The Yoga of the Vision of the Universal Form

Arjuna uses another comparison to describe the cosmic form consuming all worlds. 'Yathā pradīptaṁ jvalanaṁ pataṅgā viśanti nāśāya samṛddha-vegāḥ'—just as (yathā) moths (pataṅgāḥ) with great speed (samṛddha-vegāḥ) enter (viśanti) a blazing (pradīptam) fire (jvalanam) for destruction (nāśāya). 'Tathaiva nāśāya viśanti lokāḥ tavāpi vaktrāṇi samṛddha-vegāḥ'—so also (tathā eva), the worlds (lokāḥ) with great speed (samṛddha-vegāḥ) enter (viśanti) Your (tava) also (api) mouths (vaktrāṇi) for destruction (nāśāya). Arjuna compares worlds rushing into the cosmic form to moths rushing into fire—attracted, inevitable, leading to destruction. The cosmic form is like a blazing fire, and all worlds rush toward it with great speed, like moths drawn to flame. This comparison emphasizes the inevitability and attraction of the cosmic process—everything is drawn toward destruction, just as moths are drawn to fire.