In Bhagavad Gita 7.21, Krishna says that whatever form a devotee wishes to worship with faith, he makes that faith steady.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
यो यो यां यां तनुं भक्तः
श्रद्धयार्चितुमिच्छति
तस्य तस्याचलां श्रद्धां
तामेव विदधाम्यहम् ॥ ७-२१ ॥
yo yo yāṃ yāṃ tanuṃ bhaktaḥ
śraddhayārcitumicchati
tasya tasyācalāṃ śraddhāṃ
tāmeva vidadhāmyaham
English transliteration yo yo yaam yaam tanum bhaktah
shraddhayaarchitumichchhati
tasya tasyaachalaam shraddhaam
taameva vidadhaamyaham ॥ 7.21 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Whatever form any devotee wishes to worship with faith, I make that faith of theirs unwavering.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| यः यः yaḥ yaḥ | whoever |
| याम् याम् yām yām | whatever |
| तनुम् tanum | form |
| भक्तः bhaktaḥ | devotee |
| श्रद्धया śraddhayā | with faith |
| अर्चितुम् arcitum | to worship |
| इच्छति icchati | wishes |
| तस्य तस्य tasya tasya | of each |
| अचलाम् acalām | steady |
| श्रद्धाम् śraddhām | faith |
| ताम् tām | that |
| एव eva | indeed |
| विदधामि vidadhāmi | make |
| अहम् aham | I |
Word-wise Chanting
- yo yo yāṃ yāṃ ta–nuṃ bhak–taḥ 8 syllables yo yo yaam yaam ta-num bhak-tah
- śrad–dha–yār–ci–tu–mic–cha–ti | 8 syllables shrad-dha-yaar-chi-tu-mich-chha-ti
- tas–ya tas–yā–ca–lāṃ śrad–dhāṃ 8 syllables tas-ya tas-yaa-cha-laam shrad-dhaam
- tā–me–va vi–da–dhām–ya–ham || 7-21 8 syllables taa-me-va vi-da-dhaam-ya-ham
How to read this
How to chant: each line is one pāda (quarter-verse); chant it in one breath. The hyphen (-) divides the syllables, inside a word and across a sandhi join, so every pāda shows its 8 syllables (11 in triṣṭubh verses). A consonant cluster is divided after its first consonant (kar-ma, vet-ti): that syllable is held longer. Mark above a syllable: guru, long (two beats); laghu, short (one beat). | closes the half-verse, || the verse; the number is the syllable count of the pāda.
Deeper Explanation – Chapter 7 Verse 21
Context
Krishna reveals his role in every form of worship (continuing 7.20).
Meaning
The Divine respects every sincere faith. Whatever deity or form a person worships with śraddhā, faith, the Divine makes that faith acala, steady and firm. Behind all worship, the one Supreme supports the devotee’s faith.
This is a verse of great tolerance. The Divine does not compete with other forms of worship; it nourishes faith wherever it is sincere. This invites us to respect others’ paths and to see the one Divine working through many forms.
In Practice
Show respect today for a form of faith or worship different from your own, remembering that the same Divine supports it.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 7: Jnana Vijnana Yoga (Knowledge and Realisation). Read the chapter overview, browse every verse of the Gita, or return to the chapter-by-chapter guide. For a reading plan, see how to study the Bhagavad Gita and the study resources.