Chapter VII · Śloka 27
Śrī Kṛṣṇa uvāca
इच्छाद्वेषसमुत्थेन द्वन्द्वमोहेन भारत ।
सर्वभूतानि सम्मोहं सर्गे यान्ति परन्तप ॥
सर्वभूतानि सम्मोहं सर्गे यान्ति परन्तप ॥
icchā-dveṣa-samutthena dvandva-mohena bhārata |
sarva-bhūtāni sammohaṃ sarge yānti parantapa ||
sarva-bhūtāni sammohaṃ sarge yānti parantapa ||
By the delusion of the pairs of opposites arising from attraction and aversion, O descendant of Bharata, all beings fall into confusion at birth, O scorcher of foes.
The root of samsāra is diagnosed: icchā (desire/attraction) and dveṣa (aversion/hatred) generate the dvandvas — the pairs of opposites (pleasure-pain, heat-cold, honour-dishonour) — and this binary structure of experience is itself the veil that prevents recognition of the non-dual ground.