Those whose hopes, actions, and understanding are all wasted, confused minds take shelter in deluding, demonic, and shadowy nature.
— Krishna
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Bhagavad Gita · 9.12
Hindi · हिन्दी
जिनकी सब आशाएँ व्यर्थ होती हैं, सब शुभकर्म व्यर्थ होते हैं और सब ज्ञान व्यर्थ होते हैं अर्थात् जिनकी आशाएँ, कर्म और ज्ञान सत्फल देनेवाले नहीं होते, ऐसे अविवेकी मनुष्य आसुरी, राक्षसी और मोहिनी फकृतिका आश्रय लेते हैं ॥
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Hover a word to focus on it.
मोघाशाःwasted hopesमोघकर्माणःwasted actionsमोघज्ञाःwasted understandingविचेतसःconfused-mindedराक्षसीम्demonicआसुरीम्of ego and shadowचandएवindeedप्रकृतिम्natureमोहिनीम्deludingश्रिताःhaving taken refuge in
Read literallywasted hopes · wasted actions · wasted understanding · confused-minded · demonic · of ego and shadow · and · indeed · nature · deluding · having taken refuge in
Understanding the verse
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It shifts attention from results alone to the inner quality of the mind guiding them.
Confused people end up leaning on forces that distort their judgment. Their hopes, actions, and understanding do not bear fruit because they are guided by delusion.
02
On the battlefield
Context & commentary
On the battlefield, Krishna explains why some people fail to recognise him. Arjuna is still shaken, and Krishna shows the pattern behind that blindness: a confused mind turns toward delusion, and even hope, action, and learning become wasted.
03
In your life
Why this verse still matters
You keep checking the same toxic chat thread, hoping for clarity, and leave more tangled than before. Delusion feeds on attention and makes every effort misfire.
The takeaway
“Confusion does not stay private; it shapes the kind of life you build.”
Confused people end up leaning on forces that distort their judgment. Their hopes, actions, and understanding do not bear fruit because they are guided by delusion.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 9.12?
Krishna speaks this verse, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, in the chapter titled "Raja Vidya Raja Guhya Yoga" (The Royal Knowledge).
Which chapter of the Bhagavad Gita contains verse 9.12?
Verse 12 sits in Chapter 9 of the Bhagavad Gita — Raja Vidya Raja Guhya Yoga, "The Royal Knowledge". The chapter has 34 verses in total.
Why does Bhagavad Gita 9.12 matter today?
You keep checking the same toxic chat thread, hoping for clarity, and leave more tangled than before. Delusion feeds on attention and makes every effort misfire.
It shifts attention from results alone to the inner quality of the mind guiding them.
What this verse means
Confused people end up leaning on forces that distort their judgment. Their hopes, actions, and understanding do not bear fruit because they are guided by delusion.
Context & commentary
On the battlefield, Krishna explains why some people fail to recognise him. Arjuna is still shaken, and Krishna shows the pattern behind that blindness: a confused mind turns toward delusion, and even hope, action, and learning become wasted.
Why this verse still matters
You keep checking the same toxic chat thread, hoping for clarity, and leave more tangled than before. Delusion feeds on attention and makes every effort misfire.
“Confusion does not stay private; it shapes the kind of life you build.”
Explore related themes: delusion (19 verses)