In Bhagavad Gita 7.23, Krishna says the fruits gained by people of little understanding are temporary; worshippers of the gods go to the gods, but his devotees come to him.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
अन्तवत्तु फलं तेषां
तद्भवत्यल्पमेधसाम्
देवान्देवयजो यान्ति
मद्भक्ता यान्ति मामपि ॥ ७-२३ ॥
antavattu phalaṃ teṣāṃ
tadbhavatyalpamedhasām
devāndevayajo yānti
madbhaktā yānti māmapi
English transliteration antavattu phalam teshaam
tadbhavatyalpamedhasaam
devaandevayajo yaanti
madbhaktaa yaanti maamapi ॥ 7.23 ॥
Translation / Meaning
But the fruit gained by these people of small understanding is temporary. Worshippers of the gods go to the gods; My devotees come to Me.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| अन्तवत् antavat | temporary, having an end |
| तु tu | but |
| फलम् phalam | fruit |
| तेषाम् teṣām | of them |
| तत् tat | that |
| भवति bhavati | is |
| अल्पमेधसाम् alpamedhasām | of small understanding alpa (small) + medhasām (understanding) |
| देवान् devān | to the gods |
| देवयजः devayajaḥ | worshippers of the gods deva (gods) + yajaḥ (worshippers) |
| यान्ति yānti | go |
| मद्भक्ताः madbhaktāḥ | My devotees |
| यान्ति yānti | go |
| माम् mām | to Me |
| अपि api | indeed |
Word-wise Chanting
- an–ta–vat–tu pha–laṃ te–ṣāṃ 8 syllables an-ta-vat-tu pha-lam te-shaam
- tad–bha–vat–yal–pa–me–dha–sām | 8 syllables tad-bha-vat-yal-pa-me-dha-saam
- de–vān–de–va–ya–jo yān–ti 8 syllables de-vaan-de-va-ya-jo yaan-ti
- mad–bhak–tā yān–ti mā–ma–pi || 7-23 8 syllables mad-bhak-taa yaan-ti maa-ma-pi
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 23
Context
Krishna completes his explanation of the worship of other deities (7.20–7.23).
Meaning
The fruits of desire-driven worship are antavat, they come to an end. Those who worship particular gods reach those gods and their limited realms. But Krishna’s devotees, who seek the Supreme itself, come to him, the infinite and eternal. The goal determines the result.
This verse encourages us to aim high. If we seek limited results, we receive limited results. If we seek the infinite, we reach the infinite. The quality of our aspiration shapes our destiny.
In Practice
Examine the deepest goal of your spiritual life. Is it a limited result or the infinite itself? Let your aspiration reach higher.
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.