āsurīṁ yonim āpannā mūḍhā janmani janmani
mām aprāpyaiva kaunteya tato yānty adhamāṁ gatim
āsurīm — demoniac;
yonim — wombs;
āpannāḥ — gaining;
mūḍhāḥ — the ignorant;
janmani janmani — in birth after birth;
mām — me;
aprāpya — failing to reach;
eva — even;
kaunteya — Arjun, the son of Kunti;
tataḥ — thereafter;
yānti — go;
adhamām — abominable;
gatim — destination
In this verse, we learn about a group of people often described as 'demoniac.' These are individuals who do not seek goodness or righteous living; instead, they choose a path filled with ignorance and negativity. When it says they 'attain repeated birth amongst the species of demoniac life,' it means that these people keep being reborn into lives that are full of suffering and misfortune. They don't just become demons in the traditional sense, but they can also be reborn in forms and lives that are very lowly, like animals that do not experience the same kind of awareness or dignity as humans, such as dogs, cats, or pigs.
It’s important to note that this does not mean that God is harsh or unfair. While God is known to be all-loving and merciful, this verse highlights that these demoniac individuals do not receive that mercy. Why is that? Because they consistently choose ignorance and negativity in their lives. When we make wrong choices repeatedly, it leads us further away from good things and ultimately from God. Therefore, these individuals keep going down a path that pulls them deeper into miserable situations.
Imagine someone who repeatedly makes bad choices in life—like getting involved in harmful habits or treating others poorly. Each time they do this, they might find life getting harder and more painful. Their own choices lead them further away from happiness. Similarly, those who live a demoniac life stay stuck in a cycle of bad rebirths, where it becomes increasingly difficult to reach a better, more meaningful life—or even connect with God.
Now, some might wonder if this means God is not merciful at all. However, the text emphasizes that God does not harbor hatred. Instead, the placement of such individuals into lower forms of life is a result of their own actions and choices. They keep distancing themselves from the goodness that leads to divine love.
Interestingly, there are also points in Vedic stories where demons, once defeated by God, actually find liberation. This suggests that being killed by God, who symbolizes ultimate goodness, is a way for them to break free from their negative patterns. For example, characters like Ravana and Kamsa were powerful and demoniac, but their defeat by God allowed them to transcend their bad states.
In summary, this verse teaches us about the consequences of our choices and behaviors. It encourages everyone to reflect on their actions and strive to live in a way that promotes goodness, kindness, and connection with the divine, rather than falling into patterns that lead to repeated suffering.