Bhagavad Gita Chapter 9 - Rajavidya Rajaguhya Yoga - Sloka 12

The entire content of this mail is from Swami Chidbhavananda's translation of The Bhagavad  Gita , published by Ramakrishna Mission

The Ways of the Ignorant 11-12

1 Gita Sloka  every day - Chapter 9 - Rajavidya Rajaguhya Yoga - Sloka 12

Mogh ashah mogh karmanah mogh gyanah vichetasah I

Rakshasim asurim cha eva prakritim mohinim shritah II sloka 12

मोघ आशाः मोघ कर्माणः मोघ ज्ञानाः विचेतसः I

राक्षसिं आसुरीं च एव प्रकृतिं मोहिनीं श्रितः II श्लोक 12

Who are they that are not able to understand the divinity in the incarnation of the Lord? They are -

Of vain hopes, of vain actions, of vain knowledge, devoid of discrimination, partaking verily of the delusive nature of Rakshasas and asuras.

Mohini prakriti  is the delusive nature which makes men believe that bodily existence is the be-all and end-all of life. The transitoriness of the mundane existence does not occur to them. Sense indulgence is the one thing that appeals to them. Their hopes, activities and understanding are all directed to this one end. It is impossible for them to discern between the real and unreal, between the permanent and impermanent. Among the men of this base make up, rakshasas are they in whom rajasic nature predominates and those others are asuras in whom tamasic element predominates.