Deluded by the three gunas, the world fails to recognize Krishna, who is above the gunas and imperishable. This verse diagnoses the fundamental human condition: not malice but ignorance — confusion caused by the very fabric of material nature. Shankara sees this as the classic statement of avidya veiling the Self. Ramanuja attributes the delusion to souls' beginningless karma preventing recognition of God. The bhakti tradition urges devotees to cry out for divine help to pierce the veil. Madhva teaches that only God's grace and scriptural knowledge can penetrate the veil of the gunas. Abhinavagupta sees the delusion as consciousness naturally concealing itself from itself — the path of recognition sees through this play. Vallabhacharya teaches that delusion is temporary, not permanent — divine grace can intervene at any time. Tilak reads this as a warning against passive living dominated by unconscious habit, urging active cultivation of awareness. Vivekananda interprets the deluded world not as condemned but as spiritually asleep, with viveka (discrimination) as the universal awakener.