Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 7, Verse 23

अन्तवत्तु फलं तेषां तद्भवत्यल्पमेधसाम् । देवान्देवयजो यान्ति मद्भक्ता यान्ति मामपि

antavattu phalaṃ teṣāṃ tadbhavatyalpamedhasām | devāndevayajo yānti madbhaktā yānti māmapi

Translation

That result indeed is finite, (which accrues) to those men of small intellect. Worshippers of Gods (Devatās) go to Gods (Devatās); My devotees come unto Me.

— Alladi Mahadeva Sastri

Word meanings

antavat

with an end

tu

indeed

phalam

the fruit

teṣām

of them

tat

that

bhavati

is

alpamedhasām

small, intelligence, whose, (to) them

devān

to the gods

devayajaḥ

gods, worship, thus

yānti

go

madbhaktāḥ

my, devotees

yānti

go

mām

to me

api

also

Śaṅkarācārya's commentary

Though there is the same amount of exertion (in the two kinds of worship), people do not resort to Me so that they may attain infinite results. Alas! it is very miserable. — Thus does the Lord express His regret.