Gita 11.29
Vishvarupa Darshana Yoga
यथा प्रदीप्तं ज्वलनं पतङ्गा विशन्ति नाशाय समृद्धवेगाः । तथैव नाशाय विशन्ति लोकास्तवापि वक्त्राणि समृद्धवेगाः ॥
yathā pradīptaṁ jvalanaṁ pataṅgā viśanti nāśāya samṛddha-vegāḥ tathaiva nāśāya viśanti lokās tavāpi vaktrāṇi samṛddha-vegāḥ
In essence: Like moths rushing helplessly into a blazing fire, all beings hurtle into Your cosmic mouths - compelled by forces beyond their understanding toward their own annihilation.
A conversation between a seeker and guide to help you feel this verse deeply
Sadhak-Guru Dialogue
Sadhak: "This image terrifies me. We're all just moths heading toward destruction? Is there no escape from this rushing toward death?"
Guru: "What do you think draws the moth to the flame?"
Sadhak: "It mistakes the flame for something beneficial - perhaps warmth, or the moon, or something it needs."
Guru: "Precisely. It cannot distinguish between beneficial light and destructive fire. Now - what flames do you rush toward, mistaking them for light?"
Sadhak: "Success? Recognition? Pleasure? But these seem so obviously good..."
Guru: "To the moth, the flame seems obviously good too. Have you noticed how your pursuit of these things increases in velocity? How success requires more success, pleasure requires more pleasure?"
Sadhak: "Yes... the more I achieve, the faster I seem to pursue."
Guru: "Samṛddha-vegāḥ - gathered momentum, accelerating velocity. This is the moth's pattern. But notice something: you are now observing this pattern. Can the moth observe itself rushing?"
Sadhak: "No. Observation requires... stepping back from the rushing."
Guru: "This is the gift hidden in the terrifying vision. Arjuna sees beings rushing - which means he is no longer one of them. Seeing the flame truly, he is no longer a moth. The question is: can you maintain this seeing when the flames seem most attractive?"
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🌅 Daily Practice
Flame identification: Before engaging with the day, identify your flames - what draws you with increasing velocity? Success, approval, comfort, stimulation? Don't judge these attractions, simply name them. Ask: 'Am I rushing toward this, or approaching it consciously?' Set intention to notice when velocity increases today - that's the signal that unconscious rushing has begun.
Velocity check: When you notice acceleration - hurrying toward a goal, anticipating an outcome, driven toward a desire - pause. Ask: 'Why am I speeding up? What do I think awaits me?' This pause breaks the moth-pattern. You don't need to stop pursuing, just stop rushing. The difference is consciousness. A conscious approach can navigate; unconscious rushing cannot.
Review the moths: Reflect on today's rushings. Where did you accelerate toward something? What happened when you reached it - was it the light you expected or the fire? Note patterns without judgment. Over time, this review builds discrimination - the capacity to distinguish beneficial light from destructive flame. Tomorrow, you'll recognize certain flames earlier.