yo yo yāṁ yāṁ tanuṁ bhaktaḥ śhraddhayārchitum ichchhati
tasya tasyāchalāṁ śhraddhāṁ tām eva vidadhāmyaham
yaḥ yaḥ — whoever;
yām yām — whichever;
tanum — form;
bhaktaḥ — devotee;
śhraddhayā — with faith;
architum — to worship;
ichchhati — desires;
tasya tasya — to him;
achalām — steady;
śhraddhām — faith;
tām — in that;
eva — certainly;
vidadhāmi — bestow;
aham — I
This verse explains how God respects the choices of every person and helps them in their spiritual journey. Everyone has the freedom to choose what they want to believe in and who they want to worship, whether it’s a particular God or a demigod, which can be seen as a lesser divine being associated with certain aspects of life, like wealth, health, or success.
When someone feels strongly about worshiping a specific deity, God, who is known as the Supersoul, supports that choice. He's present in everyone's heart, kind of like an inner guide. Imagine you really want to pursue a specific goal or follow a particular path; if it’s genuine and sincere, God helps solidify your faith in that direction. It’s as if He gives you the confidence and determination to follow your choice.
Now, one might wonder why God allows people to seek out material pleasures or needs through these different forms of worship. Isn’t God powerful enough to just guide everyone toward Him directly? The answer is that true independence means that people must have the freedom to choose for themselves. If God forced everyone to worship only Him, it would take away that freedom. He wants people to learn, grow, and discover what truly brings them happiness.
However, while God respects our choices, He also offers guidance throughout our lives. The teachings in the Bhagavad-Gita encourage people to ultimately surrender to Him because true happiness doesn’t come from temporary material pleasures or the worship of lesser beings. It comes from building a strong relationship with the Supreme. By surrendering to God, people can find lasting happiness and peace, beyond the ups and downs of material life.
In simpler terms, think of it this way: If you let your child make their own choices about what they want to eat or where they want to go, that doesn’t mean you don’t love them or want to help them. You’re letting them learn, and you are there to support them. Similarly, God is always there, ready to help everyone fulfill their desires but also hoping they will realize that the best choice is to turn to Him for true fulfillment.