Those who are intelligent, budha, complete in knowledge. So after knowing Kṛṣṇa, vāsudevaḥ sarvam iti (BG 7.19), after becoming mahātmā, sa mahātmā sudurlabhaḥ, bhajante. Mahātmanas tu māṁ pārtha daiviṁ prakṛtim āśritaḥ bhajanty ananya-manaso (BG 9.13). Without any deviation; ekanta.
So if you take to this Kṛṣṇa consciousness without any deviation, then . . . there are other demigods; that is admitted. But Kṛṣṇa is the root.
- yathā taror mūla-niṣecaṇena
- tṛpyanti tat-skandha-bhujopaśākhāḥ
- yathā prāṇopahārāc ca yathendriyānāṁ
- tathā sarvārhanam acyutejya
- (SB 4.31.14)
You don't require to worship any other demigods. All demigods, they're our respectable. We offer all respect. A Vaiṣṇava offers respect even to an ant, and why not these demigods? That is another thing. But the kṛṣṇa-bhakta, he knows that Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme; the other demigods, they're all subordinate. Kṛṣṇa also says in the Bhagavad-gītā, kāmais tais tair hṛta-jñānāḥ prapadyante 'nya-devatāḥ (BG 7.20). There is no need.
Just like if you pour water on the root of a tree, the branches, the twigs, the flowers and leaves, they all become nourished, similarly, by worshiping Kṛṣṇa you'll satisfy all the demigods. You don't require to satisfy everyone. This is the statement in all śāstras.
- devarṣi-bhūtāpta-nṛṇāṁ pitṛṇāṁ
- na kiṅkaro nāyam ṛṇī ca rājan
- sarvātmanā yaḥ śaraṇaṁ śaraṇyaṁ
- gato mukundaṁ parihṛtya kārtam
- (SB 11.5.41)
We are indebted to so many persons—devatās, deva, ṛṣi, devarṣi; bhūta, living entities; nṛṇām, human society. Devarṣi-bhūtāpta: our family men, our friends. Devarṣi-bhūtāpta-nṛṇāṁ pitṛṇām (SB 11.5.41). Pitṛloka, pitṛ-piṇḍa. We are indebted in so many ways. It is very difficult to liquidate all these debts. It is very difficult. But if one surrenders to Kṛṣṇa, sarvātmanā yaḥ śaraṇaṁ śaraṇyaṁ gato mukundam . . . if one has surrendered fully to Mukunda, parihṛtya kārtam . . . there are so many duties.
Therefore Kṛṣṇa assures that, "If you surrender to Me . . ." If you think that you have not worshiped others, and if you are sinful thereby, Kṛṣṇa says, mā śucaḥ, ahaṁ tvāṁ sarva-pāpebhyo mokṣayiṣyāmi (BG 18.66): "I shall give you protection."