Gita Chapter 16 – Daivasura Sampad Vibhaga Yoga: This chapter explores the essence of human conduct, distinguishing between divine (spiritual) and demoniac (ungodly) natures. Those with demoniac traits, who live according to their whims without following scriptural guidance, are born into lower conditions and further bound by material entanglement. Conversely, those with divine traits, who live orderly lives in accordance with scriptural wisdom, gradually attain spiritual perfection.
16:1 śrī-bhagavān uvāca abhayaṁ sattva-saṁśuddhir jñāna-yoga-vyavasthitiḥ dānaṁ damaś ca yajñaś ca svādhyāyas tapa ārjavam
The Blessed Lord (Krishna) said: “Fearlessness, purity of mind, steadfastness in the yoga of knowledge and self-realization; charity, control of the senses, sacrifice, study of sacred scriptures, austerity, and straightforwardness;”
16:2 ahiṁsā satyam akrodhas tyāgaḥ śāntir apaiśunam dayā bhūteṣv aloluptvaṁ mārdavaṁ hrīr acāpalam
“Ahiṁsā (non-violence in thought, word, and deed), truthfulness, freedom from anger, renunciation, tranquility, aversion to fault-finding, compassion for all living beings; freedom from covetousness, gentleness, modesty, and steady determination;”
16:3 tejaḥ kṣamā dhṛtiḥ śaucam adroho nāti-mānitā bhavanti sampadaṁ daivīm abhijātasya bhārata
“Vigor, forgiveness, fortitude, purity of body and mind; freedom from malice and excessive pride—these, O Arjuna, are the inherent traits of those born with a divine (Daivī) nature.”
16:4 dambho darpo’bhimānaś ca krodhaḥ pāruṣyam eva ca ajñānaṁ cābhijātasya pārtha sampadam āsurīm
“O Arjuna, hypocrisy, arrogance, conceit, anger, harshness, and ignorance—all of these are the characteristics of those born with a demoniac (Āsurī) nature.”
16:5 daivī sampad vimokṣāya nibandhāyāsurī matā mā śucaḥ sampadaṁ daivīm abhijāto’si pāṇḍava
“O Arjuna, the divine nature leads to mokṣa (absolute liberation from the cycle of birth and death), while the demoniac nature causes entanglement. But do not worry, for you are born with a divine nature.”
16:6 dvau bhūta-sargau loke’smin daiva āsura eva ca daivo vistaraśaḥ prokta āsuraṁ pārtha me śṛṇu
“Truly, there are only two kinds of beings in this world: the divine and the demoniac. I have already explained the divine nature in detail; now hear from Me about the demoniac, O Arjuna.”
16:7 pravṛttiṁ ca nivṛttiṁ ca janā na vidur āsurāḥ na śaucaṁ nāpi cācāro na satyaṁ teṣu vidyate
“Those of demoniac nature cannot discern between noble action and improper action. They do not know when to act and when to refrain. Neither purity, nor right conduct, nor truthfulness exists within them.”
16:8 asatyam apratiṣṭhaṁ te jagad āhur anīśvaram aparaspara-sambhūtaṁ kim anyat kāma-haitukam
“Those of demoniac nature claim that the world is without ultimate truth, without a moral foundation, and without a Divine Ruler. They believe everything is created only by the union of the sexes; thus, to them, the universe is based solely on lust.”
16:9 etāṁ dṛṣṭim avaṣṭabhya naṣṭātmāno’lpa-buddhayaḥ prabhavanty ugra-karmāṇaḥ kṣayāya jagato’hitāḥ
“Clinging to such false views, these lost souls with small intellects become enemies of all beings through their actions, bringing only disaster to the world.”
16:10 kāmam āśritya duṣpūraṁ dambha-māna-madānvitāḥ mohād gṛhītvāsad-grāhān pravartante’śuci-vratāḥ
“Trapped by insatiable desires and never satisfied, they hold onto deluded doctrines due to their ignorance. Those of demoniac nature act with impurity, full of hypocrisy, pride, and arrogance.”
16:11 cintām aparimeyāṁ ca pralayāntām upāśritāḥ kāmopabhoga-paramā etāvad iti niścitāḥ
“Engrossing themselves in endless anxieties that end only in death, they prioritize sensory gratification alone; they regard such pleasures as the highest and only happiness, believing nothing else exists beyond it.”
16:12 āśā-pāśa-śatair baddhāḥ kāma-krodha-parāyaṇāḥ īhante kāma-bhogārtham anyāyenārtha-sañcayān
“Bound by hundreds of shackles of hope, and driven by lust and anger, they spend their entire lives accumulating wealth by any means necessary, all for the sake of sensory enjoyment.”
16:13 idam adya mayā labdham imaṁ prāpsye manoratham idam astīdam api me bhaviṣyati punar dhanam
“They are always striving: ‘Today I have succeeded, tomorrow I shall achieve even more. Today this is my wealth, tomorrow it shall increase further.’”
16:14 asau mayā hataḥ śatrur haniṣye cāparān api īśvaro’ham ahaṁ bhogī siddho’haṁ balavān sukhī
“‘I have conquered one enemy, and I shall conquer others as well. I rule over everything. I hold supreme power. Everything is available for my enjoyment. I possess all strength. I am successful, powerful, and happy.’”
16:15-16 āḍhyo’bhijanavān asmi ko’nyo’sti sadṛśo mayā yakṣye dāsyāmi modiṣya ity ajñāna-vimohitāḥ aneka-citta-vibhrāntā moha-jāla-samāvṛtāḥ prasaktāḥ kāma-bhogeṣu patanti narake’śucau
“‘I am wealthy, I come from a prominent family. Who can rival me? I perform sacrifices and give alms diligently. I am always happy.’ Thus, blinded by self-stupidity and carried away by delusion, they are addicted to sensory pleasures. With unstable and clouded thoughts, those of demoniac nature eventually fall into the most foul and loathsome hell (naraka).”
16:17 ātma-sambhāvitāḥ stabdhā dhana-māna-madānvitāḥ yajante nāma-yajñais te dambhenāvidhi-pūrvakam
“Intoxicated by wealth, they always consider themselves right; stubborn and hypocritical, the religious rites they perform are merely for self-interest and fame, without regard for the nobility of intention or the values of purity.”
16:18 ahaṁkāraṁ balaṁ darpaṁ kāmaṁ krodhaṁ ca saṁśritāḥ mām ātma-para-deheṣu pradviṣanto’bhyasūyakāḥ
“Controlled by ego, violence, arrogance, lust, and anger, they in truth insult Me, who dwells within their own bodies and within the bodies of all beings.”
16:19 tān ahaṁ dviṣataḥ krūrān saṁsāreṣu narādhamān kṣipāmy ajasram aśubhān āsurīṣv eva yoniṣu
“Those filled with hatred, who lean towards ignoble deeds, who are cruel and have degraded their dignity as humans, are born repeatedly in this world through equally ignoble wombs.”
16:20 āsurīṁ yonim āpannā mūḍhā janmani janmani mām aprāpyaiva kaunteya tato yānty adhamāṁ gatim
“O Arjuna, failing to reach Me (to attain Self-Perfection or true Soul-Consciousness), these deluded ones are born again and again through demoniac or āsurī wombs; and each time, they experience a further decline in consciousness.”
16:21 tri-vidhaṁ narakasyedaṁ dvāraṁ nāśanam ātmanaḥ kāmaḥ krodhas tathā lobhas tasmād etat trayaṁ tyajet
“Lust, anger, and greed—these are the three gates to hell that lead to the ruin of the Soul. Therefore, one must abandon all three.”
16:22 etair vimuktaḥ kaunteya tamo-dvārais tribhir naraḥ ācaraty ātmanaḥ śreyas tato yāti parāṁ gatim
“O Arjuna, one who is liberated from these three gates of darkness and strives for their own salvation, shall surely attain it; they shall even reach Soul-Consciousness, which is the Supreme State.”
16:23 yaḥ śāstra-vidhim utsṛjya vartate kāma-kārataḥ na sa siddhim avāpnoti na sukhaṁ na parāṁ gatim
“Meanwhile, one who disregards the guidance of the sacred scriptures and acts according to their own whims and desires, never achieves self-perfection, never reaches their goal, and never attains true happiness.”
16:24 tasmāc chāstraṁ pramāṇaṁ te kāryākārya-vyavasthitau jñātvā śāstra-vidhānoktaṁ karma kartum ihārhasi
“Therefore, let the scriptures be your authority and guide for your actions; to determine what should be done and what should be avoided. Thus, guided by scriptural wisdom, perform your work in this world.”
Thus ends the Sixteenth Discourse of the Gita, Chapter 16.
“May all beings be well, may all beings be at peace, may all beings attain perfection, and may all beings experience divine glory.”
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