Chapter 16, Verse 11
चिन्तामपरिमेयां च प्रलयान्तामुपाश्रिता: | कामोपभोगपरमा एतावदिति निश्चिता: ॥11॥
cintām aparimeyāṃ ca pralayāntām upāśritāḥ | kāmopabhoga-paramā etāvad iti niścitāḥ || 11 ||
"Beset with immeasurable anxieties that end only with death, regarding the gratification of lust as the highest aim, and being convinced that this is all there is."
Key Insight:
The Bhagavad Gita teaches us through 16.11 that true peace is found when we align our actions with Dharma.
The Bhagavad Gita teaches us through 16.11 that true peace is found when we align our actions with Dharma.
Detailed Meaning
This verse describes the psychological state of those with a materialistic or 'demoniac' disposition. They are trapped in a cycle of endless worry (cintām aparimeyām) because their desires are infinite. They believe that physical pleasure (kāma-upabhoga) is the sole purpose of existence and that no higher spiritual reality exists (etāvad iti niścitāḥ). This worldview leads to a life of constant stress, as they desperately try to maintain and increase their sensory enjoyments until the very moment of death.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core message of Gita 16.11?
Beset with immeasurable anxieties that end only with death, regarding the gratification of lust as the highest aim, and being convinced that this is all there is.