20. Others again, deprived of discrimination by this or that desire, following this or that rite, devote themselves to other gods, led by their own natures.

21. Whatsoever form any devotee seeks to worship with Shraddha,--that Shraddha of his do I make unwavering.

22. Endued with that Shraddha, he engages in the worship of that, and from it, gains his desires,--these being verily dispensed by Me alone.

23. But the fruit (accruing) to these men of little understanding is limited. The worshippers of the Devas go to the Devas; My devotees too come to me.

24. The foolish regard Me, the un-manifested, as come into manifestation, not knowing My supreme state,--immutable and transcendental.

25. Veiled by the illusion born of the congress of the Gunas, I am not manifest to all. This deluded world knows Me not, the Unborn, the Immutable.

26. I know, O Arjuna, the beings of the whole past, and the present, and the future, but Me none knoweth.

27. By the delusion of the pairs of opposites, arising from desire and aversion, O descendant of Bharata, all beings fall into delusion at birth, O scorcher of foes.

28. Those men of virtuous deeds, whose sin has come to an end,--they, freed from the delusion of the pairs of opposites, worship Me with firm resolve.

29. Those who strive for freedom from old age and death, taking refuge in Me, they know. Brahman, the whole of Adhyatma, and Karma in its entirety.

30. Those who know Me with the Adhibhuta, the Adhidaiva, and the Adhiyajna, (continue to) know Me even at the time of death, steadfast in mind.

The end of the seventh chapter, designated THE WAY OF KNOWLEDGE WITH REALISATION.

Footnotes

^163:1 Fully, i.e., possessed of infinite greatness, strength, power, grace, and other infinite attributes.

^164:3 The Blessed: Siddhanam--this word literally means the perfected ones--but here it means only those who having acquired good Karma in a past incarnation, strive for freedom in this life.