7.20 kAmais thais thair hruthagyAna:

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Chapter 7

<< Chapter 7 verse 19

SlOkam – Original

kAmais thais thair hruthagyAna: prapadhyanthE’nya-dhEvathA: |
tham tham niyamam AsthAya prakruthyA niyathA: svayA ||

word-by-word meaning

(Many crores of people in this world)
svayA prakruthyA – their time-immemorial inclinations
niyathA: – being together always
thai: thai: – those (inclinations)
kAmai: – worldly objects (which are of the three types of qualities – sathva, rajas, thamas)
hrutha gyAnA: – with stolen knowledge (about me)
(to acquire those objects)
anya dhEvathA: – dhEvathAs other than me
tham tham niyamam AsthAya – through the processes which bring pleasure to those dhEvathAs
prapadhyanthE – surrender unto them and worship them

Simple Translation

(Many crores of people in this world) Due to being together always with their time-immemorial inclinations towards worldly objects (which are of the three types of qualities – sathva, rajas, thamas), with stolen knowledge (about me) [i.e., without knowledge about me] surrender unto the dhEvathAs other than me and worship them through the processes which bring pleasure to those dhEvathAs to acquire those objects.

Rendering based on ALkoNdavilli gOvindhAchArya swAmy’s English translation of gIthA bhAshyam

‘Deprived of knowledge by various desires, and impelled by nature,[1. These are tendencies, or natural instincts derived from habits cultivated in prior lives. These old reminiscences influence man.] men take to worship other divinities (devatās), imposing on themselves appropriate obligations therefor.'[2. Obligations are the course of conduct one will have to adopt in order to propitiate, and ingratiate oneself into the graces of any of the lower gods of his choice.]

All worldly people indeed are impelled by their material inclinations. They are environed by such influences, it is meant. The material inclinations or impulses are the tendencies or instincts of old sins, in relation to guṇa-impregnate objects. These tendencies give birth to fresh longings for guṇa-sated things. And these desires rob people of their knowledge (or understanding) concerning Me. In order to gain their (material) desires, they resort to other lower deities different from Me, like the ordinary deity Indra etc. And observing such ritualistic rules and regulations as are laid down (in Śāstras), in order to propitiate such lower divinities, they place faith in them, and worship them.

>> Chapter 7 verse 21

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