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Saarthi

Chapter 16 · 24 verses

Daivasura Sampad Vibhaga Yoga: Divine and Demonic Qualities

अध्याय 16 — दैवासुरसम्पद्विभागयोग

Two sets of human qualities — those that lead to freedom, like fearlessness and kindness, and those that bind, like arrogance, greed and anger.

मनुष्य के दो प्रकार के गुण — जो मुक्ति की ओर ले जाते हैं, जैसे निर्भयता और दया, और जो बाँधते हैं, जैसे अहंकार, लोभ और क्रोध।

  1. Verse 16.1अभयं सत्त्वसंशुद्धिः ज्ञानयोगव्यवस्थितिः …Krishna begins listing the divine qualities: fearlessness, a pure heart, steady pursuit of wisdom, generosity, self-control, worship, study of scripture, discipline and honesty.
  2. Verse 16.2अहिंसा सत्यमक्रोधस्त्यागः शान्तिरपैशुनम् …More divine qualities: non-violence, truthfulness, freedom from anger, letting go, peace, not gossiping or backbiting, compassion for all beings, freedom from greed, gentleness, a healthy sense of shame and steadiness.
  3. Verse 16.3तेजः क्षमा धृतिः शौचमद्रोहो नातिमानिता …Also vigour, forgiveness, patience, cleanliness, not holding ill will and not being proud. Krishna says these qualities belong to one born with a divine nature.
  4. Verse 16.4दम्भो दर्पोऽभिमानश्च क्रोधः पारुष्यमेव च …Krishna names the opposite, harmful qualities: showing off, arrogance, excessive pride, anger, harshness and ignorance. These form what he calls the demonic nature.
  5. Verse 16.5दैवी सम्पद्विमोक्षाय निबन्धायासुरी मता …The divine qualities lead toward freedom, while the harmful ones lead to bondage. Krishna reassures Arjuna not to worry, because he was born with the divine qualities.
  6. Verse 16.6द्वौ भूतसर्गौ लोकेऽस्मिन् दैव आसुर एव च …There are two kinds of tendencies among beings in this world: divine and demonic. Having described the divine at length, Krishna now explains the other.
  7. Verse 16.7प्रवृत्तिं च निवृत्तिं च जना न विदुरासुराः …A mind ruled by the harmful nature does not understand what should be done and what should be avoided. In it there is no cleanliness, no good conduct and no truthfulness.
  8. Verse 16.8असत्यमप्रतिष्ठं ते जगदाहुरनीश्वरम् …Such a view says the world has no truth, no foundation and no God, that it arose by chance and exists only for satisfying desire.
  9. Verse 16.9एतां दृष्टिमवष्टभ्य नष्टात्मानोऽल्पबुद्धयः …Holding on to this outlook, people lose touch with their true self and their understanding shrinks. Their actions become cruel and harmful, bringing destruction to the world.
  10. Verse 16.10काममाश्रित्य दुष्पूरं दम्भमानमदान्विताः …Taking shelter in desires that can never be satisfied, full of hypocrisy, pride and arrogance, and holding false ideas out of confusion, such people act with impure intentions.
  11. Verse 16.11चिन्तामपरिमेयां च प्रलयान्तामुपाश्रिताः …They are weighed down by endless worries that last until death. They believe enjoying pleasures is the highest goal and are convinced that this is all there is.
  12. Verse 16.12आशापाशशतैर्बद्धाः कामक्रोधपरायणाः …Tied by hundreds of ropes of hope and expectation, given over to desire and anger, they try to pile up wealth by unfair means just to enjoy pleasures.
  13. Verse 16.13इदमद्य मया लब्धमिमं प्राप्स्ये मनोरथम् …Their thoughts run like this: I got this today, and I will fulfil that wish next. This wealth is mine, and more will be mine soon.
  14. Verse 16.14असौ मया हतः शत्रुर्हनिष्ये चापरानपि …They think: I have defeated that enemy and will defeat others too. I am the master, I enjoy, I am successful, powerful and happy.
  15. Verse 16.15आढ्योऽभिजनवानस्मि कोऽन्योऽस्ति सदृशो मया …They tell themselves: I am rich and come from a high family; who could equal me? I will perform rituals, give charity and enjoy myself. In this way they are misled by ignorance.
  16. Verse 16.16अनेकचित्तविभ्रान्ता मोहजालसमावृताः …Confused by many scattered thoughts, caught in a net of delusion and hooked on sensual pleasures, such people fall into a dark and unclean condition.
  17. Verse 16.17आत्मसम्भाविताः स्तब्धा धनमानमदान्विताः …Self-important, stubborn and drunk on wealth and status, they perform worship only in name, for show, without following the proper way.
  18. Verse 16.18अहङ्कारं बलं दर्पं कामं क्रोधं च संश्रिताः …Relying on ego, force, arrogance, desire and anger, they become envious and resent the Divine that lives in their own bodies and in others.
  19. Verse 16.19तानहं द्विषतः क्रूरान्संसारेषु नराधमान् …Krishna says that those who are hateful and cruel, the lowest in conduct, are cast again and again into births that match their harmful tendencies.
  20. Verse 16.20असुरीं योनिमापन्ना मूढा जन्मनि जन्मनि …Born again and again in such conditions, these confused souls never reach Krishna and keep sinking to even lower states.
  21. Verse 16.21त्रिविधं नरकस्येदं द्वारं नाशनमात्मनः …Lust, anger and greed are the three gates to self-destruction; therefore give up all three.
  22. Verse 16.22एतैर्विमुक्तः कौन्तेय तमोद्वारैस्त्रिभिर्नरः …A person freed from these three gates of darkness does what is truly good for their own soul, and so reaches the highest goal.
  23. Verse 16.23यः शास्त्रविधिमुत्सृज्य वर्तते कामकारतः …Whoever throws aside the guidance of scripture and acts just on impulse does not find success, happiness or the highest goal.
  24. Verse 16.24तस्माच्छास्त्रं प्रमाणं ते कार्याकार्यव्यवस्थितौ …So let scripture be your guide in deciding what to do and what not to do. Understanding what it teaches, you should act accordingly in this world.