Bhagavad Gita Chapter 16 : Daivasura-Sampad-Vibhaga Yoga

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 16

Author Kedi Ganapati

✦ ✦ ✦

✦ Shlokas ✦

16:1 16:2 16:3 16:4 16:5 16:6 16:7 16:8 16:9 16:10 16:11 16:12 16:13 16:14 16:15 16:16 16:17 16:18 16:19 16:20 16:21 16:22 16:23 16:24

Shloka 16:1

ॐ

श्रीभगवानुवाच -
अभयं सत्त्वसंशुद्धिर्ज्ञानयोगव्यवस्थितिः ।
दानं दमश्च यज्ञश्च स्वाध्यायस्तप आर्जवम् ॥ १६:१ ॥

shri-bhagavan uvacha
abhayam sattva-samshuddhir jnana-yoga-vyavasthitih
danam damash cha yajñash cha svadhyayas tapa arjavam

Translation

The Supreme Lord said: Fearlessness, purity of heart, steadfastness in the pursuit of knowledge and spiritual wisdom, charity, self-control, sacrifice, study of the sacred scriptures, austerity, and straightforwardness—these are the divine qualities of those endowed with a godly nature.

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Shloka 16:2

ॐ

अहिंसा सत्यमक्रोधस्त्यागः शान्तिरपैशुनम् ।
दया भूतेष्वलोलुप्त्वं मार्दवं ह्रीरचापलम् ॥ १६:२ ॥

ahimsa satyam akrodhas tyagah shantir apaishunam
daya bhuteshv aloluptvam mardavam hrir acapalam

Translation

Non-violence, truthfulness, freedom from anger, renunciation, peacefulness, absence of fault-finding, compassion toward all beings, freedom from greed, gentleness, modesty, and steadiness are divine qualities.

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Shloka 16:3

ॐ

तेजः क्षमा धृतिः शौचमद्रोहो नातिमानिता ।
भवन्ति सम्पदं दैवीमभिजातस्य भारत ॥ १६:३ ॥

tejah kshama dhritih shaucam adroho natimanita
bhavanti sampadam daivim abhijatasya bharata

Translation

Vigor, forgiveness, fortitude, purity, freedom from malice, and absence of pride—these qualities belong to one born with a divine nature, O Bharata.

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Shloka 16:4

ॐ

दम्भो दर्पोऽभिमानश्च क्रोधः पारुष्यमेव च ।
अज्ञानं चाभिजातस्य पार्थ सम्पदमासुरीम् ॥ १६:४ ॥

dambho darpo 'bhimanash cha krodhah parushyam eva cha
ajnanam chabhijatasya partha sampadam asurim

Translation

Hypocrisy, arrogance, pride, anger, harshness, and ignorance are the qualities of one born with a demoniac nature, O Partha.

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Shloka 16:5

ॐ

दैवी सम्पद्विमोक्षाय निबन्धायासुरी मता ।
मा शुचः सम्पदं दैवीमभिजातोऽसि पाण्डव ॥ १६:५ ॥

daivi sampad vimokshaya nibandhayasuri mata
ma shucah sampadam daivim abhijato 'si pandava

Translation

The divine qualities lead to liberation, whereas the demoniac qualities lead to bondage. Do not grieve, O Pandava, for you are born with divine qualities.

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Shloka 16:6

ॐ

द्वौ भूतसर्गौ लोकेऽस्मिन् दैव आसुर एव च ।
दैवो विस्तरशः प्रोक्त आसुरं पार्थ मे शृणु ॥ १६:६ ॥

dvau bhuta-sargau loke 'smin daiva asura eva cha
daivo vistarashah prokta asuram partha me shrinu

Translation

There are 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 nature, O Partha.

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Shloka 16:7

ॐ

प्रवृत्तिं च निवृत्तिं च जना न विदुरासुराः ।
न शौचं नापि चाचारो न सत्यं तेषु विद्यते ॥ १६:७ ॥

pravrittim cha nivrittim cha jana na vidur asurah
na shaucam napi chacharo na satyam teshu vidyate

Translation

Those of demoniac nature do not understand what should be done and what should be avoided. Neither purity, proper conduct, nor truthfulness is found in them.

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Shloka 16:8

ॐ

असत्यमप्रतिष्ठं ते जगदाहुरनीश्वरम् ।
अपरस्परसम्भूतं किमन्यत्कामहैतुकम् ॥ १६:८ ॥

asatyam apratishtham te jagad ahur anishvaram
aparaspara-sambhutam kim anyat kama-haitukam

Translation

They say that this world is unreal, without any moral foundation, and without God. They believe it has arisen merely from the union of male and female, driven only by desire.

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Shloka 16:9

ॐ

एतां दृष्टिमवष्टभ्य नष्टात्मानोऽल्पबुद्धयः ।
प्रभवन्त्युग्रकर्माणः क्षयाय जगतोऽहिताः ॥ १६:९ ॥

etam drishtim avashtabhya nashtatmano 'lpa-buddhayah
prabhavanty ugra-karmanah kshayaya jagato 'hitah

Translation

Holding such views, these lost souls of small understanding engage in cruel deeds, becoming enemies of the world and working for its destruction.

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Shloka 16:10

ॐ

काममाश्रित्य दुष्पूरं दम्भमानमदान्विताः ।
मोहाद्गृहीत्वासद्ग्राहान्प्रवर्तन्तेऽशुचिव्रताः ॥ १६:१० ॥

kama-mashritya dushpuram dambha-mana-madanvitah
mohad grihitvasad-grahan pravartante 'shuchi-vratah

Translation

Surrendering to insatiable desires, filled with hypocrisy, pride, and arrogance, they cling to false beliefs through delusion and engage in impure actions.

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Shloka 16:11

ॐ

चिन्तामपरिमेयां च प्रलयान्तामुपाश्रिताः ।
कामोपभोगपरमा एतावदिति निश्चिताः ॥ १६:११ ॥

chintam aparimeyam cha pralayantam upashritah
kamopabhoga-parama etavad iti nishchitah

Translation

They are burdened with endless anxieties that continue until death, believing that the gratification of desires is the highest goal of life.

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Shloka 16:12

ॐ

आशापाशशतैर्बद्धाः कामक्रोधपरायणाः ।
ईहन्ते कामभोगार्थमन्यायेनार्थसञ्चयान् ॥ १६:१२ ॥

asha-pasha-shatair baddhah kama-krodha-parayanah
ihante kama-bhogartham anyayenartha-sanchayan

Translation

Bound by hundreds of cords of hope, devoted to lust and anger, they strive to accumulate wealth through unjust means solely for the satisfaction of their desires.

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Shloka 16:13

ॐ

इदमद्य मया लब्धमिमं प्राप्स्ये मनोरथम् ।
इदमस्तीदमपि मे भविष्यति पुनर्धनम् ॥ १६:१३ ॥

idam adya maya labdham imam prapsye manoratham
idam astidam api me bhavishyati punar dhanam

Translation

They think, "Today I have gained this, and I shall fulfill this desire. This wealth is mine now, and I will gain even more in the future."

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Shloka 16:14

ॐ

असौ मया हतः शत्रुर्हनिष्ये चापरानपि ।
ईश्वरोऽहमहं भोगी सिद्धोऽहं बलवान्सुखी ॥ १६:१४ ॥

asau maya hatah shatrur hanishye chaparan api
ishvaro 'ham aham bhogi siddho 'ham balavan sukhi

Translation

They think, "I have destroyed this enemy, and I will destroy others as well. I am the lord, I am the enjoyer, I am perfect, powerful, and happy."

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Shloka 16:15

ॐ

आढ्योऽभिजनवानस्मि कोऽन्योऽस्ति सदृशो मया ।
यक्ष्ये दास्यामि मोदिष्य इत्यज्ञानविमोहिताः ॥ १६:१५ ॥

adhyo 'bhijanavan asmi ko 'nyo 'sti sadrisho maya
yakshye dasyami modishya ity ajnana-vimohitah

Translation

They think, "I am wealthy and of noble birth. Who is equal to me? I will perform sacrifices, give charity, and enjoy life." Thus they are deluded by ignorance.

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Shloka 16:16

ॐ

अनेकचित्तविभ्रान्ता मोहजालसमावृताः ।
प्रसक्ताः कामभोगेषु पतन्ति नरकेऽशुचौ ॥ १६:१६ ॥

aneka-chitta-vibhranta moha-jala-samavritah
prasaktah kama-bhogeshu patanti narake 'shuchau

Translation

Confused by countless thoughts, caught in the net of delusion, and attached to sense pleasures, they fall into impure hellish conditions.

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Shloka 16:17

ॐ

आत्मसम्भाविताः स्तब्धा धनमानमदान्विताः ।
यजन्ते नामयज्ञैस्ते दम्भेनाविधिपूर्वकम् ॥ १६:१७ ॥

atma-sambhavitah stabdha dhana-mana-madanvitah
yajante nama-yajnais te dambhenavidhi-purvakam

Translation

Self-conceited, stubborn, intoxicated with wealth and pride, they perform sacrifices only in name, out of hypocrisy, without following the proper scriptural rules.

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Shloka 16:18

ॐ

अहङ्कारं बलं दर्पं कामं क्रोधं च संश्रिताः ।
मामात्मपरदेहेषु प्रद्विषन्तोऽभ्यसूयकाः ॥ १६:१८ ॥

ahankaram balam darpam kamam krodham cha samshritah
mam atma-para-deheshu pradvisanto 'bhyasuyakah

Translation

Taking refuge in ego, power, arrogance, lust, and anger, they hate Me dwelling in their own bodies and in the bodies of others, and they become envious.

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Shloka 16:19

ॐ

तानहं द्विषतः क्रूरान्संसारेषु नराधमान् ।
क्षिपाम्यजस्रमशुभानासुरीष्वेव योनिषु ॥ १६:१९ ॥

tan aham dvishatah kruran samsareshu naradhaman
kshipamy ajasram ashubhan asurishv eva yonishu

Translation

Those cruel and hateful people, the lowest among mankind, I continually cast into demoniac wombs in the cycle of birth and death.

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Shloka 16:20

ॐ

आसुरीं योनिमापन्ना मूढा जन्मनि जन्मनि ।
मामप्राप्यैव कौन्तेय ततो यान्त्यधमां गतिम् ॥ १६:२० ॥

asurim yonim apanna mudha janmani janmani
mam aprapyaiva kaunteya tato yanty adhamam gatim

Translation

Entering demoniac births life after life, these deluded souls never attain Me, O Kaunteya, and thus descend to the lowest state.

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Shloka 16:21

ॐ

त्रिविधं नरकस्येदं द्वारं नाशनमात्मनः ।
कामः क्रोधस्तथा लोभस्तस्मादेतत्त्रयं त्यजेत् ॥ १६:२१ ॥

kamah krodhas tatha lobhas tasmad etat trayam tyajet
trividham narakasyedam dvaram nashanam atmanah

Translation

There are three gates leading to the destruction of the soul—lust, anger, and greed. Therefore, one should abandon these three.

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Shloka 16:22

ॐ

एतैर्विमुक्तः कौन्तेय तमोद्वारैस्त्रिभिर्नरः ।
आचरत्यात्मनः श्रेयस्ततो याति परां गतिम् ॥ १६:२२ ॥

etair vimuktah kaunteya tamo-dvarais tribhir narah
acharaty atmanah shreyas tato yati param gatim

Translation

Freed from these three gates of darkness, O Kaunteya, a person acts for his own highest welfare and thereby attains the supreme destination.

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Shloka 16:23

ॐ

यः शास्त्रविधिमुत्सृज्य वर्तते कामकारतः ।
न स सिद्धिमवाप्नोति न सुखं न परां गतिम् ॥ १६:२३ ॥

yah shastra-vidhim utsrijya vartate kama-karatah
na sa siddhim avapnoti na sukham na param gatim

Translation

One who disregards the injunctions of the scriptures and acts according to personal desires attains neither perfection, nor happiness, nor the supreme goal.

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Shloka 16:24

ॐ

तस्माच्छास्त्रं प्रमाणं ते कार्याकार्यव्यवस्थितौ ।
ज्ञात्वा शास्त्रविधानोक्तं कर्म कर्तुमिहार्हसि ॥ १६:२४ ॥

tasmac chastram pramanam te karyakarya-vyavasthitau
jnatva shastra-vidhanoktam karma kartum iharhasi

Translation

Therefore, let the scriptures be your authority in determining what should and should not be done. Knowing the teachings of the scriptures, you should perform your duties accordingly.

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Note: Every interpretation published here is the original work of Kedi Ganapati alone. No other author, commentator, or interpreter has contributed to these explanations. These interpretations are based on Kedi Ganapati's own understanding of the Bhagavad Gita's verses through personal study, research, wisdom, and experience.