आशापाशशतैर्बद्धाः कामक्रोधपरायणाः ।
ईहन्ते कामभोगार्थमन्यायेनार्थसञ्चयान् ॥
ईहन्ते कामभोगार्थमन्यायेनार्थसञ्चयान् ॥
Hindi · हिन्दी
वे आशाकी सैकड़ों फाँसियोंसे बँधे हुए मनुष्य कामक्रोधके परायण होकर पदार्थोंका भोग करनेके लिये अन्यायपूर्वक धनसंचय करनेकी चेष्टा करते रहते हैं ॥
English
Bound by hundreds of cords of hope, driven by desire and anger, they strive to gather wealth unjustly for the enjoyment of desires.
What this verse means
Endless hopes trap people. Desire and anger drive them to gather wealth by unfair means just to feed more wanting.
Context & commentary
On Kurukshetra, while Arjuna stands frozen, Krishna describes the inner life of those ruled by the lower nature: trapped by countless hopes, pushed by craving and rage, they chase wealth through injustice. This verse shows the behavior behind that blindness.
Why this verse still matters
A person cuts corners, hides numbers, and calls it ambition. The hunger for more has already turned into a cage.
The takeaway
You can see how craving multiplies itself until fairness no longer matters.
Word-by-word translation
आशापाशशतैः (by hundreds of cords of hope) / बद्धाः (bound) / कामक्रोधपरायणाः (devoted to desire and anger) / ईहन्ते (they strive) / कामभोगार्थम् (for the sake of enjoyment of desire) / अन्यायेन (unjustly) / अर्थसञ्चयान् (accumulations of wealth)
This verse is part of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 16: Daivasura Sampad Vibhaga — The Divine and Demoniac Natures, which contains 24 verses.
Explore related themes: kama (23 verses), adharma (12 verses), krodha (11 verses)