Once egoism takes possession of an individual, he steadily sinks to the ugliest depths of animalism. Drunk with passions, he abdicates from all the dignity of a cultured man and behaves as an ineffectual beast, strutting about precariously on its hind legs! Such a biological freak, who is physiologically a man but temperamentally an animal, is the type that is now being discussed as the ‘Diabolically Fallen’ (Asura).

Enumerating the inner contents of such an individual, Lord Krishna says that he is “FULL OF EGOISM, BRUTE STRENGTH, ARROGANCE, PASSION AND ANGER.” Any one of these is sufficient to pull one down to the depths of depravity, but the Lord characterises the Asura — type of man as having all these qualities, all at once. Not only does he have these qualities — and who does not have? — but, unlike an evolver, the Asuric man comes to pin his faith on these qualities, and he struggles to discover his fulfilment only in the expression of these tendencies.

What is the harm if an individual lives these values? This is a question that is often asked by an indulgent youth, when he is advised by his elders not to live yielding readily to his low urges and ugly temptations. The Geetacharya here explains that the consequence of disrespecting all cultural values, and living an uncultured ego-centric existence of passions and desires would be nothing short of total destruction of life.

Persons who are entertaining the above-mentioned attitudes, would ignore the sanctity of life, and without any compunction whatsoever, desecrate it. They will grow malignant, and in order to satisfy the low urges of egoism, would come to “HATE ME IN THEIR OWN BODIES AND IN THOSE OF OTHERS.” The Sacred Life, the Paramatman, does not come out to express Its full play when blanketed by the low sensuous urges. Ethical values are disciplines of the thought-life, whereby a mind so tuned up becomes the right instrument to serve faithfully the seeker of the Self. Unethical values and immoral intentions choke the great Melody of Life and reduce it to a discordant, purposeless noise, shattering peace and contentment within one’s own and in another’s bosom.

THE FALL IN EVOLUTION SUFFERED BY SUCH THOUGHTLESS MATERIALISTS AS A RESULT OF THEIR OWN FALSE VALUES AND FOUL ACTIONS IS BEING TRACED IN THE FOLLOWING STANZAS:

Ahankaram, egotism-that which considers the Self to which have been imputed actual and imaginary qualities as ‘I am this’, which is called ignorance and is most painful, and is the source of all ills as also of all evil deeds; so also balam, power, which seeds to defear others and is associated with passion and desire; darpam, arrogance, a particular defect abiding in the mind, on the upsurge of which one transgresses righteousness; kamam, passion with regard to women and others; krodham, anger at things tha are undesirable;-samsritah, resorting to these and other great evils; and further, pradvisantah, hating; mam, Me, God-transgression of My commands is hatred (towards Me); indulging in that, atma-para-dehesu, in their own and others’ bodies as the witness of their intellects and actions; (they become) abhyasuyakah, envious by nature, intolerant of the qualities of those who tread the right path.