Bhagavad Gita · Chapter 9 · Raja Vidya Raja Guhya Yoga
Bhagavad Gita 9.12 मोघाशा मोघकर्माणो मोघज्ञाना विचेतसः
श्लोक 9.12
मोघाशा मोघकर्माणो मोघज्ञाना विचेतसः ।
राक्षसीमासुरीं चैव प्रकृतिं मोहिनीं श्रिताः ॥
moghāśā moghakarmāṇo moghajñānā vicetasaḥ |
rākṣasīmāsurīṃ caiva prakṛtiṃ mohinīṃ śritāḥ ||
हिन्दी अर्थ
उनकी आशाएँ, कर्म और ज्ञान सब व्यर्थ होते हैं और उनका चित्त भ्रमित रहता है। वे मोह में डालने वाले राक्षसी और आसुरी स्वभाव का आश्रय लेते हैं।
Meaning in English
Their hopes, actions and knowledge are all in vain; their minds are confused. They cling to a deluding nature that is demonic and fiendish.
Bhagavad Gita 9.12 — word by word
| Word | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| मोघाशाः | mogha-āśāḥ | with vain hopes |
| मोघकर्माणः | mogha-karmāṇaḥ | with vain actions |
| मोघज्ञानाः | mogha-jñānāḥ | with vain knowledge |
| विचेतसः | vicetasaḥ | senseless, without discernment |
| राक्षसीम् | rākṣasīm | demonic, cruel |
| आसुरीम् | āsurīm | godless, self-seeking |
| च एव | ca eva | and also |
| प्रकृतिम् | prakṛtim | nature |
| मोहिनीम् | mohinīm | deluding |
| श्रिताः | śritāḥ | resorting to |
Explanation
Their hopes are vain, their actions are vain, their knowledge is vain, and their minds are confused. They take refuge in a deluding nature that is cruel and self-seeking. Without a higher aim, all their efforts come to nothing. Their nature itself misleads them.
Krishna describes those who reject the divine. Rakshasi nature is marked by cruelty and violence, asuri by self-centred craving; both are described in detail in Chapter 16. Mogha means fruitless: without a higher aim, their hopes and works lead nowhere lasting. Shankara links rakshasa nature to violence and asura nature to passion and greed. Ramanuja reads them as states that arise from accumulated wrong action. Gandhi took the verse as a warning that cleverness and effort without goodness end in futility.
भावार्थ
वे व्यर्थ आशा, व्यर्थ कर्म और व्यर्थ ज्ञान वाले, विवेकहीन लोग मोह में डालने वाली राक्षसी और आसुरी प्रकृति का आश्रय लिए रहते हैं। उनके सारे प्रयत्न निष्फल हो जाते हैं।
Living it today
Effort without a good aim leaves you empty. Check whether your goals serve something worthwhile beyond your own ego.
Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of Bhagavad Gita 9.12?
Their hopes are vain, their actions are vain, their knowledge is vain, and their minds are confused. They take refuge in a deluding nature that is cruel and self-seeking. Without a higher aim, all their efforts come to nothing. Their nature itself misleads them.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 9.12?
Sri Krishna speaks this verse, in Chapter 9 (Raja Vidya Raja Guhya Yoga) of the Bhagavad Gita.
How can I apply Bhagavad Gita 9.12 in daily life?
Effort without a good aim leaves you empty. Check whether your goals serve something worthwhile beyond your own ego.
Reflected on verse 9.12?
Light a diya, add a note, or share this verse.