Bhagavad Gita BG 16.9
Chapter 16, Verse 9 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
एतां दृष्टिमवष्टभ्य नष्टात्मानोऽल्पबुद्धयः । प्रभवन्त्युग्रकर्माणः क्षयाय जगतोऽहिताः ॥
etam drstim avashthabhya nashtatmano 'lpa-buddhayah prabhavante ugra-karmanah kshayaya jagato 'hitah
Meaning
Holding this view, these lost souls (nashtatman) of little intelligence and fierce deeds arise as enemies for the destruction of the world.
Understanding
The consequence of the demonic worldview: etam drstim avashthabhya (holding/seizing this view — drishti means vision/worldview). Nashtatmanah (those whose self is lost/destroyed — nashta + atman: the self is nashta, destroyed, because the connection to one's true divine nature is severed). Alpa-buddhayah (of little intelligence — not intellectual sharpness but buddhi in its deep sense: discriminative wisdom). Prabhavante ugra-karmanah (they arise/manifest performing fierce/terrible actions — ugra = fierce, harsh, terrible). Kshayaya jagato 'hitah (for the destruction of the world — not enemies of one person but of jagat, the entire world; ahita = harmful, enemy). The demonic worldview does not remain private — it produces social destruction. Lost from their own selves, these individuals act with terrible force against the world.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| दृष्टिम् | drstim | view, vision, worldview, philosophical position |
| नष्टात्मानः | nashtatmanah | those whose self is lost/destroyed (nashta = destroyed, atman = self) |
| अल्पबुद्धयः | alpa-buddhayah | of little wisdom/discriminative intelligence (alpa = small) |
| उग्रकर्माणः | ugra-karmanah | those who perform fierce/terrible actions |
| क्षयाय | kshayaya | for destruction, for the ruin of (dative of purpose) |
| एताम् | etām | this |
| दृष्टिम् | dṛṣṭim | view, vision |
| अवष्टभ्य | avaṣṭabhya | taking support of |
| नष्ट-आत्मनः | naṣṭa-ātmanaḥ | of lost souls |
| अल्प-बुद्धयः | alpa-buddhayaḥ | of small intelligence |
| प्रभवन्ते | prabhavante | they undertake |
| उग्र-कर्मणः | ugra-karmaṇaḥ | of terrible deeds |
| क्षयाय | kṣayāya | for destruction |
| जगतः | jagataḥ | of the world |
| अहिताः | ahitāḥ | enemies, harmful ones |
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