Verse 8
असत्यमप्रतिष्ठं ते जगदाहुरनीश्वरम् | अपरस्परसम्भूतं किमन्यत्कामहैतुकम् || ८ ||
Transliteration
asatyam apratiṣṭhaṁ te jagad āhur anīśvaram aparaspara-sambhūtaṁ kim anyat kāma-haitukam
Synonyms
asatyam—unreal; apratiṣṭham—without foundation; te—they; jagat—the world; āhuḥ—say; anīśvaram—without God; aparaspara—without cause and effect; sambhūtam—created; kim anyat—what else; kāma-haitukam—caused by desire alone.
Translation
“They say the world is without truth, without a moral foundation, without God, not created in orderly succession, but born of desire alone. What else could it be?”
Multi-Tradition Commentary
The philosophical foundation of the demoniac worldview is nihilism—the belief that the universe has no divine source, no moral order, and no ultimate meaning. If the universe is simply a product of random desire and accident, then any action can be justified by appeal to self-interest. This metaphysical error is the source of all ethical corruption; right action requires right understanding of reality.
Practical Application (Modern Life)
The belief that the universe is meaningless tends to produce meaningless behavior. Conversely, the conviction that existence has an underlying order, purpose, and divine source naturally generates a more careful, reverent approach to life. Examine the core metaphysical beliefs operating in your worldview—they quietly determine the quality of your choices.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Bhagavad Gita 16.8 mean?
They say the world is without truth, without a moral foundation, without God, not created in orderly succession, but born of desire alone. What else could it be?
What is the word-by-word meaning of Bhagavad Gita 16.8?
asatyam—unreal; apratiṣṭham—without foundation; te—they; jagat—the world; āhuḥ—say; anīśvaram—without God; aparaspara—without cause and effect; sambhūtam—created; kim anyat—what else; kāma-haitukam—caused by desire alone.
How can I apply Bhagavad Gita 16.8 in daily life?
The belief that the universe is meaningless tends to produce meaningless behavior. Conversely, the conviction that existence has an underlying order, purpose, and divine source naturally generates a more careful, reverent approach to life. Examine the core metaphysical beliefs operating in your worldview—they quietly determine the quality of your choices.