Verse 16.12

Verse 16.12: “Entangled in hundreds of snares of expectations, making lust and wrath as the ultimate springs of actions; they, for the gratification of their desires, strive for the unjust amassing of wealth. (337)

Commentary called Jnaneshwari by Jnaneshwar:

They meet the same fate by sticking fast to lust, like the fish that (thoughtlessly) swallows the bait with the iron hook (hidden inside). Even if they do not succeed in securing the wished-for gratification, they become (like) cocoon insects (which go on spinning a web around them) and indulge in ever increasing dry (futile) hopes. Their ever-increasing desires, not being gratified, they (desires) are converted into hatred, and then there remains no other worthy goal in life for them except lust and wrath. A guard at the station has to walk to and fro during the day time, and keep awake during the night—thus getting no rest, Oh Son of Pandu, throughout the day and the night. In that way, with the lust not getting satiated, they are thrown down from a great height (of high expectations), and dash against a hillock (on a lower height) in the form of wrath, and inspite of this their love for wrath and hatred knows no bounds. The greed of mind makes them speculate upon the gratification of their passions: but how to gratify their desires without wealth (is the problem facing them). Therefore they scramble helter-skelter in the world for the acquisition of wealth, sufficient for the gratification of their passions. They seek opportunities (hatch a plot) and kill one, completely rob another, and set up instruments for torturing a third. Just as the hunters go out for the mountain-hunt, armed with snares, nets, dogs, sacks, falcons, pairs of tongs, spears, etc. etc. and feed themselves on whatever animals they kill; the demoniacs likewise commit evil acts. Now hear how their minds are delighted with the riches acquired by them by destroying the lives of numerous creatures.