24. cham hi sarvayajnanam
bhoktã ca prabhur eva ca
na tu mam abhijc nanti
tattvena 'tag cyavanti te
(24) For I am the enjoyer and lord of all sacrifices. But these men do not know Me in My true nature and so they fall.
25. yanti devavrata devan
pitrn yanti pitrvratah
bhutani yanti bhutejya
yanti madyajino 'pi mam
(25) Worshipers of the gods go to the gods, worshipers of the manes go to the manes, sacrifices of the spirits go to the spirits and those who sacrifice to Me come to Me
The shining gods, the spirits of the dead and the spirits in the psychic world all happen to be worshipped by men in different stages of development but they are all limited forms of the Supreme and cannot give the aspiring soul the peace that is beyond all understanding. The result of worship is assimilation to the form worshipped and these limited forms give limited results. No devotion fails of its highest reward. The lesser ones bring lesser rewards while devotion to the Supreme brings the supreme reward. All sincere religious devotion is a seeking after the Supreme Godhead.
Devotion and Its Effects
26. pattrarh puspam phalam toyam
yo me bhaktya prayacchati
tad aham bhaktyupahrtam
asnami prayatatmanah
(26) Whosoever offers to Me with devotion a leaf, a flower, a fruit, or water, that offering of love, of the pure of heart I accept
However poor the offering, if it is made with love and earnestness, it is acceptable to the Lord The way to the Highest is not by way of subtle metaphysics or complicated ritual. It is by sheer self-giving, which is symbolized by the offer of a leaf, a flower, a fruit or water. What is necessary is a devoted heart.
27. yat karosi yad asnasi
yaj juhosi dadasi yat
yat tapasyasi kaunteya
tat kurusva madarpanam
(27) Whatever thou doest, whatever thou eatest, whatever thou offerest, whatever thou givest away, whatever aus-
terities thou dost practise—do that, 0 Son of Kunti (Arjuna), as an offering to Me Self-giving results in the consecration of all acts to God. The tide of the common tasks of daily life must flow through t' worship of God. Love of God is not an escape from the harshness of life but a dedication for service. Karmarnarga or the way of works which starts with the duty of performance of prescribed rites concludes with the position that all tasks are sanctified when done with disinterestedness and dedication.
"My self is Thy self, my understanding is Parvati (Siva's wife), my life functions are my comrades, the body is my home, my worship is the varied enjoyment of the sense objects, my sleep is the condition of concentration. My steps are movements round the temple and all utterances are prayers. Whatever act is done by me, every one of them, 0 Lord, is a worship of Thee.[1] If
you do whatever you have to do in a spirit of dedication, it is God's worship; nothing separate need be done.[2]
