antavat tu phalaṁ teṣhāṁ tad bhavatyalpa-medhasām
devān deva-yajo yānti mad-bhaktā yānti mām api
anta-vat — perishable;
tu — but;
phalam — fruit;
teṣhām — by them;
tat — that;
bhavati — is;
alpa-medhasām — people of small understanding;
devān — to the celestial gods;
deva-yajaḥ — the worshipers of the celestial gods;
yānti — go;
mat — my;
bhaktāḥ — devotees;
yānti — go;
mām — to me;
api — whereas
In this verse, the speaker talks about two groups of people: those who worship demigods and those who are true devotees of the Supreme Lord. Let’s break it down step by step.
1. **Who are the demigods?** The term 'demigod' refers to various celestial beings or gods that people might worship. For example, people can worship the sun, the moon, or gods like Indra, who is known as the king of the gods in Hinduism. These demigods have specific roles or powers, and many people turn to them when they want help or blessings.
2. **Worship of demigods:** When the verse talks about 'men of small intelligence,' it means that these individuals may not fully understand the bigger picture of spiritual life. They might think that by worshiping these demigods, they'll gain specific benefits or achieve their desires. For instance, someone might worship the sun to gain good health or prosperity. The verse mentions that because the fruits or results of worshiping demigods are 'limited and temporary,' it means that while you may get what you ask for—like good health or success—it won’t last forever. This is similar to receiving a temporary gift; it might bring joy, but eventually, it will fade away.
3. **What happens when you worship demigods?** According to this verse, worshippers of demigods will go to their specific realms or planets. So if someone worships the sun, they will go to the sun's realm, and if they worship the moon god, they will reach the moon. This can be compared to going to a party at a friend's house because you like that friend. But every party has its time limit and eventually ends, and once the party is over, you have to return home.
4. **Contrast with true devotion:** Now, the speaker presents a contrasting group, the true devotees of the Supreme Lord. This group goes beyond merely seeking superficial benefits. They are deeply devoted and seek a connection with the Supreme Lord, the source of everything. Their faith and love for the Supreme Lord give them access to something much greater than just temporary rewards—they aim for the 'supreme planet' or eternal realization of God. This can be thought of as having a deeper friendship where you don’t just want occasional favors but want to build a lasting relationship.
5. **Conclusion:** Therefore, this verse teaches us about the differences between seeking temporary benefits from worshiping demigods and striving for a true connection with the Supreme Lord. It encourages people to reflect on their spiritual practices and suggests that genuine devotion leads to lasting fulfillment and a deeper spiritual journey, rather than just chasing after temporary gains.
In essence, while worshiping demigods might lead to reaching certain celestial places, true devotion to the Supreme Lord is what allows one to access the ultimate spiritual destination.