Bhagavad Gita 16.8असत्यमप्रतिष्ठं ते जगदाहुरनीश्वरम्।अपरस्परसम्भूतं किमन्यत्कामहैतुकम् ॥
asatyam apratiṣhṭhaṁ te jagad āhur anīśhvaram
aparaspara-sambhūtaṁ kim anyat kāma-haitukam
Sanskrit recitation
When ego turns cruel · 16.6–16.16 · Teaching
Translation
They say, "This universe is without truth, without a moral basis, without a God, brought about by mutual union, with lust as its cause; what else?"
Hindi translation
वे कहा करते हैं कि संसार असत्य, अप्रतिष्ठित और बिना ईश्वरके अपने-आप केवल स्त्री-पुरुषके संयोगसे पैदा हुआ है। इसलिये काम ही इसका कारण है, और कोई कारण नहीं है।
Meaning
They hold that the universe is without any substratum or support or an undying basic reality.This is a description of the opinion of atheists like the Charvakas and other materialists. They do not believe in the existence of Brahman Who is the support of this world. They do not even accept the existence of an Isvara in this world. They say We are unreal. Therefore this world also is unreal, the scriptures which declare the truth are also unreal. What else but lust can be the cause of this universe Sexual passion is the sole cause of all living creatures. There is no such thing as the theory of Karma. The whole world is caused by the mutual union of man and woman under the impulse of lust. There is neither virtue nor vice. There is no Lord Who dispenses the fruits of actions of the individuals according to virtue and vice. Dharma and Adharma are not the basis of this world. Sexual desire is the sole basis for this universe. This world is a world of chance. They are not endowed with the faculty of introspection. They are ignorant of the field (Nature) and knower of the field (God).Mutual union Sexual union it may mean the union of atoms. The world arose from the combination of atoms according to the Vaiseshikas.
After Swami Sivananda
When ego turns cruel· 16.6–16.16→
Teachers usually read this idea across several verses together, one shared reflection covers the whole unit.
- 16.6There are two types of beings in this world: the divine and the demoniacal. The divine has…
- 16.7The demoniacal do not know what to do and what to refrain from; they have neither purity,…
16.8They say, "This universe is without truth, without a moral basis, without a God, brought…
- 16.9Holding this view, these ruined souls of small intellect and fierce deeds come forth as…
- 16.10Filled with insatiable desires, full of hypocrisy, pride, and arrogance, holding evil…
- 16.11Giving themselves over to immeasurable cares that end only with death, regarding the…
- 16.12Bound by a hundred ties of hope, given over to lust and anger, they strive to obtain…
- 16.13"I have gained this today; I will fulfill this desire of mine; this is mine, and this…
- 16.14"I have slain that enemy, and I shall slay others too. I am the Lord; I enjoy, I am…
- 16.15"I am wealthy and born into a noble family. Who is my equal? I shall perform sacrifices,…
- 16.16Bewildered by many fancies, entangled in the snare of delusion, addicted to the…
Word-by-word→
- te
- they
- kim
- what
- anyat
- other
- jagat
- the world
- asatyam
- without absolute truth
- āhuḥ
- say
- aparaspara
- without cause
- sambhūtam
- created
- anīśhvaram
- without a God
- kāma-haitukam
- for sexual gratification only
- apratiṣhṭham
- without any basis
Related verses
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- 17.5Those men who practice terrific austerities not prescribed by the scriptures, given to…
- 7.9I am the sweet fragrance in the earth and the brilliance in the fire, the life in all…
- 18.67Never speak this to one who is devoid of austerities or devotion, who does not render…