Bhagavad Gita Chapter 7, Verse 21

English Translation

Whichever form (of a deity) any devotee wants to worship with faith, that very firm faith of his I strengthen.

Detailed Commentary

Explanation of 7.21: "'Yo yo yaṁ yaṁ tanuṁ bhaktaḥ ... tāmeva vidadhāmyaham'" – Whichever devotee desires to worship whichever deity with faith, I make their Shraddha (faith) firm towards that very deity. I do not inspire them to engage in devotion towards other deities, nor towards Myself. Even though their desires are not fulfilled by devotion to other deities, I still focus their Shraddha upon that very one. Those who place their Shraddha in Me, I certainly ensure their well-being, because I am the true friend of all beings – 'Suhṛdaṁ Sarvabhūtānām' (Gita 5.29). A question might arise here: why do I not focus everyone's Shraddha upon Myself? To this, the Lord says that if I were to do so, human freedom and the very purpose of human birth would be destroyed. If I were to insist that people focus on Me, it would be a selfish nature. I wish that no individual should be engaged merely in their own worship and prestige, nor should they subjugate anyone. A second question might be: when You make their Shraddha firm towards deities, does it not harm them? The answer to this is that if I were to forcefully try to direct their Shraddha towards Myself, their faith in Me would diminish. But if I grant them freedom, the wise will spontaneously be drawn towards Me. In this way, their liberation will indeed occur. Now, a third question might arise: if You make their Shraddha firm, then it becomes difficult for it to be removed. The answer to this is that I make their Shraddha firm only towards deities, not towards others. I stabilize their Shraddha according to their wish, and humans are free to change their wishes. If they were powerless in this, the glory of humanity would cease, and how could I then give a command like 'Jahi Śatruṁ Mahābāho Kāmarūpaṁ Durāsadam' (Gita 3.43)?