Verse 16.8
Speaker: Krishna
Sanskrit
असत्यमप्रतिष्ठं ते जगदाहुरनीश्वरम् | अपरस्परसम्भूतं किमन्यत्कामहैतुकम् ||८||
Transliteration (IAST)
asatyam apratiṣṭhaṁ te jagad āhur anīśvaram | aparaspara-sambhūtaṁ kim anyat kāma-haitukam ||8||
Word-by-Word Meanings
asatyam-unreal/without truth
apratiṣṭham-without foundation
jagat-the world
anīśvaram-without a God/controller
aparaspara-sambhūtam-born of mutual union (without cause)
kāma-haitukam-caused by desire alone
Translation
They say the world is unreal, without foundation, without a God, not produced by mutual causation - what else is it but caused by desire alone?
Commentary
Shankaracharya identifies this as a description of materialist (nāstika) philosophy that denies both cosmic order and divine governance. Ramanuja explains that the demoniac worldview reduces existence to random desire-driven events without moral law or divine purpose. Madhva notes this verse describes the Chārvāka-like denial of dharma, karma, and Ishvara.
Themes
jnanadharma