Free me from the four anti-devotional mentalities (7.15)

Free me from the four anti-devotional mentalities (7.15)

Bhagavad Gita 7.15

na māṁ duṣkṛtino mūḍhāḥ prapadyante narādhamāḥ

māyayāpahṛta-jñānā āsuraṁ bhāvam āśritāḥ

Fools of destructive bent, to me just don’t turn,

Lowest of mankind, wisdom they never learn.

By illusion’s spell, their knowledge is stolen,

Seeking shelter in demonic nature, they stay fallen.

My dear Lord, even when I understand your magnificence and munificence, I still need protection from four destructive mentalities that keep me from surrendering to you.

Protect me, O omnipotent Lord, from the first anti-devotional mentality of sheer stupidity, wherein I unquestioningly pursue whatever goals the world sets for me. Grant me the courage to pursue your promises rather than the world’s.

Protect me, O Supreme Guardian, from the second anti-devotional mentality: uncontrolled animal desire wherein physical cravings deaden all my metaphysical musings. Please awaken my dormant soul and its potent desire for you.

Protect me, my eternal enlightener, from the third anti-devotional mentality: intellectual rationalization, wherein I misuse my intelligence to justify my self-sabotaging desires and notions. Help me to use my intelligence to recover from illusion, not to cover for illusion.

And finally, O Lord of Light, protect me from the darkest anti-devotional mentality: surrender to my demoniac side. Let me use all my resources—both external and internal—not to fight for my worst desires, but to fight against those desires.

O infallible Lord, free me from these mentalities that keep me apart from you, and let me instead become a part of you.

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07.15 Those miscreants who are grossly foolish, who are lowest among mankind, whose knowledge is stolen by illusion, and who partake of the atheistic nature of demons do not surrender unto Me.