The sixteenth chapter of the Bhagavad Gita is "Daivasura Sampad Vibhaga Yoga". In this chapter, Krishna describes explicitly the two kinds of natures among human beings - divine and demoniac. Those who possess demonaic qualities associate themselves with the modes of passion and ignorance do not follow the regulations of the scriptures and embrace materialistic views. These people attain lower births and further material bondage. But people who possess divine qualities, follow the instructions of the scriptures, associate themselves with the mode of goodness and purify the mind through spiritual practices. This leads to the enhancement of divine qualities and they eventually attain spiritual realization.
भगवद गीता का सोलहवा अध्याय दैवासुरसम्पद्विभागयोग है। इस अध्याय में, कृष्ण स्पष्ट रूप से मानवों की दो प्रकार की प्रकृतियों का वर्णन करते हैं- दैवीय और दानवीय। दानवीय स्वभाव वाले लोग स्वयं को लालसा और अज्ञान के तरीकों से जोड़ते हैं, शास्त्रों के नियमों का पालन नहीं करते हैं और भौतिक विचारों को ग्रहण करते हैं। ये लोग निचली जातियों में जन्म लेते हैं और भौतिक बंधनों में और भी बंध जाते हैं। परन्तु जो लोग दैवीय स्वभाव वाले होते हैं, वे शास्त्रों के निर्देशों का पालन करते हैं, अच्छे काम करते हैं और आध्यात्मिक प्रथाओं के माध्यम से मन को शुद्ध करते हैं। इससे दैवीय गुणों में वृद्धि होती है और वे अंततः आध्यात्मिक प्राप्ति प्राप्त करते हैं।
श्री भगवानुवाच अभयं सत्त्वसंशुद्धिः ज्ञानयोगव्यवस्थितिः। दानं दमश्च यज्ञश्च स्वाध्यायस्तप आर्जवम्।।16.1।।
śhrī-bhagavān uvācha abhayaṁ sattva-sanśhuddhir jñāna-yoga-vyavasthitiḥ dānaṁ damaśh cha yajñaśh cha svādhyāyas tapa ārjavam
śhrī-bhagavān uvācha—the Supreme Divine Personality said; abhayam—fearlessness; sattva-sanśhuddhiḥ—purity of mind; jñāna—knowledge; yoga—spiritual; vyavasthitiḥ—steadfastness; dānam—charity; damaḥ—control of the senses; cha—and; yajñaḥ—performance of sacrifice; cha—and; svādhyāyaḥ—study of sacred books; tapaḥ—austerity; ārjavam—straightforwardness;
The Lord said, "Fearlessness, purity of mind, devotion to meditation on the knowledge of the self, alms-giving, self-control, worship, study of the Vedas, austerity, and uprightness—
Commentaries and more translationsअहिंसा सत्यमक्रोधस्त्यागः शान्तिरपैशुनम्।दया भूतेष्वलोलुप्त्वं मार्दवं ह्रीरचापलम्।।16.2।।
ahinsā satyam akrodhas tyāgaḥ śhāntir apaiśhunam dayā bhūteṣhv aloluptvaṁ mārdavaṁ hrīr achāpalam
ahinsā—non-violence; satyam—truthfulness; akrodhaḥ—absence of anger; tyāgaḥ—renunciation; śhāntiḥ—peacefulness; apaiśhunam—restraint from fault-finding; dayā—compassion; bhūteṣhu—toward all living beings; aloluptvam—absence of covetousness; mārdavam—gentleness; hrīḥ—modesty; achāpalam—lack of fickleness;
Non-injury, truth, freedom from anger, renunciation, tranquility, non-slandering of others, compassion for all beings, freedom from desire, gentleness, a sense of shame, and freedom from fickleness;
Commentaries and more translationsतेजः क्षमा धृतिः शौचमद्रोहो नातिमानिता। भवन्ति सम्पदं दैवीमभिजातस्य भारत।।16.3।।
tejaḥ kṣhamā dhṛitiḥ śhaucham adroho nāti-mānitā bhavanti sampadaṁ daivīm abhijātasya bhārata
tejaḥ—vigor; kṣhamā—forgiveness; dhṛitiḥ—fortitude; śhaucham—cleanliness; adrohaḥ—bearing enmity toward none; na—not; ati-mānitā—absence of vanity; bhavanti—are; sampadam—qualities; daivīm—godly; abhijātasya—of those endowed with; bhārata—scion of Bharat
Grandeur, patience, fortitude, purity, freedom from hatred and over-pride—these, O Arjuna, belong to one who is born to a divine destiny.
Commentaries and more translationsदम्भो दर्पोऽभिमानश्च क्रोधः पारुष्यमेव च।अज्ञानं चाभिजातस्य पार्थ सम्पदमासुरीम्।।16.4।।
dambho darpo ’bhimānaśh cha krodhaḥ pāruṣhyam eva cha ajñānaṁ chābhijātasya pārtha sampadam āsurīm
dambhaḥ—hypocrisy; darpaḥ—arrogance; abhimānaḥ—conceit; cha—and; krodhaḥ—anger; pāruṣhyam—harshness; eva—certainly; cha—and; ajñānam—ignorance; cha—and; abhijātasya—of those who possess; pārtha—Arjun, the son of Pritha; sampadam—qualities; āsurīm—demoniac
Pompousness, arrogance, self-conceit, wrath, rudeness, and ignorance—these, O Arjuna, belong to one who is born with a demonic destiny.
Commentaries and more translationsदैवी सम्पद्विमोक्षाय निबन्धायासुरी मता।मा शुचः सम्पदं दैवीमभिजातोऽसि पाण्डव।।16.5।।
daivī sampad vimokṣhāya nibandhāyāsurī matā mā śhuchaḥ sampadaṁ daivīm abhijāto ’si pāṇḍava
daivī—divine; sampat—qualities; vimokṣhāya—toward liberation; nibandhāya—to bondage; āsurī—demoniac qualities; matā—are considered; mā—do not; śhuchaḥ—grieve; sampadam—virtues; daivīm—saintly; abhijātaḥ—born; asi—you are; pāṇḍava—Arjun, the son of Pandu
The divine destiny is said to lead to liberation, while the demoniac to bondage. Do not grieve, O Arjuna, for you are born with a divine destiny.
Commentaries and more translationsद्वौ भूतसर्गौ लोकेऽस्मिन् दैव आसुर एव च।दैवो विस्तरशः प्रोक्त आसुरं पार्थ मे श्रृणु।।16.6।।
dvau bhūta-sargau loke ’smin daiva āsura eva cha daivo vistaraśhaḥ prokta āsuraṁ pārtha me śhṛiṇu
dvau—two; bhūta-sargau—of created living beings; loke—in the world; asmin—this; daivaḥ—divine; āsuraḥ—demoniac; eva—certainly; cha—and; daivaḥ—the divine; vistaraśhaḥ—at great length; proktaḥ—said; āsuram—the demoniac; pārtha—Arjun, the son of Pritha; me—from me; śhṛiṇu—hear
There are two types of beings in this world: the divine and the demoniac. The divine have been described at length. Hear from Me, O Arjuna, about the demoniac.
Commentaries and more translationsप्रवृत्तिं च निवृत्तिं च जना न विदुरासुराः।न शौचं नापि चाचारो न सत्यं तेषु विद्यते।।16.7।।
pravṛittiṁ cha nivṛittiṁ cha janā na vidur āsurāḥ na śhauchaṁ nāpi chāchāro na satyaṁ teṣhu vidyate
pravṛittim—proper actions; cha—and; nivṛittim—improper actions; cha—and; janāḥ—persons; na—not; viduḥ—comprehend; āsurāḥ—those possessing demoniac nature; na—neither; śhaucham—purity; na—nor; api—even; cha—and; āchāraḥ—conduct; na—nor; satyam—truthfulness; teṣhu—in them; vidyate—exist
The demoniacal men neither know action nor renunciation. They have no cleanliness, nor right conduct, nor truth.
Commentaries and more translationsअसत्यमप्रतिष्ठं ते जगदाहुरनीश्वरम्।अपरस्परसम्भूतं किमन्यत्कामहैतुकम्।।16.8।।
asatyam apratiṣhṭhaṁ te jagad āhur anīśhvaram aparaspara-sambhūtaṁ kim anyat kāma-haitukam
asatyam—without absolute truth; apratiṣhṭham—without any basis; te—they; jagat—the world; āhuḥ—say; anīśhvaram—without a God; aparaspara—without cause; sambhūtam—created; kim—what; anyat—other; kāma-haitukam—for sexual gratification only
They maintain: 'The universe is without truth, with no foundation, and without a Lord (Isvara). What else could exist without mutual causation? It has lust as its cause.'
Commentaries and more translationsएतां दृष्टिमवष्टभ्य नष्टात्मानोऽल्पबुद्धयः।प्रभवन्त्युग्रकर्माणः क्षयाय जगतोऽहिताः।।16.9।।
etāṁ dṛiṣhṭim avaṣhṭabhya naṣhṭātmāno ’lpa-buddhayaḥ prabhavanty ugra-karmāṇaḥ kṣhayāya jagato ’hitāḥ
etām—such; dṛiṣhṭim—views; avaṣhṭabhya—holding; naṣhṭa—misdirected; ātmānaḥ—souls; alpa-buddhayaḥ—of small intellect; prabhavanti—arise; ugra—cruel; karmāṇaḥ—actions; kṣhayāya—destruction; jagataḥ—of the world; ahitāḥ—enemies
Holding this view, these men of lost souls and feeble understanding do cruel deeds, leading to the destruction of the world.
Commentaries and more translationsकाममाश्रित्य दुष्पूरं दम्भमानमदान्विताः।मोहाद्गृहीत्वासद्ग्राहान्प्रवर्तन्तेऽशुचिव्रताः।।16.10।।
kāmam āśhritya duṣhpūraṁ dambha-māna-madānvitāḥ mohād gṛihītvāsad-grāhān pravartante ’śhuchi-vratāḥ
kāmam—lust; āśhritya—harboring; duṣhpūram—insatiable; dambha—hypocrisy; māna—arrogance; mada-anvitāḥ—clinging to false tenets; mohāt—the illusioned; gṛihītvā—being attracted to; asat—impermanent; grāhān—things; pravartante—they flourish; aśhuchi-vratāḥ—with impure resolve
Turning to insatiable desires, seizing through delusion unjustly acquired wealth, and following impious vows, they act, full of ostentation, pride, and arrogance.
Commentaries and more translationsचिन्तामपरिमेयां च प्रलयान्तामुपाश्रिताः।कामोपभोगपरमा एतावदिति निश्िचताः।।16.11।।
chintām aparimeyāṁ cha pralayāntām upāśhritāḥ kāmopabhoga-paramā etāvad iti niśhchitāḥ
chintām—anxieties; aparimeyām—endless; cha—and; pralaya-antām—until death; upāśhritāḥ—taking refuge; kāma-upabhoga—gratification of desires; paramāḥ—the purpose of life; etāvat—still; iti—thus; niśhchitāḥ—with complete assurance
Obsessed by unlimited cares that end with dissolution, looking upon the enjoyment of desires as their highest aim, and convinced that this is all;
Commentaries and more translationsआशापाशशतैर्बद्धाः कामक्रोधपरायणाः।ईहन्ते कामभोगार्थमन्यायेनार्थसञ्चयान्।।16.12।।
āśhā-pāśha-śhatair baddhāḥ kāma-krodha-parāyaṇāḥ īhante kāma-bhogārtham anyāyenārtha-sañchayān
āśhā-pāśha—bondage of desires; śhataiḥ—by hundreds; baddhāḥ—bound; kāma—lust; krodha—anger; parāyaṇāḥ—dedicated to; īhante—strive; kāma—lust; bhoga—gratification of the senses; artham—for; anyāyena—by unjust means; artha—wealth; sañchayān—to accumulate
Bound by hundreds of fetters of hopes, given over to desire and anger, they strive unjustly to gather wealth for the gratification of their desires.
Commentaries and more translationsइदमद्य मया लब्धमिमं प्राप्स्ये मनोरथम्।इदमस्तीदमपि मे भविष्यति पुनर्धनम्।।16.13।।
idam adya mayā labdham imaṁ prāpsye manoratham idam astīdam api me bhaviṣhyati punar dhanam
idam—this; adya—today; mayā—by me; labdham—gained; imam—this; prāpsye—I shall acquire; manaḥ-ratham—desire; idam—this; asti—is; idam—this; api—also; me—mine; bhaviṣhyati—in future; punaḥ—again; dhanam—wealth;
'This I have gained today, and this desire I shall attain. This wealth is mine, and this will also be mine hereafter.
Commentaries and more translationsअसौ मया हतः शत्रुर्हनिष्ये चापरानपि।ईश्वरोऽहमहं भोगी सिद्धोऽहं बलवान्सुखी।।16.14।।
asau mayā hataḥ śhatrur haniṣhye chāparān api īśhvaro ’ham ahaṁ bhogī siddho ’haṁ balavān sukhī
asau—that; mayā—by me; hataḥ—has been destroyed; śhatruḥ—enemy; haniṣhye—I shall destroy; cha—and; aparān—others; api—also; īśhvaraḥ—God; aham—I; aham—I; bhogī—the enjoyer; siddhaḥ—powerful; aham—I; bala-vān—powerful; sukhī—happy;
'I have slain this enemy, and I shall slay others too. I am the Lord, the enjoyer, the successful one, the strong one, and the happy one.'
Commentaries and more translationsआढ्योऽभिजनवानस्मि कोऽन्योऽस्ति सदृशो मया।यक्ष्ये दास्यामि मोदिष्य इत्यज्ञानविमोहिताः।।16.15।।
āḍhyo ’bhijanavān asmi ko ’nyo ’sti sadṛiśho mayā yakṣhye dāsyāmi modiṣhya ity ajñāna-vimohitāḥ aneka-chitta-vibhrāntā moha-jāla-samāvṛitāḥ prasaktāḥ kāma-bhogeṣhu patanti narake ’śhuchau
āḍhyaḥ—wealthy; abhijana-vān—having highly placed relatives; asmi—me; kaḥ—who; anyaḥ—else; asti—is; sadṛiśhaḥ—like; mayā—to me; yakṣhye—I shall perform sacrifices; dāsyāmi—I shall give alms; modiṣhye—I shall rejoice; iti—thus; ajñāna—ignorance; vimohitāḥ—deluded aneka—many; chitta—imaginings; vibhrāntāḥ—led astray; moha—delusion; jāla—mesh; samāvṛitāḥ—enveloped; prasaktāḥ—addicted; kāma-bhogeṣhu—gratification of sensuous pleasures; patanti—descend; narake—to hell; aśhuchau—murky
'I am wealthy and high-born; who else is equal to me? I shall sacrifice, I shall give alms, I shall rejoice.' Thus they think, deluded by ignorance.
Commentaries and more translationsअनेकचित्तविभ्रान्ता मोहजालसमावृताः।प्रसक्ताः कामभोगेषु पतन्ति नरकेऽशुचौ।।16.16।।
aneka-citta-vibhrāntā moha-jāla-samāvṛtāḥ prasaktāḥ kāma-bhogeṣu patanti narake 'śucau
aneka—numerous; citta-vibhrāntāḥ—perplexed by anxieties; moha—of illusions; jāla—by a network; samāvṛtāḥ—surrounded; prasaktāḥ—attached; kāma—lust; bhogeṣu—sense gratification; patanti—glides down; narake—into hell; aśucau—unclean.
Bewildered by numerous thoughts, ensnared in the net of delusion, addicted to sensual pleasures, they fall into a wretched Naraka.
Commentaries and more translationsआत्मसम्भाविताः स्तब्धा धनमानमदान्विताः।यजन्ते नामयज्ञैस्ते दम्भेनाविधिपूर्वकम्।।16.17।।
ātma-sambhāvitāḥ stabdhā dhana-māna-madānvitāḥ yajante nāma-yajñais te dambhenāvidhi-pūrvakam
ātma-sambhāvitāḥ—self-conceited; stabdhāḥ—stubborn; dhana—wealth; māna—pride; mada—arrogance; anvitāḥ—full of; yajante—perform sacrifice; nāma—in name only; yajñaiḥ—sacrifices; te—they; dambhena—ostentatiously; avidhi-pūrvakam—with no regards to the rules of the scriptures
Self-conceited, self-sufficient, intoxicated by wealth and pride, they perform sacrifices in name only, ostentatiously and not according to the injunctions of the scriptures.
Commentaries and more translationsअहङ्कारं बलं दर्पं कामं क्रोधं च संश्रिताः।मामात्मपरदेहेषु प्रद्विषन्तोऽभ्यसूयकाः।।16.18।।
ahankāraṁ balaṁ darpaṁ kāmaṁ krodhaṁ cha sanśhritāḥ mām ātma-para-deheṣhu pradviṣhanto ’bhyasūyakāḥ
ahankāram—egotism; balam—strength; darpam—arrogance; kāmam—desire; krodham—anger; cha—and; sanśhritāḥ—covered by; mām—me; ātma-para-deheṣhu—within one’s own and bodies of others; pradviṣhantaḥ—abuse; abhyasūyakāḥ—the demoniac
Depending on their egoism, power, and pride, as well as their desires and wrath, these malicious men hate Me in their own bodies and in those of others.
Commentaries and more translationsतानहं द्विषतः क्रूरान्संसारेषु नराधमान्।क्षिपाम्यजस्रमशुभानासुरीष्वेव योनिषु।।16.19।।
tān ahaṁ dviṣhataḥ krūrān sansāreṣhu narādhamān kṣhipāmy ajasram aśhubhān āsurīṣhv eva yoniṣhu
tān—these; aham—I; dviṣhataḥ—hateful; krūrān—cruel; sansāreṣhu—in the material world; nara-adhamān—the vile and vicious of humankind; kṣhipāmi—I hurl; ajasram—again and again; aśhubhān—inauspicious; āsurīṣhu—demoniac; eva—indeed; yoniṣhu—in to the wombs;
Those who are hateful, cruel, the vilest and most inauspicious of mankind, I hurl forever into the cycles of births and deaths, into the wombs of demons.
Commentaries and more translationsअसुरीं योनिमापन्ना मूढा जन्मनि जन्मनि।मामप्राप्यैव कौन्तेय ततो यान्त्यधमां गतिम्।।16.20।।
āsurīṁ yonim āpannā mūḍhā janmani janmani mām aprāpyaiva kaunteya tato yānty adhamāṁ gatim
āsurīm—demoniac; yonim—wombs; āpannāḥ—gaining; mūḍhāḥ—the ignorant; janmani janmani—in birth after birth; mām—me; aprāpya—failing to reach; eva—even; kaunteya—Arjun, the son of Kunti; tataḥ—thereafter; yānti—go; adhamām—abominable; gatim—destination
Fallen into demoniac wombs in birth after birth, these deluded men, not attaining Me, further sink down to the lowest level, O Arjuna.
Commentaries and more translationsत्रिविधं नरकस्येदं द्वारं नाशनमात्मनः।कामः क्रोधस्तथा लोभस्तस्मादेतत्त्रयं त्यजेत्।।16.21।।
tri-vidhaṁ narakasyedaṁ dvāraṁ nāśhanam ātmanaḥ kāmaḥ krodhas tathā lobhas tasmād etat trayaṁ tyajet
tri-vidham—three types of; narakasya—to the hell; idam—this; dvāram—gates; nāśhanam—destruction; ātmanaḥ—self; kāmaḥ—lust; krodhaḥ—anger; tathā—and; lobhaḥ—greed; tasmāt—therefore; etat—these; trayam—three; tyajet—should abandon
Desire, wrath, and greed—these are the three gateways to Naraka, ruinous to the self. Therefore, one should abandon these three.
Commentaries and more translationsएतैर्विमुक्तः कौन्तेय तमोद्वारैस्त्रिभिर्नरः।आचरत्यात्मनः श्रेयस्ततो याति परां गतिम्।।16.22।।
etair vimuktaḥ kaunteya tamo-dvārais tribhir naraḥ ācharaty ātmanaḥ śhreyas tato yāti parāṁ gatim
etaiḥ—from this; vimuktaḥ—freed; kaunteya—Arjun, the son of Kunti; tamaḥ-dvāraiḥ—gates to darkness; tribhiḥ—three; naraḥ—a person; ācharati—endeavor; ātmanaḥ—soul; śhreyaḥ—welfare; tataḥ—thereby; yāti—attain; parām—supreme; gatim—goal
One who has been released from these three gates of darkness, O Arjuna, works for the benefit of the self; thus, they reach the supreme state.
Commentaries and more translationsयः शास्त्रविधिमुत्सृज्य वर्तते कामकारतः।न स सिद्धिमवाप्नोति न सुखं न परां गतिम्।।16.23।।
yaḥ śhāstra-vidhim utsṛijya vartate kāma-kārataḥ na sa siddhim avāpnoti na sukhaṁ na parāṁ gatim
yaḥ—who; śhāstra-vidhim—scriptural injunctions; utsṛijya—discarding; vartate—act; kāma-kārataḥ—under the impulse of desire; na—neither; saḥ—they; siddhim—perfection; avāpnoti—attain; na—nor; sukham—happiness; na—nor; parām—the supreme; gatim—goal
He who, abandoning the injunctions of the Sastras, acts under the influence of desire, attains neither perfection nor pleasure, nor the supreme state.
Commentaries and more translationsतस्माच्छास्त्रं प्रमाणं ते कार्याकार्यव्यवस्थितौ।ज्ञात्वा शास्त्रविधानोक्तं कर्म कर्तुमिहार्हसि।।16.24।।
tasmāch chhāstraṁ pramāṇaṁ te kāryākārya-vyavasthitau jñātvā śhāstra-vidhānoktaṁ karma kartum ihārhasi
tasmāt—therefore; śhāstram—scriptures; pramāṇam—authority; te—your; kārya—duty; akārya—forbidden action; vyavasthitau—in determining; jñātvā—having understood; śhāstra—scriptures; vidhāna—injunctions; uktam—as revealed; karma—actions; kartum—perform; iha—in this world; arhasi—you should
Therefore, let the Sastra be your authority for determining what should be done and what should not be done. Knowing what is enjoined in the injunctions of the Sastra, you should perform work here.
Commentaries and more translationsChapter 16: Daivasura Sampad Vibhaga Yoga दैवासुरसम्पद्विभागयोग