Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 9, Verse 12

मोघाशा मोघकर्माणो मोघज्ञाना विचेतसः । राक्षसीमासुरीं चैव प्रकृतिं मोहिनीं श्रिताः

moghāśā moghakarmāṇo moghajñānā vicetasaḥ | rākṣasīmāsurīṃ caiva prakṛtiṃ mohinīṃ śritāḥ

Translation

Of vain hopes, of vain actions, of vain knowledge, devoid of discrimination, partaking only of the delusive nature of Rākṣasas and Asuras.

— Alladi Mahadeva Sastri

Word meanings

moghāśāḥ

vain, hopes, whose, they

moghakarmāṇaḥ

vain, deeds, whose, they

moghajñānāḥ

vain, knowledge, whose, they

vicetasaḥ

mindless

rākṣasīm

rākṣasic

āsurīm

āsuric

ca

and

eva

even

prakṛtim

nature

mohinīm

deceitful

śritāḥ

refuged (in)

Śaṅkarācārya's commentary

They cherish vain hopes. The agnihotra and other actions performed by them are fruitless, because they insult the Lord, because they neglect their own Self. Even their knowledge is fruitless. They are devoid of discrimination. They partake of the nature of Rākṣasas and Asuras. They see no self beyond the body and engage in cruel deeds, their rule of conduct being 'cut, break, drink, devour, rob others' property.'