In Bhagavad Gita 16.8, Krishna says demonic people declare the world to be without truth, without foundation, without God, born of mutual union and caused by lust alone.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
असत्यमप्रतिष्ठं ते
जगदाहुरनीश्वरम्
अपरस्परसम्भूतं
किमन्यत्कामहैतुकम् ॥ १६-८ ॥
asatyamapratiṣṭhaṃ te
jagadāhuranīśvaram
aparasparasambhūtaṃ
kimanyatkāmahaitukam
English transliteration asatyamapratishtham te
jagadaahuraneeshvaram
aparasparasambhootam
kimanyatkaamahaitukam ॥ 16.8 ॥
Translation / Meaning
They say: “The world is without truth, without foundation, without a God. It has come about from mutual union alone. What else is its cause but desire?”
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| असत्यम् asatyam | without truth |
| अप्रतिष्ठम् apratiṣṭham | without foundation |
| ते te | they |
| जगत् jagat | the world |
| आहुः āhuḥ | say |
| अनीश्वरम् anīśvaram | without a God |
| अपरस्परसम्भूतम् aparasparasambhūtam | come about from mutual union aparaspara (mutual) + sambhūtam (come about) |
| किम् kim | what |
| अन्यत् anyat | else |
| कामहैतुकम् kāmahaitukam | caused by desire kāma (desire) + haitukam (caused) |
Word-wise Chanting
- a–sat–ya–map–ra–tiṣ–ṭhaṃ te 8 syllables a-sat-ya-map-ra-tish-tham te
- ja–ga–dā–hu–ra–nīś–va–ram | 8 syllables ja-ga-daa-hu-ra-neesh-va-ram
- a–pa–ras–pa–ra–sam–bhū–taṃ 8 syllables a-pa-ras-pa-ra-sam-bhoo-tam
- ki–man–yat–kā–ma–hai–tu–kam || 16-8 8 syllables ki-man-yat-kaa-ma-hai-tu-kam
How to read this
How to chant: each line is one pāda (quarter-verse); chant it in one breath. The hyphen (-) divides the syllables, inside a word and across a sandhi join, so every pāda shows its 8 syllables (11 in triṣṭubh verses). A consonant cluster is divided after its first consonant (kar-ma, vet-ti): that syllable is held longer. Mark above a syllable: guru, long (two beats); laghu, short (one beat). | closes the half-verse, || the verse; the number is the syllable count of the pāda.
Deeper Explanation – Chapter 16 Verse 8
Context
Krishna continues describing the demonic nature (16.6–16.20).
Meaning
The demonic worldview sees the universe as asatya, without moral truth; apratiṣṭha, without a stable foundation; and anīśvara, without God. Everything is explained as arising by chance union and driven by kāma, desire alone. Life has no higher meaning.
The verse describes not honest philosophical inquiry but a worldview used to justify selfish desire. When nothing is sacred, desire becomes the only law.
In Practice
Reflect on what gives your life meaning beyond desire, and let it guide one decision today.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 16: Daivasura Sampad Vibhaga Yoga (Divine and Undivine Qualities). Read the chapter overview, browse every verse of the Gita, or return to the chapter-by-chapter guide. For a reading plan, see how to study the Bhagavad Gita and the study resources.