Chapter 16, Verse 9 (Bhagavad Gita 16.9)
Chapter 16: Daivāsura Sampad Vibhāg Yog – Yoga through Discerning the Divine and Demoniac Natures
Sanskrit Shloka
एतां दृष्टिमवष्टभ्य नष्टात्मानोऽल्पबुद्धयः।प्रभवन्त्युग्रकर्माणः क्षयाय जगतोऽहिताः
Transliteration
etāṁ dṛiṣhṭim avaṣhṭabhya naṣhṭātmāno ’lpa-buddhayaḥ prabhavanty ugra-karmāṇaḥ kṣhayāya jagato ’hitāḥ
Word Meanings
etām—such; dṛiṣhṭim—views; avaṣhṭabhya—holding; naṣhṭa—misdirected; ātmānaḥ—souls; alpa-buddhayaḥ—of small intellect; prabhavanti—arise; ugra—cruel; karmāṇaḥ—actions; kṣhayāya—destruction; jagataḥ—of the world; ahitāḥ—enemies
Translation
Holding fast to this vision, these lost souls of meager intellect and cruel actions manifest as enemies of the world, driven by a desire for its destruction.
Meaning & Commentary
In this profound revelation, Bhagwan Shri Krishna exposes the dangerous trajectory of the atheistic mindset that denies the divine order of the universe. When individuals abandon the truth of the Supreme Lord’s sovereignty, their intellect becomes clouded, leading them toward destructive egoism. Shri Krishna warns Arjuna that such souls, detached from the compassion of the Divine, become agents of chaos who work against the welfare of all beings. This teaching serves as a spiritual mirror, urging the seeker to cultivate divine qualities and recognize the sacredness of all creation. Ultimately, Shri Krishna invites us to seek liberation from the cycle of base desires by surrendering to His eternal, all-pervading grace.