03 February 2025 Verse IX-23 of the Bhagavad Gita states: “Ye’pyanya-devatā-bhaktā yajante śraddhayānvitāḥ Te’pi mām eva kaunteya yajantyavidhi-pūrvakam” Swami Paramarthananda explains this verse by emphasizing that Krishna acknowledges even those who worship other deities with faith as ultimately worshipping Him alone. While such worship is considered avidhi-pūrvakam, meaning it does not align with the highest scriptural injunctions, worshipping a personal deity with devotion is better than no worship at all, as it at least aligns the mind with the divine.