Bhagavad-Gita: Chapter 9, Verse 24

Rudra Vaisnava Sampradaya:

Visnuswami

Sridhara Swami's Commentary

As all the demigods verily comprise the transcendental body of the Supreme Lord Krishna then it is natural that He is the enjoyer of everything offered to them being the sole lord of all worship and propitiation and the ultimate bestower of all rewards. The worshippers of the demigods are ignorant of these facts and hence they are na tu mam abhijanam meaning unable to know Him the Supreme Lord thus they fall back into mortal existence and are subject to birth, old age, disease and death. But those who recognise the Supreme Lord as the inner ruler within all the demigods and worship Him do not return to mortal existence.

Brahma Vaisnava Sampradaya:

Madhvacarya

Madhvacarya's Commentary

Although the Supreme Lord Krishna is the object of all propitiation and worship there is no relation or reciprocation by Him if it is not within the parampara or authorised disciplic succession performed according to the prescribed injunctions of the Vedic scriptures.

Sri Vaisnava Sampradaya:

Ramanuja

Ramanuja's Commentary

Lord Krishna speaks the words prabhur eva ca meaning that He alone is the sole bestower of rewards in every respect. Amazingly fascinating it is that humans who engage in the very selfsame activities of propitiation and worship are differentiated and classified by the simple difference of the intention and motive by which it was performed. Some performers of activities merit paltry, minimal results such as reaching the heavenly planets and when there allotment of time there has expired they have to start all over again. While other performers of the same activities merit unlimited and transcendental eternal results such as atma tattva or realisation of the soul and never lose it ever as they attain moksa or liberation from material existence.

Kumara Vaisnava Sampradaya:

Nimbaditya

Kesava Kasmiri's Commentary

Now Lord Krishna explains the maximum rewards the worshippers of the demigods get and why it is avidi-puvakam or not in accordance with the ordinances of the Vedic scriptures. As the Supreme Lord is paramatma or the Supreme Soul within all the demigods and all living entities as well it is He who is the direct recipient of all the offerings and worship to them. He alone solely bestows the rewards of propitiation and worship back down through the demigods to which it was offered who after taking their share offer it to their votaries. Those who are motivated by selfish desires are devoid of bhakti or loving devotional service and have no possibility of knowing the Supreme Lord. For their efforts the worshippers of the demigods eventually ascend to the heavenly planets where at the exhaustion of their merit they fall back down to the worlds of mortals by the descending path of dhumah or smoke as directed by a demigod from Pitriloka the realm of the forefathers. But those who worship the Supreme Lord Krishna or any of His authorised incarnations and expansions as revealed in Vedic scriptures never return to material existence and the world of mortals.