Devanagari
एवं प्रकृतिवैचित्र्याद् भिद्यन्ते मतयो नृणाम् ।
पारम्पर्येण केषाञ्चित् पाषण्डमतयोऽपरे ॥ ८ ॥
Verse text
evaṁ prakṛti-vaicitryād
bhidyante matayo nṛṇām
pāramparyeṇa keṣāṣcit
pāṣaṇḍa-matayo ’pare
Synonyms
evam
—
thus
;
prakṛti
—
of nature or desires
;
vaicitryāt
—
due to the great variety
;
bhidyante
—
are divided
;
matayaḥ
—
philosophies of life
;
nṛṇām
—
among human beings
;
pāramparyeṇa
—
by tradition or disciplic succession
;
keṣāṣcit
—
among some people
;
pāṣaṇḍa
—
atheistic
;
matayaḥ
—
philosophies
;
apare
—
others .
Translation
Thus, due to the great variety of desires and natures among human beings, there are many different theistic philosophies of life, which are handed down through tradition, custom and disciplic succession. There are other teachers who directly support atheistic viewpoints.
Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
Thus, due to the great variety of desires among human beings, there are many different philosophies of life. There are some teachers who support atheistic viewpoints which are handed down through tradition.
There are ignorant, heretical teachings handed down in guru tradition. These are contrary to the Vedas since they are completely material. Though the water of the Gaṅgā is pure and sweet, when received by the roots of bitter or poisonous trees growing on its bank, it becomes distasteful sap in the trees. Similarly when the Vedas are come from the mouths of these faithless people, the meaning becomes distasteful and gives results which are opposite to the normal results.
Purport
The word
keṣāṣcit
refers to those persons in various parts of the world who are ignorant of the Vedic conclusion and thus concoct many unauthorized and ultimately fruitless philosophies of life.
Pāṣaṇḍa-matayaḥ
refers to those who directly oppose the Vedic conclusion. Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura has given a most interesting example, as follows. The water of the Ganges is always pure and very sweet. On the banks of that great river, however, there are several types of poisonous trees whose roots drink up the Ganges water from the soil and use it to produce poisonous fruits. Similarly, those who are atheistic or demoniac utilize their association with Vedic knowledge to produce the poisonous fruits of atheistic or materialistic philosophy.