Chapter 16
Chapter 16: Daivasura Sampad Vibhaga Yoga
The Yoga of the Divine and Demoniac Natures
Jump to verse: 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 7 · 8 · 9 · 10 · 11–12 · 13–15 · 16 · 17 · 18 · 19 · 20 · 21 · 22 · 23 · 24
Verse 16.1
śrī-bhagavān uvāca
abhayaṁ sattva-saṁśuddhir jñāna-yoga-vyavasthitiḥ |
dānaṁ damaś ca yajñaś ca svādhyāyas tapa ārjavam ||1||
shri-bhagavan uvacha
abhayam sattva-samshuddhir jnana-yoga-vyavasthitih |
danan damash cha yajnash cha svadhyayas tapa arjavam ||1||
Translation: The Supreme Lord said: Fearlessness, purification of one’s existence, cultivation of spiritual knowledge, charity, self-control, sacrifice, study of the Vedas, austerity and simplicity;
Verse 16.2
ahiṁsā satyam akrodhas tyāgaḥ śāntir apaiśunam |
dayā bhūteṣvaloluptvaṁ mārdavaṁ hrīr acāpalam ||2||
ahimsa satyam akrodhas tyagah shantir apaishunam |
daya bhuteshvaloluptvam mardavam hrir achapalam ||2||
Translation: Nonviolence, truthfulness, freedom from anger, renunciation, tranquility, aversion to faultfinding, compassion for all living entities, freedom from greed, gentleness, modesty and careful behavior;
Verse 16.3
tejaḥ kṣamā dhṛtiḥ śaucam adroho nāti-mānitā |
bhavanti sampadaṁ daivīm abhijātasya bhārata ||3||
tejah kshama dhritih shaucham adroho nati-manita |
bhavanti sampadan daivim abhijatasya bharata ||3||
Translation: Vigor, forgiveness, fortitude, cleanliness, freedom from envy and the passion for honor—these transcendental qualities, O son of Bharata, belong to a pious man born of a divine nature.
Verse 16.4
dambho darpo ’bhimānaś ca krodhaḥ pāruṣyam eva ca |
ajñānaṁ cābhijātasya pārtha sampadam āsurīm ||4||
dambho darpo ’bhimanash cha krodhah parushyam eva cha |
ajnanan chabhijatasya partha sampadam asurim ||4||
Translation: Arrogance, pride, anger, conceit, harshness and ignorance—these qualities belong to those of demonic nature, O son of Pritha.
Verse 16.5
daivī sampad vimokṣāya nibandhāyāsurī matā |
mā śucaḥ sampadaṁ daivīm abhijāto ’si pāṇḍava ||5||
daivi sampad vimokshaya nibandhayasuri mata |
ma shuchah sampadan daivim abhijato ’si pandava ||5||
Translation: The transcendental qualities lead to liberation, whereas the demonic qualities lead to bondage. Do not worry, O son of Pandu, for you are born with divine qualities.
Verse 16.6
dvau bhūta-sargau loke ’smin daiva āsura eva ca |
daivo vistaraśaḥ prokta āsuraṁ pārtha me śṛṇu ||6||
dvau bhuta-sargau loke ’smin daiva asura eva cha |
daivo vistarashah prokta asuram partha me shrinu ||6||
Translation: O son of Pritha, there are two kinds of created beings in this world: the divine and the demonic. I have already explained to you at length the divine qualities. Now hear from Me of the demonic.
Verse 16.7
pravṛttiṁ ca nivṛttiṁ ca janā na vidur āsurāḥ |
na śaucaṁ nāpi cācāro na satyaṁ teṣu vidyate ||7||
pravrittin cha nivrittin cha jana na vidur asurah |
na shaucham napi chacharo na satyan teshu vidyate ||7||
Translation: Those who are demoniac do not know what is to be done and what is not to be done. Neither cleanliness nor proper behavior nor truth is found in them.
Verse 16.8
asatyam apratiṣṭhaṁ te jagad āhur anīśvaram |
aparaspara-sambhūtaṁ kim anyat kāma-haitukam ||8||
asatyam apratishthan te jagad ahur anishvaram |
aparaspara-sambhutan kim anyat kama-haitukam ||8||
Translation: They say that this world is unreal, with no foundation, no God in control. They say it is produced of sex desire and has no cause other than lust.
Verse 16.9
etāṁ dṛṣṭim avaṣṭabhya naṣṭātmāno ’lpa-buddhayaḥ |
prabhavanty ugra-karmāṇaḥ kṣayāya jagato ’hitāḥ ||9||
etan drishtim avashtabhya nashtatmano ’lpa-buddhayah |
prabhavanty ugra-karmanah kshayaya jagato ’hitah ||9||
Translation: Following such conclusions, these lost souls, of less intelligence and meager minds, engage in unbeneficial, horrible works meant to destroy the world.
Verse 16.10
kāmam āśritya duṣpūraṁ dambha-māna-madānvitāḥ |
mohād gṛhītvāsad-grāhān pravartante ’śuci-vratāḥ ||10||
kamam ashritya dushpuran dambha-mana-madanvitah |
mohad grihitvasad-grahan pravartante ’shuchi-vratah ||10||
Translation: Taking shelter of insatiable lust and filled with pride, hypocrisy and madness, the demoniac, being thus illusioned, are always sworn to unclean work, embracing temporary illusions.
Verses 16.11–12
cintām aparimeyāṁ ca pralayāntām upāśritāḥ |
kāmopabhoga-paramā etāvad iti niścitāḥ ||11||
chintam aparimeyan cha pralayantam upashritah |
kamopabhoga-parama etavad iti nishchitah ||11||
āśā-pāśa-śatair baddhāḥ kāma-krodha-parāyaṇāḥ |
īhante kāma-bhogārtham anyāyenārtha-sañcayān ||12||
asha-pasha-shatair baddhah kama-krodha-parayanah |
ihante kama-bhogartham anyayenartha-sanchayan ||12||
Translation: They believe that to gratify the senses is the primary goal of human life. Thus, until the end of life, their anxiety is immeasurable. Bound by hundreds of desires and abounding in lust and anger, they secure money by illegal means for sense gratification.
Verses 16.13–15
idam adya mayā labdham imaṁ prāpsye manoratham |
idam astīdam api me bhaviṣyati punar dhanam ||13||
idam adya maya labdham imam prapsye manoratham |
idam astidam api me bhavishyati punar dhanam ||13||
asau mayā hataḥ śatrur haniṣye cāparān api |
īśvaro ’ham ahaṁ bhogī siddho ’haṁ balavān sukhī ||14||
asau maya hatah shatrur hanishye chaparan api |
ishvaro ’ham aham bhogi siddho ’ham balavan sukhi ||14||
āḍhyo ’bhijanavān asmi ko ’nyo ’sti sadṛśo mayā |
yakṣye dāsyāmi modiṣya ity ajñāna-vimohitāḥ ||15||
adhyo ’bhijanavan asmi ko ’nyo ’sti sadrisho maya |
yakshye dasyami modishya ity ajnana-vimohitah ||15||
Translation: The demoniac person thinks: “So much wealth do I have today, and I will gain more according to my schemes. So much is mine now, and it will increase in the future more and more. He is my enemy, and I have killed him, and my other enemies will also be killed by me. I am the lord of all. I am the enjoyer. I am successful, powerful and happy. I am the richest man, surrounded by aristocratic relatives. There is none so powerful and happy as I am. I shall perform sacrifices, I shall give charity, and thus I shall rejoice.” In this way, such persons are deluded by ignorance.
Verse 16.16
aneka-citta-vibhrāntā moha-jāla-samāvṛtāḥ |
prasaktāḥ kāma-bhogeṣu patanti narake ’śucau ||16||
aneka-chitta-vibhranta moha-jala-samavritah |
prasaktah kama-bhogeshu patanti narake ’shuchau ||16||
Translation: Thus perplexed by various anxieties and bound by a network of illusions, they become too strongly attached to sense enjoyment and fall down into hell.
Verse 16.17
ātma-sambhāvitāḥ stabdhā dhana-māna-madānvitāḥ |
yajante nāma-yajñais te dambhenāvidhi-pūrvakam ||17||
atma-sambhavitah stabdha dhana-mana-madanvitah |
yajante nama-yajnais te dambhenavidhi-purvakam ||17||
Translation: Self-complacent and always impudent, intoxicated by wealth and pride, they sometimes perform sacrifices in name only, without following any rules or regulations.
Verse 16.18
ahaṅkāraṁ balaṁ darpaṁ kāmaṁ krodhaṁ ca saṁśritāḥ |
mām ātma-para-deheṣu pradviṣanto ’bhyasūyakāḥ ||18||
ahankaram balan darpan kaman krodhan cha samshritah |
mam atma-para-deheshu pradvishanto ’bhyasuyakah ||18||
Translation: Bewildered by false ego, strength, pride, lust and anger, the demons become envious of the Supreme Lord, who is situated in their own bodies and in the bodies of others, and blaspheme the real religion.
Verse 16.19
tān ahaṁ dviṣataḥ krūrān saṁsāreṣu narādhamān |
kṣipāmy ajasram aśubhān āsurīṣv eva yoniṣu ||19||
tan ahan dvishatah kruran samsareshu naradhaman |
kshipamy ajasram ashubhan asurishv eva yonishu ||19||
Translation: Those who are envious and mischievous, who are the lowest among men, I perpetually cast into the ocean of material existence, into various demonic species of life.
Verse 16.20
āsurīṁ yonim āpannā mūḍhā janmani janmani |
mām aprāpyaiva kaunteya tato yānty adhamāṁ gatim ||20||
asurim yonim apanna mudha janmani janmani |
mam aprapyaiva kaunteya tato yanty adhaman gatim ||20||
Translation: Attaining repeated birth among the species of demonic life, such persons can never approach Me. Gradually they sink to a condition that is most abominable.
Verse 16.21
tri-vidhaṁ narakasyedaṁ dvāraṁ nāśanam ātmanaḥ |
kāmaḥ krodhas tathā lobhas tasmād etat trayaṁ tyajet ||21||
tri-vidham narakasyedan dvaram nashanam atmanah |
kamah krodhas tatha lobhas tasmad etat trayan tyajet ||21||
Translation: There are three gates leading to this hell—lust, anger and greed. Every sane man should give these up, for they lead to the degradation of the soul.
Verse 16.22
etair vimuktaḥ kaunteya tamo-dvārais tribhir naraḥ |
ācaraty ātmanaḥ śreyas tato yāti parāṁ gatim ||22||
etair vimuktah kaunteya tamo-dvarais tribhir narah |
acharaty atmanah shreyas tato yati paran gatim ||22||
Translation: The man who is released from these three gates of hell, O son of Kunti, does what is good for his soul, and thus reaches the supreme destination.
Verse 16.23
yaḥ śāstra-vidhim utsṛjya vartate kāma-kārataḥ |
na sa siddhim avāpnoti na sukhaṁ na parāṁ gatim ||23||
yah shastra-vidhim utsrijya vartate kama-karatah |
na sa siddhim avapnoti na sukham na paran gatim ||23||
Translation: He who discards the instructions of the scriptures and acts under the influence of his lust and desires attains neither perfection, nor happiness, nor the supreme destination.
Verse 16.24
tasmāc chāstraṁ pramāṇaṁ te kāryākārya-vyavasthitau |
jñātvā śāstra-vidhānoktaṁ karma kartum ihārhasi ||24||
tasmach chhastram pramanan te karyakarya-vyavasthitau |
jnatva shastra-vidhanoktan karma kartum iharhasi ||24||
Translation: One should understand what is duty and what is not duty by the regulations of the scriptures. Knowing such rules and regulations, one should act so that he may gradually be elevated.