GitaChapter 7Verse 21

Gita 7.21

Jnana Vijnana Yoga

यो यो यां यां तनुं भक्तः श्रद्धयार्चितुमिच्छति । तस्य तस्याचलां श्रद्धां तामेव विदधाम्यहम् ॥

yo yo yāṁ yāṁ tanuṁ bhaktaḥ śraddhayārcitum icchati tasya tasyācalāṁ śraddhāṁ tām eva vidadhāmy aham

In essence: Whatever form you choose to worship with sincerity, Krishna Himself strengthens that very faith.

A conversation between a seeker and guide to help you feel this verse deeply

Sadhak-Guru Dialogue

Sadhak: "Guruji, this verse seems to contradict the previous one. First Krishna criticizes worship of other deities, now He says He supports it?"

Guru: "There's no contradiction. The previous verse described desire-driven worship with limited vision. This verse describes something else—sincere faith, śraddhā. Krishna supports all sincere reaching toward the divine."

Sadhak: "So if I worship Shiva or the goddess with true faith, Krishna is not jealous?"

Guru: "Jealous? He says He personally makes that faith steady! The infinite has no ego to be threatened by which name you call it."

Sadhak: "But then why does any specific path matter? Why not worship anything?"

Guru: "Faith must be sincere—śraddhayā. You can't genuinely worship something you don't believe in. The form must resonate with your heart. Krishna supports whatever genuinely moves you toward the sacred."

Sadhak: "Does this mean all religions are equally true?"

Guru: "It means all sincere devotion is real devotion. The theological frameworks may differ, but when a heart truly reaches toward the infinite, it touches the infinite. Krishna claims to be the one who strengthens that touch."

Sadhak: "This is very different from what I heard growing up—that our way is the only right way."

Guru: "Many teachers emphasize exclusivity to strengthen commitment to a path. There's value in that. But Krishna here reveals the larger truth: He is not bound by human categories."

Sadhak: "So a devotee of Christ or Allah is also reaching Krishna without knowing it?"

Guru: "Be careful with such statements—they can sound arrogant to those devotees. Better to say: whatever name we give the ultimate, the ultimate responds to sincere seeking. Krishna uses 'I' but He is speaking as that ultimate, not as a competing deity."

Sadhak: "Then why should I follow the Gita at all? Why not any path?"

Guru: "Follow what opens your heart. The Gita opened yours, which is why you're here. But never think your doorway is the only doorway. Walk through yours while honoring all doors."

Did this resonate with you? Share it with someone who needs to hear this.

🌅 Daily Practice

🌅 Morning

In your morning practice, consciously invoke the presence that supports ALL sincere seekers—including you. Feel yourself part of a vast human family reaching toward the sacred through countless forms. Let this expand your sense of belonging.

☀️ Daytime

When you encounter someone of a different faith tradition, silently acknowledge: 'The same presence that strengthens my faith strengthens theirs.' Notice how this changes your interaction—from tolerance to genuine respect.

🌙 Evening

Reflect: Is my faith steady today, or did it waver? If it was steady despite challenges, recognize this stability as a gift from the infinite presence. If it wavered, ask not for a stronger grip on belief, but for the grace of unwavering trust.

Common Questions

If Krishna supports all forms of worship, does that mean the Bhagavad Gita teaches religious relativism?
The Gita teaches that sincere devotion is always honored, but it also indicates that different paths lead to different results (as the next verses will show). Supporting all faith is not the same as saying all paths have identical outcomes. A patient parent supports a child's interest whether they choose music or medicine, while understanding these lead to different lives. Krishna's support is unconditional; the destinations differ based on what we're ultimately seeking.
How can Krishna strengthen faith in deities that might not actually exist?
From the Gita's perspective, all forms are manifestations of the one reality—Krishna/Brahman. The 'existence' of a deity is not about a separate being somewhere but about the reality behind the form. When someone worships Athena or Odin with genuine devotion, they're touching the same infinite through that cultural doorway. Krishna strengthening such faith means the infinite responds to the sincere heart, regardless of the name and form used to approach it.
Doesn't this verse undermine the importance of finding the 'true' teaching or guru?
Not at all. While Krishna supports all sincere faith, the next verses will show that different paths yield different fruits. A sincere but limited approach gives sincere but limited results. Finding deeper teaching helps transform your approach from transaction to union, from wanting things from God to wanting only God. The 'right' guru or teaching is the one that expands your seeking from the finite to the infinite.