Verse 16.8

Verse 16.8: “Void of Truth, without any (moral) foundation, they declare the world to be,—and without any Divine controller: it originates, (they say), without any causal relationship betwixt one thing and another: with (random) lust—what else?—as Its creative force. (295)

Commentary called Jnaneshwari by Jnaneshwar:

The world exists from times immemorial, while God is its ruling king, and there the Vedas (Supreme Court) give decision as to what is just or what is unjust. Those that are adjudged guilty by the Vedas, have to suffer the penalty of hell-life, while those adjudged as just, get the kingdom of Heaven to live happily in. Such Universal Government, which exists throughout eternity, Oh Partha,—they (Demoniacs) call simply “false and vain”. (They further say) the foolish sacrifices are deceived by the sacrifices: those mad after God are cheated (are led into error) in the act of idol-worship, while the Yogins clad in orange-coloured garments, get into difficulties through the delusion of ecstacy (concentrated meditation).

(They add) whatever could be secured through one’s own strength, should all be enjoyed boldly, there being no greater good in the world than this (lit. wherein does merit of good lie, if not in this?) It is a sin and misfortune to be simply chafing for want of enjoyment of (sense) objects, because one cannot bring them all together on account of one’s physical debility. Even though it be a sin (as people think) to kill the rich, yet it is surely the fruit of their merit, that thereby they secure all they—the rich—possessed. If it be a harmful thing that the strong should devour the weak, how is it then (they ask) that fish species is not totally annihilated, since the strong fish devour the weak ones! Young couples are wedded into marriages on auspicious occasions after enquiries are made into the (respectability of) the families on both sides, with the object of begetting progeny.

There are (on the other hand) other orders, such as beasts, birds, and other classes of beings, amongst whom there take place innumerable births: who gets them married (amongst themselves) according to the Scriptures? Do the riches acquired by theft ever prove poisonous to anyone? Do such, as out of love commit adultery, ever get affected by white leprosy? (It is said) that there is God who rules over all, and makes the beings experience the fruit of all their actions—religious or irreligious,—that the doer of the act has to taste the fruit of whatever action, committed in this world and in the other world; but really speaking one can see neither the next world nor God! Therefore the theory has no basis in reality. When the very existence of the doer comes to an end (by death) what is the locus wherein the action-fruit can manifest itself? As one sees, the worm remains pleased in the excreta as much as Indra does in the Heavens, in the company of Urvashi! Therefore, hell or heaven is not a reward either of sin or merit, since the carnal passion is equally satisfied in the case of these (Hell and Heaven).

The entire world is born and sustained through men and women—males and females—contacting each other under the urge of passion. Whatever becomes mighty (stout) on account of mutual greed as a result of passion through selfish motives, is ultimately destroyed at the hands of the same passion through mutual hatred. In short, passions are the root cause of the entire world creation, so say those of Demoniacal disposition. Enough of this odious subject. Further dilation on it means only trouble to the tongue.