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This question is already answered here and here . Quoting some verses from the above mentioned answers.

So, Lord is both Sakara (with form) and Nirakara (without form). You can worship Lord in Sakara or mediatate on Him in Nirakara. Indeed, Lord is everything. He is also Saguna (with attributes) and Nirguna (without attributes).

You can read this answer to know how Vedas are preserved. However, some portions of Smriti got interpolated over the vast period of time. But you get essence of Hinduism by reading translations of commentaries of knowledgeable Acharyas.

This question is already answered here and here . Quoting some verses from the above mentioned answers.

So, Lord is both Sakara (with form) and Nirakara (without form). You can worship Lord in Sakara or mediatate on Him in Nirakara. Indeed, Lord is everything. He is also Saguna (with attributes) and Nirguna (without attributes).

You can read this answer to know how Vedas are preserved. However, some portions of Smriti got interpolated over the vast period of time. But you get essence of Hinduism by reading translations of commentaries of knowledgeable Acharyas.

To understand Hinduism properly, first you should have some knowledge about Sanskrit Language or Veda Bhasha. Sanskrit is language of Attributes. It doesn't have proper nouns. Krishna is named for person who is "black". Shiva is named for a person who is "auspicious". But a person has many attributes. You can call a person by any of his attributes. But Lord or Parabrahma has infinite attributes. So, Parabrahma has infinte names. Unlike other languages, a Sanskrit name gives some info or qualities a person possess. So, if you come across a name "Shiva" in scripture, you should understand that person has a attribute "auspiciousness" besides other additional attributes.

My intention is not to boast Sanskrit language, but to affirm that Sanskrit language is eternal and so the language of Vedas. Sanskrit has no need to evolve in vocabulary like other languages, though there may be changes in grammar.

Vedas are eternal scriptures and they are valid all times. It doesn't matter which yuga you live or which epoch (Kalpa) you live or in which Loka you dwell. Vedas are infallible truth where each and everything can be verifiable. This is what Sri Swami Prabhavanada says in the book Spiritual heritage of India,

The Rishis who have gone into deep Tapsya heard them (in transcendental consciousness) . We may not understand them properly and verify all their contents by our limited consciousness. Thus we need to study them under a knowledgeable Guru.

Now coming to your question, you main question is about idol worship. No scripture explicitly rejected idol worship, including Vedas. Indeed, they are not just idols. They have prana in them. We invite Lord or Consciousness into them with Mantras. This process is called Prana Pratishta. Those who condemn idol worship are just half baked Jivas. However, we don't need to invite Lord into Swayambhu (self manifested) murtis, such as Tirupati Venkateswara and Jyotirlingas of Shiva.

Refer introduction of the above linked page to know summary of first 8 verses. This verse says both Meditation and karma are important. Indeed verses 9 to 18 give emphasis for both Karma and Upāsanā.

Griffith also uses the words Sambhuti and Asambhuti in his translation. So, Sambhuti and Asambhuti are manifested and unmanifested and this verse says one must worship both states of Supreme Brahman.

The translation in your question says it is bad to "worship natural things". But on the other hand, we see divinity in everything. This divinity can be explained with simple logic as said by Swami Krishnananda in his book "lessons on upanishads". I don't quote it here as this will make answer lengthy.

Verse 32.3 from Vajasaneyi Samhita of Shukla Yajurveda with traslation of Griffith

This verse says about formless and unmanifested aspect. As we know, Brahman is manifested and unmanifested and at the same time He has form and He is formless.

Krishna Paramatma never explicitly rejected idol worship in Bhagavad Gita. I think translations you come across were given by some Hindu haters or by haters of idol worship (to uphold their own faith).

Lord says the following in Bhagavdgita 7.20.

Adishankara commentary says (translated A Mahadeva Sastri)

Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 2.3.1 says

Adishankara says (translated by Swami Madhavananda)

This is what Lord says in 7.24

Sri Adishankaracharya explains this verses as follows (translated by A Mahadeva Sastry)

Here Krishna never condemns any worship of Saguna form or idol worship. He just says that fools and ignorant people do not know his higher nature which is immutable and unsurpassed. Here Krishna says about His highest nature but this doesn't mean that Lord won't descend by donning Physical body. Lord has both manifested and unmanifested form. He says only few persons know His true form by going into transcendental consciousness. Lord says His true nature at highest level was unborn and imperishable. This is what Adishankaracharya says,

So, finally to know proper meaning of Hindu Scriptures either read them in Sanskrit or in any language with commentaries of knowledgable Acharya or learn them under a knowledgable Guru.

To understand Hinduism properly, first you should have some knowledge about Sanskrit Language or Veda Bhasha. Sanskrit is language of Attributes. It doesn't have proper nouns. Krishna is named for person who is "black". Shiva is named for a person who is "auspicious". But a person has many attributes. You can call a person by any of his attributes. But Lord or Parabrahma has infinite attributes. So, Parabrahma has infinte names. Unlike other languages, a Sanskrit name gives some info or qualities a person possess. So, if you come across a name "Shiva" in scripture, you should understand that person has an attribute "auspiciousness" besides other additional attributes.

My intention is not to boast Sanskrit language, but to affirm that Sanskrit language is eternal and so the language of Vedas (Veda Bhasha). Sanskrit has no need to evolve in vocabulary like other languages, though there may be changes in grammar.

Vedas are eternal scriptures and they are valid for all times. It doesn't matter which yuga you live or which epoch (Kalpa) you live or in which Loka you dwell. Vedas are infallible truths where each and everything can be verifiable. This is what Sri Swami Prabhavanada says in the book Spiritual heritage of India,

The Rishis who have gone into deep Tapsya heard them (in transcendental consciousness) . We may not understand them properly and verify all their contents by our limited consciousness. Thus, we need to study them under a knowledgeable Guru (preceptor).

Now coming to your question, you main question is about idol worship. No scripture explicitly rejects idol worship, including Vedas. Indeed, they are not just idols. They have prana in them. We invite Lord or Consciousness into them with Mantras. This process is called Prana Pratishta. Those who condemn idol worship are just half baked Jivas. However, we don't need to invite Lord into Swayambhu (self manifested) murtis, such as Tirupati Venkateswara and Jyotirlingas of Shiva.

Refer introduction section of the this page to know summary of first 8 verses. This verse says both Meditation and karma are important. Indeed, verses 9 to 18 give emphasis for both Karma and Upāsanā.

Griffith also uses the words "Sambhuti" and "Asambhuti" in his translation. So, Sambhuti and Asambhuti are manifested and unmanifested and this verse says one must worship both states of Supreme Brahman.

The translation in your question says it is bad to "worship natural things". But on the other hand, we see divinity in everything. This divinity can be explained with simple logic as said by Swami Krishnananda in his book "lessons on upanishads". I don't quote it here as this will make answer very lengthy.

Verse 32.3 from Vajasaneyi Samhita of Shukla Yajurveda with translation of Griffith

This verse describes formless and unmanifested aspect. As we know, Brahman is manifested and unmanifested and at the same time He has form and He is formless.

Krishna Paramatma never explicitly rejected idol worship in Bhagavad Gita. I think translations you come across were given by some Hindu haters or by haters of idol worship (to uphold their own Religion).

Lord says the following in Bhagavdgita 7.20 (translated by A Mahadeva Sastri),

Adishankara commentary says

Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 2.3.1 (translated by Swami Madhavananda) says

Adishankara says

This is what Lord says in 7.24 (translated by A Mahadeva Sastry),

Sri Adishankaracharya explains this verses as follows

Here Krishna never condemns any worship of Saguna form or idol worship. He just says that fools and ignorant people do not know his higher nature which is immutable and unsurpassed. Here Krishna says about His highest nature but this doesn't mean that Lord won't descend by donning Physical body. Lord has both manifested and unmanifested form. He says only few persons know His true form by going into transcendental consciousness. Lord says His true nature at highest level was unborn and imperishable. This is what Adishankaracharya says,

So, finally to know proper meaning of Hindu Scriptures either read them in Sanskrit (Veda Bhasha) or in any language with commentaries of knowledgable Acharya or learn them under a knowledgable Guru.

Water exists as liquid at room temperature but changes its state to ice at 0 °C. Water exists as liquid, solid and Vapour (Gas). It depends on certian physical conditions. Similarly, Lord, who is beyond dualities, is percieved differently by different people. He is with form and without form. He is unamifested and manifested.

Water exists as liquid at room temperature but changes its state to ice at 0 °C. Water exists as liquid, solid and Vapour (Gas). It depends on certain physical conditions. Similarly, Supreme Brahman, who is beyond dualities, is perceived differently by different people. He is the one with form and without form. He is both unmanifested and manifested.