daivāsurasampadvibhāgayoga
Bhagavad Gita Chapter 16 in English
Daivāsura Sampad Vibhāg Yog · Yoga through Discerning the Divine and Demoniac Natures · 24 verses
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Chapter Summary
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.
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śrī bhagavānuvāca abhayaṃ sattvasaṃśuddhiḥ jñānayogavyavasthitiḥ| dānaṃ damaśca yajñaśca svādhyāyastapa ārjavam||
śhrī-bhagavān uvācha abhayaṁ sattva-sanśhuddhir jñāna-yoga-vyavasthitiḥ dānaṁ damaśh cha yajñaśh cha svādhyāyas tapa ārjavam
MeaningThe Blessed Lord said: Fearlessness, purity of heart, steadfastness in knowledge and yoga, almsgiving, control of the senses, sacrifice, study of scriptures, austerity, and straightforwardness.
ahiṃsā satyamakrodhastyāgaḥ śāntirapaiśunam|dayā bhūteṣvaloluptvaṃ mārdavaṃ hrīracāpalam||
ahinsā satyam akrodhas tyāgaḥ śhāntir apaiśhunam dayā bhūteṣhv aloluptvaṁ mārdavaṁ hrīr achāpalam
MeaningHarmlessness, truth, absence of anger, renunciation, peacefulness, absence of crookedness, compassion for beings, non-covetousness, gentleness, modesty, and absence of fickleness.
tejaḥ kṣamā dhṛtiḥ śaucamadroho nātimānitā| bhavanti sampadaṃ daivīmabhijātasya bhārata||
tejaḥ kṣhamā dhṛitiḥ śhaucham adroho nāti-mānitā bhavanti sampadaṁ daivīm abhijātasya bhārata
MeaningVigor, forgiveness, fortitude, purity, absence of hatred, absence of pride—these belong to one born for a divine state, O Arjuna.
dambho darpo'bhimānaśca krodhaḥ pāruṣyameva ca|ajñānaṃ cābhijātasya pārtha sampadamāsurīm||
dambho darpo ’bhimānaśh cha krodhaḥ pāruṣhyam eva cha ajñānaṁ chābhijātasya pārtha sampadam āsurīm
MeaningHypocrisy, arrogance, and self-conceit, anger, harshness, and ignorance—these belong to one who is born for a demoniacal state, O Partha.
daivī sampadvimokṣāya nibandhāyāsurī matā|mā śucaḥ sampadaṃ daivīmabhijāto'si pāṇḍava||
daivī sampad vimokṣhāya nibandhāyāsurī matā mā śhuchaḥ sampadaṁ daivīm abhijāto ’si pāṇḍava
MeaningThe divine nature is deemed conducive to liberation, and the demonic to bondage. Grieve not, O Arjuna, for you are born with divine endowments.
dvau bhūtasargau loke'smin daiva āsura eva ca|daivo vistaraśaḥ prokta āsuraṃ pārtha me śrṛṇu||
dvau bhūta-sargau loke ’smin daiva āsura eva cha daivo vistaraśhaḥ prokta āsuraṁ pārtha me śhṛiṇu
MeaningThere are two types of beings in this world: the divine and the demoniacal. The divine has been described at length; hear from Me, O Arjuna, about the demoniacal.
pravṛttiṃ ca nivṛttiṃ ca janā na vidurāsurāḥ|na śaucaṃ nāpi cācāro na satyaṃ teṣu vidyate||
pravṛittiṁ cha nivṛittiṁ cha janā na vidur āsurāḥ na śhauchaṁ nāpi chāchāro na satyaṁ teṣhu vidyate
MeaningThe demoniacal do not know what to do and what to refrain from; they have neither purity, nor right conduct, nor truth.
asatyamapratiṣṭhaṃ te jagadāhuranīśvaram|aparasparasambhūtaṃ kimanyatkāmahaitukam||
asatyam apratiṣhṭhaṁ te jagad āhur anīśhvaram aparaspara-sambhūtaṁ kim anyat kāma-haitukam
MeaningThey say, "This universe is without truth, without a moral basis, without a God, brought about by mutual union, with lust as its cause; what else?"
etāṃ dṛṣṭimavaṣṭabhya naṣṭātmāno'lpabuddhayaḥ|prabhavantyugrakarmāṇaḥ kṣayāya jagato'hitāḥ||
etāṁ dṛiṣhṭim avaṣhṭabhya naṣhṭātmāno ’lpa-buddhayaḥ prabhavanty ugra-karmāṇaḥ kṣhayāya jagato ’hitāḥ
MeaningHolding this view, these ruined souls of small intellect and fierce deeds come forth as enemies of the world, intent on its destruction.
kāmamāśritya duṣpūraṃ dambhamānamadānvitāḥ|mohādgṛhītvāsadgrāhānpravartante'śucivratāḥ||
kāmam āśhritya duṣhpūraṁ dambha-māna-madānvitāḥ mohād gṛihītvāsad-grāhān pravartante ’śhuchi-vratāḥ
MeaningFilled with insatiable desires, full of hypocrisy, pride, and arrogance, holding evil ideas due to delusion, they work with impure intentions.
cintāmaparimeyāṃ ca pralayāntāmupāśritāḥ|kāmopabhogaparamā etāvaditi niśicatāḥ||
chintām aparimeyāṁ cha pralayāntām upāśhritāḥ kāmopabhoga-paramā etāvad iti niśhchitāḥ
MeaningGiving themselves over to immeasurable cares that end only with death, regarding the gratification of lust as their highest aim, and feeling sure that that is all.
āśāpāśaśatairbaddhāḥ kāmakrodhaparāyaṇāḥ|īhante kāmabhogārthamanyāyenārthasañcayān||
āśhā-pāśha-śhatair baddhāḥ kāma-krodha-parāyaṇāḥ īhante kāma-bhogārtham anyāyenārtha-sañchayān
MeaningBound by a hundred ties of hope, given over to lust and anger, they strive to obtain hoards of wealth by unlawful means for sensual enjoyment.
idamadya mayā labdhamimaṃ prāpsye manoratham|idamastīdamapi me bhaviṣyati punardhanam||
idam adya mayā labdham imaṁ prāpsye manoratham idam astīdam api me bhaviṣhyati punar dhanam
Meaning"I have gained this today; I will fulfill this desire of mine; this is mine, and this wealth will be mine in the future."
asau mayā hataḥ śatrurhaniṣye cāparānapi|īśvaro'hamahaṃ bhogī siddho'haṃ balavānsukhī||
asau mayā hataḥ śhatrur haniṣhye chāparān api īśhvaro ’ham ahaṁ bhogī siddho ’haṁ balavān sukhī
Meaning"I have slain that enemy, and I shall slay others too. I am the Lord; I enjoy, I am perfect, powerful, and happy."
āḍhyo'bhijanavānasmi ko'nyo'sti sadṛśo mayā|yakṣye dāsyāmi modiṣya ityajñānavimohitāḥ||
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
Meaning"I am wealthy and born into a noble family. Who is my equal? I shall perform sacrifices, give charity, and rejoice," thus deluded by ignorance.
anekacittavibhrāntā mohajālasamāvṛtāḥ|prasaktāḥ kāmabhogeṣu patanti narake'śucau||
aneka-citta-vibhrāntā moha-jāla-samāvṛtāḥ prasaktāḥ kāma-bhogeṣu patanti narake 'śucau
MeaningBewildered by many fancies, entangled in the snare of delusion, addicted to the gratification of lust, they fall into a foul hell.
ātmasambhāvitāḥ stabdhā dhanamānamadānvitāḥ|yajante nāmayajñaiste dambhenāvidhipūrvakam||
ātma-sambhāvitāḥ stabdhā dhana-māna-madānvitāḥ yajante nāma-yajñais te dambhenāvidhi-pūrvakam
MeaningSelf-conceited, stubborn, filled with pride and intoxication of wealth, they perform sacrifices in name only for ostentation, contrary to scriptural ordinances.
ahaṅkāraṃ balaṃ darpaṃ kāmaṃ krodhaṃ ca saṃśritāḥ|māmātmaparadeheṣu pradviṣanto'bhyasūyakāḥ||
ahankāraṁ balaṁ darpaṁ kāmaṁ krodhaṁ cha sanśhritāḥ mām ātma-para-deheṣhu pradviṣhanto ’bhyasūyakāḥ
MeaningGiven over to egoism, power, haughtiness, lust, and anger, these malicious people hate Me in their own bodies and in the bodies of others.
tānahaṃ dviṣataḥ krūrānsaṃsāreṣu narādhamān|kṣipāmyajasramaśubhānāsurīṣveva yoniṣu||
tān ahaṁ dviṣhataḥ krūrān sansāreṣhu narādhamān kṣhipāmy ajasram aśhubhān āsurīṣhv eva yoniṣhu
MeaningThose cruel haters, the worst among men in the world, I hurl those evil-doers into the wombs of demons only.
asurīṃ yonimāpannā mūḍhā janmani janmani|māmaprāpyaiva kaunteya tato yāntyadhamāṃ gatim||
āsurīṁ yonim āpannā mūḍhā janmani janmani mām aprāpyaiva kaunteya tato yānty adhamāṁ gatim
MeaningEntering into demoniacal wombs and deluded, birth after birth, they do not attain Me, thus falling, O Arjuna, into a condition still lower than that.
trividhaṃ narakasyedaṃ dvāraṃ nāśanamātmanaḥ|kāmaḥ krodhastathā lobhastasmādetattrayaṃ tyajet||
tri-vidhaṁ narakasyedaṁ dvāraṁ nāśhanam ātmanaḥ kāmaḥ krodhas tathā lobhas tasmād etat trayaṁ tyajet
MeaningThere are three gates to this hell, destructive of the self: lust, anger, and greed; therefore, one should abandon these three.
etairvimuktaḥ kaunteya tamodvāraistribhirnaraḥ|ācaratyātmanaḥ śreyastato yāti parāṃ gatim||
etair vimuktaḥ kaunteya tamo-dvārais tribhir naraḥ ācharaty ātmanaḥ śhreyas tato yāti parāṁ gatim
MeaningA person who is liberated from these three gates of darkness, O Arjuna, practices what is beneficial for them and thus goes to the Supreme Goal.
yaḥ śāstravidhimutsṛjya vartate kāmakārataḥ|na sa siddhimavāpnoti na sukhaṃ na parāṃ gatim||
yaḥ śhāstra-vidhim utsṛijya vartate kāma-kārataḥ na sa siddhim avāpnoti na sukhaṁ na parāṁ gatim
MeaningHe who, having cast aside the ordinances of the scriptures, acts under the impulse of desire, does not attain perfection, nor happiness, nor the Supreme Goal.
tasmācchāstraṃ pramāṇaṃ te kāryākāryavyavasthitau|jñātvā śāstravidhānoktaṃ karma kartumihārhasi||
tasmāch chhāstraṁ pramāṇaṁ te kāryākārya-vyavasthitau jñātvā śhāstra-vidhānoktaṁ karma kartum ihārhasi
MeaningTherefore, let the scripture be thy authority in determining what ought to be done and what ought not to be done. Having known what is said in the ordinance of the scriptures, thou shouldst act in this world.