher.

Modern

# BG 7.22 The devotee endowed with faith worships the deity of his choice, and through that faith, the deity fulfills his desires. Yet the Lord declares that He alone is the true bestower of all fruits of action. The Supreme Self, omniscient and omnipotent, being the primordial cause of all creation, grants to human beings the capacity to act and to the deities the power to distribute the fruits thereof. Through the attainment of desired and undesired results, joy and sorrow arise in the inner consciousness, illumined by the light of the atman. Without this divine consciousness, no such experience could manifest. Through worship performed with faith, fruits are obtained according to the divine ordinance established by the Lord. Here, Sri Krishna, identifying Himself with His supreme nature, declares that those desired fruits are granted by Me alone. The unwise, desiring transient pleasures, never attain eternal peace. Therefore, it is said—