Bhagavad Gita · Jnana Vijnana YogaChapter 7, Shloka 23 (7.23)
Original Sanskrit · श्रीभगवान्
अन्तवत् तु फलं तेषां तद् भवत्यल्पमेधसाम्
देवान् देवयजो यान्ति मद्भक्ता यान्ति मामपि
॥ 7.23 ॥
antavat tu phalaṃ teṣāṃ tad bhavatyalpamedhasām
devān devayajo yānti madbhaktā yānti māmapi
Translation
"But the fruit of those of limited understanding is perishable; the worshippers of the devas go to the devas, and my devotees come to me."
Interpretation
Shankaracharya — compassion. Antavat vināśi tu phalaṃ; mad-bhaktā yānti mām api — my devotees attain me; evaṃ samāne api āyāse mām eva na prapadyante ananta-phalāya, aho khalu kaṣṭaṃ vartante ity anukrośaṃ darśayati bhagavān — even though the effort is the same, people do not take refuge in me for the infinite fruit — "ah, how much suffering they are in!" — here the Lord shows compassion.
Acharya Ramanuja. Indrādayo hi paricchinna-bhogāḥ parimita-kāla-vartinaś ca — the enjoyments of Indra and the others are limited, and their time is limited; tataḥ tat-sāyujyaṃ prāptāḥ taiḥ saha pracyavante — and their worshippers fall along with them. Mad-bhaktā api teṣām eva karmaṇāṃ mad-ārādhana-rūpatāṃ jñātvā … mām eva prāpnuvanti na ca punar nivartante — my devotees perform the same actions, but knowing them to be worship of me, and giving up attachment to limited fruits, they attain me and do not return (8.16).
Important (Ramanuja): The same action, a different outlook — that is the difference.
AI-assisted draft translation — under review.