When knowledge is stolen

na māṃ duṣkṛtino mūḍhāḥ prapadyante narādhamāḥmāyayāpahṛtajñānā āsuraṃ bhāvamāśritāḥ

Wrongdoers, the confused, those at their lowest, whose knowledge is stolen by maya, turning to harsh ways, do not seek Me.

What it means

Krishna describes why some people don't seek him. They're doing harm, lost in confusion, at their lowest. Maya has stolen their understanding. They've taken on harsh, demonic qualities, cruelty, arrogance. These are states of mind, not fixed identities. Elsewhere Krishna says anyone can turn around.

The story

Arjuna can see such people across the field, those who cheated, humiliated and refused peace. Krishna explains them without hatred. Their knowledge was stolen. That's a reason for sorrow, not for scorn.

In your life

Think of someone whose bitterness has made them cruel. Their kindness wasn't destroyed. It was buried. Don't write anyone off. And watch for moments when bitterness tries to steal your own clarity.