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Chapter 9 · The Most Confidential Knowledge · 34 verses

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How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Remember who is speaking. Kṛṣṇa is speaking. Take the verse as He directs.
  2. 2Say the verse and its words. Read the Sanskrit, then each word with its meaning.
  3. 3Read the translation as it is. Let the translation say what it says, without adding your own meaning.
  4. 4Read the purport. Hear the verse through the disciplic succession.
  5. 5Bring your own question. Ask: where does this verse meet my life, my trouble, my doubt?
  6. 6Act on it, remembering Kṛṣṇa. Carry one instruction into your work today.
Read the full guide: how to read the Bhagavad-gītā ›
Nature & guṇasChapter 9 · The Most Confidential Knowledge
9.119.13

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 9.12

Delusion concerning Krishna’s true nature

Prakṛti · Material nature

मोघाशा मोघकर्माणो मोघज्ञाना विचेतस: ।

राक्षसीमासुरीं चैव प्रकृतिं मोहिनीं श्रिता: ॥ १२ ॥

moghāśā mogha-karmāṇo

mogha-jñānā vicetasaḥ

rākṣasīm āsurīṁ caiva

prakṛtiṁ mohinīṁ śritāḥ

Translation

Those who are thus bewildered are attracted by demonic and atheistic views. In that deluded condition, their hopes for liberation, their fruitive activities, and their culture of knowledge are all defeated.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

What this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.

3 study points

Delusion Defeats Spiritual Hopes

  1. 1

    Those drawn to demonic and atheistic views find their hopes for liberation, work for rewards, and pursuit of knowledge defeated.

  2. 2

    Prabhupāda explains that even supposed devotees cannot return to Godhead if they do not truly accept Kṛṣṇa as the Absolute Truth.

  3. 3

    Accept Kṛṣṇa as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, not as an ordinary human being.

Key points from the purport

Duratmas — “Fate” of those who out of bewilderment disrespect Krishna’s form

They are attracted by demoniac and atheistic views

Hopes for liberation, fruitive activities and culture of knowledge are all defeated

a

Example of the category of people mentioned here (Duratmas)

Many devotees who assume themselves to be in Krishna consciousness and devotional service, but at heart do not accept the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna, as the Absolute Truth

Those engaged in fruitive pious activities and ultimately hoping to be liberated, but they mock Krishna and deride Krishna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead

b

People jeer at Krishna because they are envious of the Supreme Personality of Godhead

c

Supporting Ref. Bg. 7.15 “na mam...” — Such demoniac miscreants never surrender to Krishna

d

Thoughts and convictions of such Duratmas

Their mental speculations about the Absolute Truth bring them to the false conclusion that the ordinary living entity are one and the same

They think that the body of any human being is now simple covered by material nature and that as soon as one is liberated from the material body, there is no difference between God and Himself

e

Destiny of such Duratmas — They take shelter of the material energy and are attracted by demoniac and atheistic views

Never surrender to Krishna – Never taste the fruit of Devotional Service (Back to Godhead)

Destiny – Birth after birth gets species of demoniac life

Real knowledge remains under delusion Gradually regress to darkest regions of creation

f

It is a great offence to consider Krishna as an ordinary man (Ref. Brhad Vishnu Smrti) – (study purport)

Connected verses · 2

Texts 9.11 & 9.12

What happens to those, who in bewilderment, disrespect Krishna’s form

Texts 9.12 & 9.13

What about those who do respect Krishna as He has revealed Himself

Further reading

Fools Neglect Bhakti: The Divine Don’t

Duratmas – Fools who think Krishna’s form is ordinary are defeated in their endeavours (9.11 – 9.12)

Mahatmas – Those who know that Krishna has a transcendental form take shelter of Him and worship Him (9.13 – 9.14)

Indirect worshippers – All who take shelter of a conception of Supreme and worship it, are ultimately worshipping Krishna, but they worship Him indirectly – These are of 3 types:

Ekatvena – the monist, the lowest, worships himself as one with the Supreme (9.11 – 9.12)

Visvato-mukham – a worshiper of the material, universal form is the best (9.16 – 9.19)

Prthakvena – a demigod worshiper, is situated higher than the ‘ekatvena’ (9.20 – 9.25)

Chapter 9, section III: Fools Neglect Bhakti: The Divine Don’t
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. mogha-āśāḥbaffled in their hopes
  2. mogha-karmāṇaḥbaffled in fruitive activities
  3. mogha-jñānāḥbaffled in knowledge
  4. vicetasaḥbewildered
  5. rākṣasīmdemonic
  6. āsurīmatheistic
  7. caand
  8. evacertainly
3

Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Key ideas: prakṛti, guṇa.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 9.12 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to nature & guṇas?

Practice

Observe which mode shaped your last decision.

5

Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

BG 9.11Delusion concerning Krishna’s true natureBG 7.14Crossing beyond māyā
Live this todayNature Works Under His DirectionA practice from BG 9.10, close to this verse

Study notes are editorial summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport.

  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
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