“Fools scorn Me when I assume a human form, ignorant of My supreme nature as the Lord of beings.”
Key Teaching: Fools scorn Krishna’s human form, ignorant of his supreme nature.
Theme: Guidance, Dharma, Raja Vidya Raja Guhya Yoga.
Description:
Krishna teaches that fools scorn him in his human form, unaware of his supreme nature as the Lord of beings. This verse, continuing 9.10, addresses Arjuna’s need to recognize divine incarnation (2.9). The themes of guidance, as Krishna instructs, dharma, as he clarifies divine identity, and Raja Vidya Raja Guhya Yoga, as he emphasizes supreme nature, are central.
In the Mahabharata, Arjuna’s confusion (1.28–46) risks misjudging Krishna, unlike Duryodhana’s scornful ignorance (1.3–11). Krishna urges Arjuna to see his divinity for his Kshatriya duty, aligning with Karma Yoga (2.47, 7.24). Fools misperceive Krishna.
Philosophically, this verse addresses the human misjudgment of divine forms, a theme Krishna refines with teachings on his nature (7.24). Arjuna’s reluctance complicates his dharma, necessitating Krishna’s guidance to recognize divinity. The theme of Raja Vidya Raja Guhya Yoga underscores the Gita’s focus on divine realization.
Sanjaya’s narration frames Krishna’s teaching objectively, emphasizing its corrective clarity. This verse serves as a metaphor for life’s misperceptions, where wisdom reveals divinity. Krishna’s teaching prepares readers for performing duty with divine recognition, aligning with liberation.