Bhagavad Gita Chapter 16, Verse 10 (BG 16.10) — Meaning, Translation & Commentary

With what pride does a purely materialistic person move about in the sphere of his accomplishments? The terrible distortion of his inner nature cannot be expressed more aptly than through this description given by Vyasa. To obtain a clearer and more complete portrayal of the mental state of the demonic person and the level of his actions in society, we would need to search through all existing literature in every language of the world. Yet even then, we would fail to find a depiction equal to this pregnant verse. Desire-driven actions cannot occur without the impulse of desires. Without desires, life's achievements are impossible. Yet to remain prey to cravings means to become a terrible instrument of action that continuously vomits the poison of ego and ego-centered emotional turmoil into the world. To sustain life merely for the satisfaction of desires is a mark of lack of discernment, for desire possesses this peculiar quality: as we satisfy it, it doubles. They are difficult to fulfill; they are insatiable. When a person possessed of such desires employs his discernment and capability, it is natural that he creates disorder and mismanagement both within his mind and in the external world. What is desire? The living being's effort to attain eternal happiness and contentment through the enjoyment of objects is desire itself. When he becomes deluded in this way, he also becomes prey to arrogance, intoxication, and pride. Tormented by these, he remains in constant struggle and toil to satisfy his unbridled desires. From delusion: In the mind of a person who is complete and satisfied, desire cannot exist. Only he who does not know his infinite nature and regards himself merely as a limited being can have desire for objects. This is what is called delusion. The character of the minds of demonic people is completed in the second line of this verse. They are called here as impure in conduct. This means that people of such demonic nature do not regard other people as having any importance whatsoever in their effort to secure their own happiness and peace by any means. Casting aside all life's ideal values, they remain shameless, intolerant, and even cruel in their field of action. That person, maddened by lust and devoid of feeling through selfishness, acts like a madman in the world, spreading blood and acid all around, bringing only calamity and destruction. From the individual perspective, this picture shows us a hedonistic person who builds his life upon the restless waves of a mind disturbed by desire. From the collective perspective, this same word-picture reveals to us the condition of materialistic masses and nations. The beauty of life depends upon the beauty of that knowledge of truth upon which life is built. If the foundation itself is unreal, the house of cards built upon it cannot be very sturdy. If we could view this verse with subtle perception, we would understand that it contains a complete analysis of the economic disintegration, social defects, political upheaval, and unrest being experienced everywhere in today's world. Through the above description, Lord Sri Krishna is indirectly portraying a materialistic person who is atheistic in nature and performs actions only for enjoyment. Are we not proving ourselves in this very age of materialism to be in accordance with the description given? The Lord continues to speak.