Chapter 16: Daivasura Sampad Vibhaga Yoga
The Yoga of the Divine and Demoniacal Natures
Chapter Summary
Lord Krishna describes the divine and demoniacal natures. He explains the qualities that elevate the soul (divine) and those that degrade it (demoniacal). He advises Arjuna to follow the scriptures to understand duty and avoid the demoniacal path.
Verses
Verse 16.1-3
श्रीभगवानुवाच |
अभयं सत्त्वसंशुद्धिर्ज्ञानयोगव्यवस्थितिः |
दानं दमश्च यज्ञश्च स्वाध्यायस्तप आर्जवम् ||
śrī-bhagavān uvāca |
abhayaṁ sattva-saṁśuddhir jñāna-yoga-vyavasthitiḥ |
dānaṁ damaś ca yajñaś ca svādhyāyas tapa ārjavam ||
Translation: The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: Fearlessness; purification of one's existence; cultivation of spiritual knowledge; charity; self-control; performance of sacrifice; study of the Vedas; austerity; simplicity... these transcendental qualities, O son of Bharata, belong to godly men endowed with divine nature.
Verse 16.4
दम्भो दर्पोऽभिमानश्च क्रोधः पारुष्यमेव च |
अज्ञानं चाभिजातस्य पार्थ सम्पदमासुरीम् ||
dambho darpo ’bhimānaś ca krodhaḥ pāruṣyam eva ca |
ajñānaṁ cābhijātasya pārtha sampadam āsurīm ||
Translation: Pride, arrogance, conceit, anger, harshness and ignorance—these qualities belong to those of demoniac nature, O son of Pritha.
Verse 16.23
यः शास्त्रविधिमुत्सृज्य वर्तते कामकारतः |
न स सिद्धिमवाप्नोति न सुखं न परां गतिम् ||
yaḥ śāstra-vidhim utsṛjya vartate kāma-kārataḥ |
na sa siddhim avāpnoti na sukhaṁ na parāṁ gatim ||
Translation: He who discards scriptural injunctions and acts according to his own whims attains neither perfection, nor happiness, nor the supreme destination.