Chapter 16, Verse 11 (Bhagavad Gita 16.11)
Chapter 16: Daivāsura Sampad Vibhāg Yog – Yoga through Discerning the Divine and Demoniac Natures
Sanskrit Shloka
चिन्तामपरिमेयां च प्रलयान्तामुपाश्रिताः।कामोपभोगपरमा एतावदिति निश्िचताः
Transliteration
chintām aparimeyāṁ cha pralayāntām upāśhritāḥ kāmopabhoga-paramā etāvad iti niśhchitāḥ
Word Meanings
chintām—anxieties; aparimeyām—endless; cha—and; pralaya-antām—until death; upāśhritāḥ—taking refuge; kāma-upabhoga—gratification of desires; paramāḥ—the purpose of life; etāvat—still; iti—thus; niśhchitāḥ—with complete assurance
Translation
Giving themselves over to immeasurable cares that end only with death, regarding the gratification of lust as their highest aim, and feeling sure that that is all.
Meaning & Commentary
In this profound revelation on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, Bhagwan Shri Krishna exposes the tragic myopia of souls trapped in a materialistic worldview. By equating the pursuit of sensory pleasure with the ultimate purpose of life, these individuals anchor their existence to fleeting objects, thereby remaining blind to their own eternal nature. Shri Krishna warns that such a life, consumed by anxieties that cease only at the moment of death, is a state of spiritual bondage. He invites the seeker to look beyond the transient illusions of the material world and recognize that true fulfillment and lasting peace can only be found in devotion to Him. Through these words, the Supreme Lord calls upon every soul to transcend the darkness of ignorance and awaken to the light of divine consciousness.