Bhagavad Gita Chapter 7, Verse 20

कामैस्तैस्तैर्हृतज्ञानाः प्रपद्यन्तेऽन्यदेवताः | तं तं नियममास्थाय प्रकृत्या नियताः स्वया ||

kāmais tais tair hṛta-jñānāḥ prapadyante 'nya-devataḥ taṁ taṁ niyamam āsthāya prakṛtyā niyatāḥ svayā

Those whose knowledge has been carried away by material desires surrender to other gods. Following their own nature, they worship the deities, practicing rituals meant to propitiate these celestial personalities.

Krishna describes those who worship other gods instead of Him. 'Kāmais tais tair hṛta-jñānāḥ'—those whose knowledge has been carried away by material desires. 'Prapadyante 'nya-devataḥ'—they surrender to other gods. 'Taṁ taṁ niyamam āsthāya prakṛtyā niyatāḥ svayā'—following their own nature, they worship the deities. This verse explains why people worship other gods—their knowledge is stolen by material desires, so they seek material benefits from lesser deities. They're bound by their own nature, following material desires rather than seeking the Supreme. This connects to verse 7.15's teaching about those whose knowledge is stolen and prepares for verses 7.21-7.22 where Krishna will describe how He grants their desires.