Bhagavad Gita 16.12 is Chapter 16, Verse 12, in Daivasura Sampad Vibhaga Yoga (Divine & Demonic). Below are the Sanskrit text, a transliteration, a plain-English translation and an explanation.
āśā-pāśa-śatair baddhāḥ kāma-krodha-parāyaṇāḥ īhante kāma-bhogārtham anyāyenārtha-sañcayān
"Bound by hundreds of ropes of hope, devoted to lust and anger, they seek to amass wealth by unjust means for gratification of desires."
What This Means:
Bound by hundreds of hopes and expectations, consumed by desire and anger, they strive to accumulate wealth through unjust means, all to satisfy their endless cravings.
Going Deeper:
'Āśā-pāśa-śataiḥ baddhāḥ', bound by hundreds of nooses of hope/expectation. Each hope is a rope binding the soul. 'Kāma-krodha-parāyaṇāḥ', devoted to desire and anger. 'Īhante anyāyena artha-sañcayān', strive to accumulate wealth unjustly. The progression: hope → desire → unjust action. Greed corrupts ethics.
How To Apply This:
Hope can be a trap when it becomes attachment to specific outcomes. Notice how many 'hopes' bind you, each unfulfilled creates frustration. Desire for more leads to unethical shortcuts. Contentment is the antidote.
Key Sanskrit Terms: