Chapter 7, Verse 27 (Bhagavad Gita 7.27)
Chapter 7: Jñāna Vijñāna Yog – Self-Knowledge and Enlightenment
Sanskrit Shloka
इच्छाद्वेषसमुत्थेन द्वन्द्वमोहेन भारत। सर्वभूतानि संमोहं सर्गे यान्ति परन्तप
Transliteration
ichchhā-dveṣha-samutthena dvandva-mohena bhārata sarva-bhūtāni sammohaṁ sarge yānti parantapa
Word Meanings
ichchhā—desire; dveṣha—aversion; samutthena—arise from; dvandva—of duality; mohena—from the illusion; bhārata—Arjun, descendant of Bharat; sarva—all; bhūtāni—living beings; sammoham—into delusion; sarge—since birth; yānti—enter; parantapa—Arjun, conqueror of enemies
Translation
O descendant of Bharata, O conqueror of foes, all living beings are born into delusion, overcome by the dualities of desire and aversion.
Meaning & Commentary
Lord Krishna explains that the root cause of human suffering is the inherent entanglement in the pairs of opposites, such as pleasure and pain, or likes and dislikes. From the very moment of birth, the soul is clouded by these dualities, which obscure the clear vision of the eternal Self. Krishna teaches that by recognizing this deep-seated conditioning, one can begin to transcend the ego's impulsive reactions. When a seeker stops identifying with their cravings and aversions, they align themselves with the divine wisdom offered by Krishna. This spiritual insight allows an individual to move beyond the cycle of delusion and find inner equanimity.