Verse 9.12
Speaker: Krishna
Sanskrit
मोघाशा मोघकर्माणो मोघज्ञाना विचेतसः | राक्षसीमासुरीं चैव प्रकृतिं मोहिनीं श्रिताः ||१२||
Transliteration (IAST)
moghāśā mogha-karmāṇo mogha-jñānā vicetasaḥ rākṣasīm āsurīṁ caiva prakṛtiṁ mohinīṁ śritāḥ
Word-by-Word Meanings
mogha-āśāḥ-of vain hopes
mogha-karmāṇaḥ-of vain actions
mogha-jñānāḥ-of vain knowledge
vicetasaḥ-bewildered
rākṣasīm-demoniac
āsurīm-atheistic
mohinīm-deluding
Translation
Bewildered persons of vain hopes, vain actions, and vain knowledge take shelter of the deluding demoniac and atheistic nature.
Commentary
The triple repetition of 'mogha' (vain/futile) emphasizes the complete emptiness of a life lived without recognition of the Divine. Their hopes, actions, and knowledge all become fruitless. This contrasts sharply with the devotees described later in the chapter.
Themes
bhaktidharmajnana