यान्ति देवव्रता देवान्पितॄन्यान्ति पितृव्रताः । भूतानि यान्ति भूतेज्या यान्ति मद्याजिनोऽपि माम् ॥
yānti devavratā devānpitṝnyānti pitṛvratāḥ | bhūtāni yānti bhūtejyā yānti madyājino'pi mām ||
Translation
The worshipers of the gods go to the gods. The worshipers of the ancestors go to the ancestors. The worshipers of spirits go to the spirits. But My worshipers come to Me.
Interpretation
The principle stated simply: you go where you worship. This is not arbitrary judgment but the natural law of consciousness: the mind goes where its deepest loyalty lies. Deva-vratas go to the devas (temporary, exalted destinations). Ancestor-worshipers join the ancestors. Spirit-worshipers merge with spirits. But those who worship Me (mad-yajinah) come to Me (mam). The Divine is the only destination that is final and eternal — all others, however beautiful, are temporary resting places on the cosmic journey.