मोघाशा मोघकर्माणो मोघज्ञाना विचेतस: |
राक्षसीमासुरीं चैव प्रकृतिं मोहिनीं श्रिता: || 12||
moghāśhā mogha-karmāṇo mogha-jñānā vichetasaḥ
rākṣhasīm āsurīṁ chaiva prakṛitiṁ mohinīṁ śhritāḥ
mogha-āśhāḥ—of vain hopes; mogha-karmāṇaḥ—of vain actions; mogha-jñānāḥ—of baffled knowledge; vichetasaḥ—deluded; rākṣhasīm—demoniac; āsurīm—atheistic; cha—and; eva—certainly; prakṛitim—material energy; mohinīm—bewildered; śhritāḥ—take shelter
Translation:
Being of the deceitful nature of fiends and demons, they cherish vain hopes, perform vain actions, pursue vain knowledge, and are devoid of judgement.
Commentary:
Human nature is divided into two types (1) the Divine (Daivi Prakriti) and (2) the undivine (Asuriprakriti). The Lord is here referring to the latter men of undivine nature. Their hopes are vain, empty, their actions are vain, producing nothing good or permanent. Their knowledge is also vain, because it is confined to the senses and the perishable world. Such knowledge viewed from the spiritual plane is empty, vain and useless. They are devoid of understanding and so they have no thought of anything beyond the body. Such men are possessed of the devilish and undivine nature. The Tamasic Guna or the dark quality of Prakriti characterises the beings here spoken of as rakshasic and asuric. Rakshasas are semi-human beings, brutal and blood-thristry. The asuras are the opponents of the Devas. The Devas have sattvaguna. The asuras possess rajoguna. They have evil desires and use their powers in evil ways. Their life is useless. That is why the world useless (mogha) is repeated three times in this verse. The point is that all those people live in the empty world of Maya. So whatever they do or think or hope is empty nothing, signifying nothing.
The seekers have to understand the sharp distinction between the real and the unreal. Atma alone is real. Nothing else. Knowing this, they should move towards Reality, giving up all foolish and vain hopes and actions. They should cultivate good qualities like self-control, sense restraint, discrimination and humility. They should become the instruments of the Divine. They should be the servants of the Lord. Their thoughts and actions should follow the divine law.
Question: What is ‘asuric’ nature?
Answer: It deludes man and plunges him into ignorance.
Question: How do such people act?
Answer: Their hopes, actions, and knowledge are vain.
Question: What should be the conduct of rational men?
Answer: They should abandon the Asuric force and seek refuge with the Lord, think and act in accordance with His law.
Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 9 🔻 (34 Verses)
