[What’s lacking if those who perform sacrifices end up conceiving the Divine as the multiplicity of deities?] They don’t know that it is me whom they are worshiping when they are appeasing various deities: when they study the Vedas, drink the soma juice, become cleansed of sins, perform sacrifices to the gods, seek heaven as their goal, attain purity, reach the world of Indra, and enjoy celestial god-like pleasures (20).

[What’s wrong with such an attainment?] It’s temporary — though they enjoy huge pleasures in heaven, they fall back to earth once their pious credits are exhausted; thus, those who follow the three Vedas and desire to fulfill their [worldly] desires stay in the state of going and coming (21). 

[How can they attain something more enduring?] By worshiping me — for those who keep their thoughts on me without deviating and those who serve me without wavering, I become the provider of what they don’t have and the protector of what they have (22). 

[But when you are the source of everything including all the gods, is their worship entirely disconnected from you?] People who faithfully worship the gods also worship me, Arjuna — but they do so in ignorance (23).

[What are they ignorant of?] My supreme position; I am undoubtedly the enjoyer and master of all sacrifices — those who don’t recognize me in truth fall down (24).

[When the worshipers of the gods attain heaven, why are they considered fallen?] Because worship of any being other than me takes the worshiper to only a temporary destination, be it the realm of the gods attained by those who worship the gods; the realm of ancestors attained by those who worship the ancestors; or the realm of ghosts attained by those who worship ghosts — but those who worship me attain my realm which alone is eternal (25).