February 8, 2026
yᾱm imᾱṁ puṣpitᾱṁ vᾱcaṁ pravadanty avipaścitaḥ
vedavᾱdaratᾱḥ pᾱrtha nᾱ ’nyad astī ’ti vᾱdinaḥ (II-42)
kᾱmᾱtmᾱnaḥ svargaparᾱ janmakarmaphalapradᾱṁ
kriyᾱviśeṣabahulᾱṁ bhogaiśvaryagatiṁ prati (II-43)
bhogaiśvaryaprasaktᾱnᾱṁ tayᾱ ’pahṛtacetasᾱṁ
vyavasᾱyᾱtmikᾱ buddhiḥ samᾱdhau na vidhīyate (II-44)
II/42. Flowery speech is uttered by the unwise, taking
pleasure in the eulogizing words of the vedā,
O Arjuna, saying: “There is nothing else.”
II/43. Full of desires, having heaven as their goal,
they utter speech which promises birth as the reward
of actions, and prescribe various specific actions for
the attainment of pleasure and power.
II/44. For those who are attached to pleasure and power,
whose minds are drawn away by such teaching, that
determinate reason is not formed which is steadily
bent on meditation and samādhi.
Swamiji's Commentary
Krishna has given a clear psychological picture of our life here. We are all goaded in our activity only by these two: lust for pleasure and lust for power. Everyone wants to become Īśvara or God (as the word aiśvaryaprasakta in verse forty-four implies), even with powers to create (e.g., the scientist who wants to create the living cell), to protect (every father feels he is protecting the family) and to destroy. Though it is not openly admitted for fear of blasphemy, such desire is there in our hearts. Man has intelligence and also free-will. If the former is overwhelmed by desire, he is left with mere free-will goaded by base instincts. When lust usurps the throne and dethrones wisdom, free-will follows. Yoga is beyond the reach of such a one.
Krishna has given a clear psychological picture of our life here. We are all goaded in our activity only by these two: lust for pleasure and lust for power. Everyone wants to become Īśvara or God (as the word aiśvaryaprasakta in verse forty-four implies), even with powers to create (e.g., the scientist who wants to create the living cell), to protect (every father feels he is protecting the family) and to destroy. Though it is not openly admitted for fear of blasphemy, such desire is there in our hearts. Man has intelligence and also free-will. If the former is overwhelmed by desire, he is left with mere free-will goaded by base instincts. When lust usurps the throne and dethrones wisdom, free-will follows. Yoga is beyond the reach of such a one.