Bhagavad Gita 7.27

Jnana Vijnana Yoga · English Translation

By the delusion of the pairs of opposites arising from desire and aversion, O Bharata, all beings are subject to delusion at birth, O Parantapa.

Sanskrit

इच्छाद्वेषसमुत्थेन द्वन्द्वमोहेन भारत | सर्वभूतानि सम्मोहं सर्गे यान्ति परन्तप ||७-२७||

Transliteration

icchādveṣasamutthena dvandvamohena bhārata . sarvabhūtāni sammohaṃ sarge yānti parantapa ||7-27||

What Does This Verse Mean?

In this verse, Lord Krishna addresses Arjuna as 'Bharata' and explains that all living beings are born into a state of confusion because their minds are clouded by desire for pleasure and aversion to pain. These opposing forces create an illusion called the 'pairs of opposites,' which makes it impossible for anyone to see reality clearly without spiritual guidance. The key teaching is that this delusion at birth is universal, affecting every creature regardless of their status or past actions.

The Teaching Behind It

This verse belongs primarily to Jnana Yoga (the path of knowledge) as it identifies ignorance (avidya) caused by attachment as the root cause of suffering. It develops the Sankhya concept that all beings are bound by the dualities of nature (gunas), specifically rajas and tamas, which manifest as desire and aversion to keep the soul entangled in samsara.

Word by Word

इच्छाद्वेषसमुत्थेन arisen from desire and aversion, द्वन्द्वमोहेन by the delusion of the pairs of opposites, भारत O Bharata, सर्वभूतानि all beings, संमोहम् to delusion, सर्गे at birth, यान्ति are subject, परन्तप O Parantapa (scorcher of the foes)

Classical Commentary

Where there is pleasure there is Raga or attachment where there is pain there is Dvesha or aversion. There is the instinct in man to preserve his body. Man wishes to attain those objects which help the preservation of the body. He wishes to get rid of those objects which give pain to the body and the mind. On account of delusion caused by the pairs of opposites, desire and aversion spring up and man cannot get the knowledge of the things as they are, even of this external universe of senseexperience and it needs no saying that in a man whose intellect is overwhelmed by desire and aversion there cannot arise the transcendental knowledge of the innermost Self. Raga (attraction) and Dvesha (repulsion), pleasure and pain, heat and cold, happiness and misery, joy and sorrow, success and failure, censure and priase, honour and dishonour are the Dvandvas or the pairs of opposites. Desire and aversion (or attraction and repulsion) induce delusion in all beings and serve as obstacles to the dawn of the knowledge of the Self. He whose intellect is obscured by the delusion caused by the pairs of opposites is not able to realise I am the Self. Therefore he does not adore Me as the Self. He who is a victim of RagaDvesha loses the power of discrimination. He wishes that pleasant objects should last for ever and that disagreeable or unpleasant objects should disappear immediately. How could this be Objects that are conditioned in time, space and causation will perish. That which is agreeable and pleasant now will become disagreeable and unpleasant after some time. The mind is ever fluctuating. It demands variety and gets disgusted with monotony.

Where This Happens

This verse occurs on the battlefield of Kurukshetra during the Mahabharata war, where Arjuna has just declared he will not fight due to his emotional confusion. Krishna, acting as both charioteer and divine teacher, begins Chapter 7 by explaining why all beings are trapped in ignorance at birth, setting the stage for revealing how one can transcend this delusion. The listener, Arjuna (addressed here as Bharata), is still struggling with attachment to his relatives and fear of sin, needing a fundamental shift in understanding before he can act.

Living It Out Today

Consider a professional who experiences extreme anxiety when facing a difficult project because they are driven by the desire for praise and the aversion to criticism. This person might freeze or make poor decisions not due to lack of skill, but because their mind is oscillating between these two opposing emotions, creating a mental fog similar to the 'pairs of opposites.' By recognizing that this reaction is a natural human tendency rather than a personal failure, one can step back and observe the situation with clarity instead of reacting impulsively.

Explained for Children

Imagine you are playing a video game where sometimes you want to win the high score (desire) but other times you really hate losing a life (aversion). If your brain gets too busy worrying about winning and losing, you might make silly mistakes in the game. Lord Krishna says that everyone is like this when they are born: their minds get confused because they love some things so much and dislike others just as hard, making it hard to see what is really happening around them.

Daily Reflection

You often find yourself trapped in confusion not because life is complex, but because your mind is reacting to likes and dislikes rather than seeing things as they are. These pairs of opposites—pleasure and pain, gain and loss—are natural, yet clinging to them keeps you in a state of perpetual delusion from the very beginning of your journey. Today, try to step back from these automatic reactions and simply witness how desire clouds your judgment.

A Practice for Today

Sit quietly and observe the sudden surge of desire or aversion that arises when you encounter a pleasant or unpleasant situation today. Notice how this emotional pull creates a mental fog, obscuring your ability to see the reality before you clearly.

Key Teachings

The Root of Delusion
Krishna identifies 'dvaṇḍvamoha' as the primary obstacle to wisdom, explaining that confusion stems from our attachment to dualities. This delusion is not random but specifically fueled by the twin forces of desire (ichha) and aversion (dvesha).
Universal Nature
The verse emphasizes 'sarvabhūtāni,' indicating that this condition affects all beings at birth, not just a select few. This establishes the need for spiritual practice as a universal remedy rather than an optional luxury.
The Call to Transcendence
By addressing Arjuna as 'Parantapa' (conqueror of enemies), Krishna implies that one can overcome these internal foes. The path forward involves recognizing the source of delusion and transcending the pull of opposites through higher knowledge.

Themes

delusion and illusiondesire and aversionpurity of mindsamsaradualities of lifespiritual awakening

Related Verses

2.47 3.30 4.18 6.5 18.66

Read This Next

2.47 — To learn how to act without attachment, which is the practical antidote to desire-driven delusion.
3.30 — This verse expands on surrendering actions and their fruits, helping one detach from the results that fuel aversion.
12.15 — To understand how a devotee who is neither disturbed nor disturbs others naturally transcends these dualities through equanimity.

Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly are the 'pairs of opposites' (dvandva) mentioned in this verse?

The pairs of opposites refer to the dualities of human experience, such as pleasure and pain, heat and cold, honor and dishonor, or success and failure. When a person reacts emotionally to these extremes—seeking one while avoiding the other—the mind becomes unstable and deluded about its true nature.

Why does Krishna say all beings are subject to delusion at birth?

Krishna explains that every living being is born with an inherent tendency towards desire (for what they want) and aversion (away from what they don't want). This natural psychological conditioning creates a veil of illusion that obscures the perception of reality until one gains spiritual wisdom.

How can someone escape this delusion described in Chapter 7?

One escapes this delusion by practicing detachment and performing actions without attachment to results, as taught later in the chapter. Through devotion (bhakti) and selfless service, a person gradually purifies their mind, allowing them to see beyond these dualities.

What is the significance of Krishna calling Arjuna 'Bharata' here?

By addressing Arjuna as 'Bharata', Krishna reminds him that he belongs to a noble lineage and should act with the dignity befitting his heritage. It also serves as a gentle reminder that despite being a great warrior, even he is subject to human emotions unless guided by higher wisdom.

In Other Languages: Bhagavad Gita 7.27 →