Chapter 16 Shloka 13

इदमद्य मया लब्धमिमं प्राप्स्ये मनोरथम् ।

इदमस्तीदमपि मे भविष्यति पुनर्धनम् ।।१३।।

The Lord says to Arjuna, that the thought processes of

 such beings are as follows: I have attained this today!

I shall achieve my cherished desire also.

I have so much wealth.

This much more shall be mine.

Chapter 16 Shloka 13

इदमद्य मया लब्धमिमं प्राप्स्ये मनोरथम् ।

इदमस्तीदमपि मे भविष्यति पुनर्धनम् ।।१३।।

The Lord says to Arjuna, that the thought processes of such beings are as follows:

I have attained this today! I shall achieve my cherished desire also. I have so much wealth. This much more shall be mine.

Those egoistic souls who are grounded in the ‘I’, those evil doers who are established in illusion, and those pretenders who revel in sense gratification are their own enemies and enemies of the nation. Speaking of the inner sentiments of such people the Lord says:

a) They take pride in their achievements.

b) They boast, “I have achieved this through my own efforts.”

c) They feel, “I have attained this through my shrewdness.”

d) They believe that they have attained all that they possess through their own machinations.

e) Their boast is, “I achieved all this by fooling others. How does it matter what means I have employed? At least I have done it on my own strength!”

I have already achieved this much, now:

1. I shall satiate my other desires.

2. I shall indulge my other whims.

3. I shall procure the things I like.

4. I still have to accumulate so much more wealth.

5. I have to extend my rule over so many others.

6. I have still to achieve this status.

7. I have yet to attain this knowledge.

8. I have yet to attain a name.

9. I have still to dominate and suppress so many more people.”

Such are their ruminations.

Vainglorious and proud of the wealth they have accumulated, such people think:

a) “I possess so much wealth.

b) There is no one like me.

c) I can buy the whole world.

d) I can buy any object I please.

e) I can buy people.

f) I can buy love.

g) Who is there in the world comparable to me?”

1. Such people feel that the Lord belongs to them alone.

2. They feel that they can do all that they please.

3. They feel that whatever they desire shall happen.

4. They feel that the world is subservient to them.

5. They feel that the world exists because of them.

Such selfish souls are pervaded by demonic tendencies. They live only to achieve what they desire. Deceit and cunning constitute the essence of their lives.

Kamla, my dear one! You must keep in mind that these same qualities prevail in those who take pride in their noble attributes. They too, are proud of their knowledge and they too, fulfil their desires, albeit by other means.

They are seen to be taking the Lord’s name, yet:

a) they cheat others;

b) they rob the innocent and unsuspecting;

c) they preach escape from duty rather than encouraging others to discharge their duty;

d) they covet the name of the Lord;

e) they covet worldly comforts;

f) they desire status.

Therefore they can never speak the truth. They can never reveal to the other what he truly is. They accord false respect to the other and seek to rob the other in exchange!

The Lord takes birth to save such ‘men of virtue’. He saves them from their own demonic tendencies. Little one, these so-called ‘sadhus’ have with their duplicity caused the ruination of the world.