One way to look at such verses is to remember that scripture is kalpataru. If it is to fulfill the desires of everyone, then it needs to fulfill even the desires of those who wish to become one with God. Just as there are verses that support the pious materialism that inspires people to perform rituals leading them toward svarga, there are also verses that are meant to facilitate the beliefs and aspirations of those who seek to become one with the Infinite.
While it is possible to creatively interpret such verses so that they don’t actually say what they literally say, going down that track is not hazard-free. Once we start giving scripture a meaning that aligns with our philosophy, we put ourselves on weak ground when exponents of other philosophies do the same.
After some three decades of practicing bhakti, my faith in Krishna is strong enough that seeing a verse that doesn’t seem to support our tradition’s understanding of Krishna doesn’t make me insecure. While it is always possible to explain every verse in a way that is compatible with the Bhakti-Vedanta tradition, I don’t think that is necessary. I don’t feel the need to do it.
I accept that scripture gives room for other schools of thought, just as the Bhagavad-gita (7.20) says that it is Krishna who strengthens the faith in the devatas of those with material aspirations.
It is enough to establish that the Gita and the Bhagavatam, for example, are bhakti-conclusive without needing to establish that they are bhakti-exclusive. That is, the overall teaching of scripture points strongly toward a personalist conclusion without requiring that every single verse state that conclusion.
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09.05 And yet everything that is created does not rest in Me. Behold My mystic opulence! Although I am the maintainer of all living entities and although I am everywhere, I am not a part of this cosmic manifestation, for My Self is the very source of creation.
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