Step 4 of 7 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Pick any verse to see what it means and how to use it in your life.

700 verses37 detailed

Or browse by chapter

Chapter

Chapter 16 · The Divine and Demoniac Natures · 24 verses

Deep profile← → keys move between verses

Character & ethicsChapter 16 · The Divine and Demoniac Natures

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 16.8

Demoniac qualities and their consequences

असत्यमप्रतिष्ठं ते जगदाहुरनीश्वरम् ।

अपरस्परसम्भूतं किमन्यत्कामहैतुकम् ॥ ८ ॥

asatyam apratiṣṭhaṁ te

jagad āhur anīśvaram

aparaspara-sambhūtaṁ

kim anyat kāma-haitukam

Translation

They say that this world is unreal, with no foundation, no God in control. They say it is produced of sex desire and has no cause other than lust.

What this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.

1The demonic say the world is unreal, has no foundation or controlling God, and comes only from lust.
2Prabhupāda explains that they see everything as matter and deny the soul, but Kṛṣṇa directs the material world.
3Learn from Kṛṣṇa’s words rather than accepting unsupported theories about creation.

In the story

Chapter 16, The Divine and Demoniac Natures: demoniac qualities and their consequences.

Theme summary

Cultivate divine qualities in character.

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Key ideas: daivī-sampat, dharma.

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

What does BG 16.8 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to character & ethics?

Choose one virtue to practice consciously today.

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

Study notes are editorial summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport.

Ask about BG 16.8 — get a simple answer linked to related ideas and verses.