In Bhagavad Gita 11.29, Arjuna says that as moths rush at full speed into a blazing fire to their destruction, so the worlds rush into Krishna’s mouths to their destruction.
Sanskrit Verse
अर्जुन उवाच · Arjuna said
यथा प्रदीप्तं ज्वलनं पतङ्गा
विशन्ति नाशाय समृद्धवेगाः
तथैव नाशाय विशन्ति लोका-
स्तवापि वक्त्राणि समृद्धवेगाः ॥ ११-२९ ॥
yathā pradīptaṃ jvalanaṃ pataṅgā
viśanti nāśāya samṛddhavegāḥ
tathaiva nāśāya viśanti lokā-
stavāpi vaktrāṇi samṛddhavegāḥ
English transliteration yathaa pradeeptam jvalanam patangaa
vishanti naashaaya samriddhavegaah
tathaiva naashaaya vishanti lokaa-
stavaapi vaktraani samriddhavegaah ॥ 11.29 ॥
Translation / Meaning
As moths rush with great speed into a blazing fire to their destruction, so these worlds rush with great speed into Your mouths to their destruction.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| यथा yathā | as |
| प्रदीप्तम् pradīptam | blazing |
| ज्वलनम् jvalanam | fire |
| पतङ्गाः pataṅgāḥ | moths |
| विशन्ति viśanti | rush into |
| नाशाय nāśāya | to destruction |
| समृद्धवेगाः samṛddhavegāḥ | with great speed samṛddha (great) + vegāḥ (speed) |
| तथा tathā | so |
| एव eva | indeed |
| नाशाय nāśāya | to destruction |
| विशन्ति viśanti | rush into |
| लोकाः lokāḥ | worlds |
| तव tava | Your |
| अपि api | also |
| वक्त्राणि vaktrāṇi | mouths |
| समृद्धवेगाः samṛddhavegāḥ | with great speed |
Word-wise Chanting
- ya–thā pra–dīp–taṃ jva–la–naṃ pa–taṅ–gā 11 syllables ya-thaa pra-deep-tam jva-la-nam pa-tan-gaa
- vi–śan–ti nā–śā–ya sa–mṛd–dha–ve–gāḥ | 11 syllables vi-shan-ti naa-shaa-ya sa-mrid-dha-ve-gaah
- ta–thai–va nā–śā–ya vi–śan–ti lo–kā– 11 syllables ta-thai-va naa-shaa-ya vi-shan-ti lo-kaa-
- sta–vā–pi vak–trā–ṇi sa–mṛd–dha–ve–gāḥ || 11-29 11 syllables sta-vaa-pi vak-traa-ni sa-mrid-dha-ve-gaah
How to read this
How to chant: each line is one pāda (quarter-verse); chant it in one breath. The hyphen (-) divides the syllables, inside a word and across a sandhi join, so every pāda shows its 8 syllables (11 in triṣṭubh verses). A consonant cluster is divided after its first consonant (kar-ma, vet-ti): that syllable is held longer. Mark above a syllable: guru, long (two beats); laghu, short (one beat). | closes the half-verse, || the verse; the number is the syllable count of the pāda.
Deeper Explanation – Chapter 11 Verse 29
Context
Arjuna continues his images (11.28–11.29).
Meaning
The second image is darker. Moths are drawn to a flame and destroy themselves in it. In the same way, beings rush toward their own destruction, drawn by forces they do not understand. The river image suggests natural return; the moth image suggests compulsion and blindness.
Many of our actions resemble the moth’s flight: drawn by attraction toward what harms us. Wisdom sees the flame for what it is.
In Practice
Identify one attraction in your life that draws you toward harm, and step back from it today.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 11: Vishvarupa Darshana Yoga (The Vision of the Universal Form). Read the chapter overview, browse every verse of the Gita, or return to the chapter-by-chapter guide. For a reading plan, see how to study the Bhagavad Gita and the study resources.