Bhagavad Gita BG 16.12
Chapter 16, Verse 12 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
आशापाशशतैर्बद्धाः कामक्रोधपरायणाः । ईहन्ते कामभोगार्थं अन्यायेनार्थसञ्चयान् ॥
asha-pasha-shataih baddhah kama-krodha-parayanah ihante kama-bhogartham anyayena artha-sancayan
Meaning
Bound by a hundred fetters of hope, abandoned to desire and anger, they strive to accumulate wealth through unjust means for the gratification of desires.
Understanding
The portrait of the demonic person bound: asha-pasha-shataih (by a hundred fetters of hope — hope here means craving expectation, not genuine aspiration). Kama-krodha-parayanah (devoted to/absorbed in desire and anger — these two are the primary demonic forces). Ihante kama-bhogartham anyayena artha-sancayan (they strive to accumulate wealth by unjust means for the purpose of sense-gratification). The escalating trap: desire → anger when frustrated → unjust means → more desire. The cycle of the asuric life.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| आशापाश | asha-pasha | fetters/snares of hope (craving-expectation) |
| शतैः | shataih | by hundreds (many, countless) |
| कामक्रोधपरायणाः | kama-krodha-parayanah | absorbed in desire and anger, devoted to them |
| ईहन्ते | ihante | they strive, they seek, they endeavor |
| अन्यायेन | anyayena | through unjust/unrighteous means |
| आशा-पाश | āśā-pāśa | the bonds of hope |
| शतैः | śataiḥ | by hundreds |
| बद्धाः | baddhāḥ | bound |
| काम-क्रोध-परायणाः | kāma-krodha-parāyaṇāḥ | devoted to lust and anger |
| काम-भोगार्थम् | kāma-bhogārtham | for the sake of sense enjoyment |
| अन्यायेन | anyāyena | unjustly, unlawfully |
| अर्थ-सञ्चयान् | artha-sañcayān | accumulation of wealth |