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Bhagavad Gita · 16.16 · Yoga through Discerning the Divine and Demoniac Natures·16 of 24

अनेकचित्तविभ्रान्ता मोहजालसमावृताःप्रसक्ताः कामभोगेषु पतन्ति नरकेऽशुचौ

aneka-citta-vibhrāntā moha-jāla-samāvṛtāḥ

prasaktāḥ kāma-bhogeṣu patanti narake 'śucau

Sanskrit recitation

When ego turns cruel · 16.6–16.16 · Teaching

Translation

Bewildered by many fancies, entangled in the snare of delusion, addicted to the gratification of lust, they fall into a foul hell.

Meaning

Just as a man utters many incoherent words when he gets delirium or high fever, so also these diabolical men prattle about their desires, sensual enjoyment, etc. They commit,countless sins and so they fall into a foul hell such as the Vaitarani. Delusion is a snare because those who are deluded are entrapped. They are caught like fish in the meshes of the net of delusion. They are enveloped by the net on four sides. They are bewildered as to what to do first and what next. As they are enveloped or covered by delusion, they are bewildered in various ways by entertaining various evil thoughts. They have no discrimination between the proper or beneficial and improper or harmful Sadhanas. The lack of the knowledge of the distinction between these two is Moha. As Mohas is a veil and a cause of bondage it is compared to a net.All the alities mentioned above lead to downfall.

After Swami Sivananda

When ego turns cruel· 16.6–16.16

Teachers usually read this idea across several verses together, one shared reflection covers the whole unit.

Word-by-word
moha
of illusions
aneka
numerous
jāla
by a network
kāma
lust
narake
into hell
aśucau
unclean.
patanti
glides down
bhogeṣu
sense gratification
prasaktāḥ
attached
samāvṛtāḥ
surrounded
citta-vibhrāntāḥ
perplexed by anxieties

Related verses

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