yathā pradīptaṁ jvalanaṁ pataṅgā
viśhanti nāśhāya samṛiddha-vegāḥ
tathaiva nāśhāya viśhanti lokās
tavāpi vaktrāṇi samṛiddha-vegāḥ
yathā — as;
pradīptam — blazing;
jvalanam — fire;
pataṅgāḥ — moths;
viśhanti — enter;
nāśhāya — to be perished;
samṛiddha vegāḥ — with great speed;
tathā eva — similarly;
nāśhāya — to be perished;
viśhanti — enter;
lokāḥ — these people;
tava — your;
api — also;
vaktrāṇi — mouths;
samṛiddha-vegāḥ — with great speed
In this verse, Arjuna is describing a very frightening part of Krishna's universal form. He sees many people moving quickly toward Krishna's mouths, similar to how moths rush straight into a bright fire. Just like moths, which are attracted to the light but end up getting burned, these people seem to be drawn toward danger without realizing it.
The image shows how people, unaware of the risks, are racing toward something that will cause their downfall. This metaphor highlights a deeper meaning: within the vast workings of the universe, everything is temporary. Just like how the moths can't escape the fire and perish, people too are caught in the cycle of life and death. Their lives are part of Krishna's larger plan, where everything—new life, death, and rebirth—continues on in a loop.
Arjuna's vision serves as a reminder of how the forces of nature and time work relentlessly, and how every living being will ultimately meet its end. Krishna’s mouth represents the power that consumes everything in the universe, showing that regardless of how strong or individual someone thinks they are, they are still part of a larger cycle that they cannot escape.
This verse wakes us up to the reality that life is fleeting, and we need to be mindful of how we spend our time. It encourages us to understand that while we live our lives, we should seek meaning and purpose instead of rushing blindly towards a fate that we don’t fully understand.