Bhagavad Gita · chapter 16

Verse 1 - 3

श्री भगवानुवाच
अभयं सत्त्वसंशुद्धिः ज्ञानयोगव्यवस्थितिः
दानं दमश्च यज्ञश्च स्वाध्यायस्तप आर्जवम्

अहिंसा सत्यमक्रोधस्त्यागः शान्तिरपैशुनम्
दया भूतेष्वलोलुप्त्वं मार्दवं ह्रीरचापलम्

तेजः क्षमा धृतिः शौचमद्रोहो नातिमानिता
भवन्ति सम्पदं दैवीमभिजातस्य भारत

Krishna continued: Courage, clean living, devotion to wisdom, generosity, self-control, a spirit of sacrifice, study of the scriptures, austerity, and straightforwardness,

nonviolence, truthfulness, absence of anger, renunciation, self-control, abstinence from slandering of others, compassion for all beings, freedom from jealousy, gentleness, modesty, and freedom from restlessness,

valor, forgiveness, fortitude, purity, freedom from hatred and vanity - these are the qualities of one who possesses divine nature.

Commentary

Verse 4

दम्भो दर्पोऽभिमानश्च क्रोधः पारुष्यमेव च
अज्ञानं चाभिजातस्य पार्थ सम्पदमासुरीम्

Hypocrisy, arrogance, self-conceit, anger, cruelty, and ignorance, all belong to those of demonic nature.

Commentary

Verse 5

दैवी सम्पद्विमोक्षाय निबन्धायासुरी मता
मा शुचः सम्पदं दैवीमभिजातोऽसि पाण्डव

The divine qualities lead to liberation, while the demonic qualities lead to bondage. Do not grieve, Arjuna, for you are endowed with great divine wealth.

Commentary

Verse 6

द्वौ भूतसर्गौ लोकेऽस्मिन् दैव आसुर एव च
दैवो विस्तरशः प्रोक्त आसुरं पार्थ मे श्रृणु

The are two types of beings in this world - those who are divine, and those who are demonic. I have described the nature of divinity to you at length; now, hear of the demonic.

Commentary

Verse 7

प्रवृत्तिं च निवृत्तिं च जना न विदुरासुराः
न शौचं नापि चाचारो न सत्यं तेषु विद्यते

Those who are demonic do not know how to act or to renounce. They lack purity, truth, and an understanding of righteous conduct.

Commentary

Verse 8

असत्यमप्रतिष्ठं ते जगदाहुरनीश्वरम्
अपरस्परसम्भूतं किमन्यत्कामहैतुकम्

They say the universe is without truth, without any purpose, and without a God. It exists for the purpose of fulfilling desires - what other cause could there be?

Commentary

Verse 9

एतां दृष्टिमवष्टभ्य नष्टात्मानोऽल्पबुद्धयः
प्रभवन्त्युग्रकर्माणः क्षयाय जगतोऽहिताः

These lost souls of small intellect come into the world only to commit monstrous deeds and to destroy.

Commentary

Verse 10

काममाश्रित्य दुष्पूरं दम्भमानमदान्विताः
मोहाद्गृहीत्वासद्ग्राहान्प्रवर्तन्तेऽशुचिव्रताः

Filled with insatiable desires, possessed by vanity, pride, and arrogance, they only work with impure intentions.

Commentary

Verse 11 - 12

चिन्तामपरिमेयां च प्रलयान्तामुपाश्रिताः
कामोपभोगपरमा एतावदिति निश्िचताः

आशापाशशतैर्बद्धाः कामक्रोधपरायणाः
ईहन्ते कामभोगार्थमन्यायेनार्थसञ्चयान्

Trapped in a cycle of anxiety that ends only with death, clinging to the enjoyment of desires as their highest goal, believing that this is all that exists,

bound by the shackles of a hundred vain hopes, devoted to their desire and anger, they hoard wealth for the gratification of their desires.

Commentary

Verse 13

इदमद्य मया लब्धमिमं प्राप्स्ये मनोरथम्
इदमस्तीदमपि मे भविष्यति पुनर्धनम्

"Today I have gained this, and tomorrow I will fulfill another desire. This is mine now, and the rest will all be mine soon."

Commentary

Verse 14

असौ मया हतः शत्रुर्हनिष्ये चापरानपि
ईश्वरोऽहमहं भोगी सिद्धोऽहं बलवान्सुखी

"I have slain this enemy, and I shall slay others too. I am the almighty enjoyer, the one who is perfect, powerful, and happy."

Commentary

Verse 15

आढ्योऽभिजनवानस्मि कोऽन्योऽस्ति सदृशो मया
यक्ष्ये दास्यामि मोदिष्य इत्यज्ञानविमोहिताः

"I am wealthy and of noble birth. Who else is equal to me? I will sacrifice, I will give charity, and I shall rejoice!" Such is their delusion.

Commentary

Verse 16

अनेकचित्तविभ्रान्ता मोहजालसमावृताः
प्रसक्ताः कामभोगेषु पतन्ति नरकेऽशुचौ

Bewildered by their thoughts, ensnared in the net of delusion, addicted to sensual pleasures, they are condemned to a dark hell.

Commentary

Verse 17

आत्मसम्भाविताः स्तब्धा धनमानमदान्विताः
यजन्ते नामयज्ञैस्ते दम्भेनाविधिपूर्वकम्

Self-conceited, stubborn, intoxicated by wealth and pride, they perform sacrifice in name only, without regard to what is ordained in the scriptures.

Commentary

Verse 18

अहङ्कारं बलं दर्पं कामं क्रोधं च संश्रिताः
मामात्मपरदेहेषु प्रद्विषन्तोऽभ्यसूयकाः

Clinging to egotism, power, arrogance, pride, and desire, these envious people grow to resent me, both in themselves and in the bodies of others.

Commentary

Verse 19

तानहं द्विषतः क्रूरान्संसारेषु नराधमान्
क्षिपाम्यजस्रमशुभानासुरीष्वेव योनिषु

Those who are the most hateful, cruel, and inauspicious of mankind, I hurl incessantly into the cycle of birth and death.

Commentary

Verse 20

असुरीं योनिमापन्ना मूढा जन्मनि जन्मनि
मामप्राप्यैव कौन्तेय ततो यान्त्यधमां गतिम्

Having been born among demons in birth after birth, these deluded souls only sink toward the lowest state.

Commentary

Verse 21

त्रिविधं नरकस्येदं द्वारं नाशनमात्मनः
कामः क्रोधस्तथा लोभस्तस्मादेतत्त्रयं त्यजेत्

There are three gates to hell that one should avoid - passion, anger, and greed.

Commentary

Verse 22

एतैर्विमुक्तः कौन्तेय तमोद्वारैस्त्रिभिर्नरः
आचरत्यात्मनः श्रेयस्ततो याति परां गतिम्

One who has been liberated from these three gates of darkness works for the benefit of the self, thereby attaining that highest goal.

Commentary

Verse 23

यः शास्त्रविधिमुत्सृज्य वर्तते कामकारतः
न स सिद्धिमवाप्नोति न सुखं न परां गतिम्

One who neglects the command of the scriptures and acts under the impulse of desire does not attain perfection, happiness, nor the highest goal.

Commentary

Verse 24

तस्माच्छास्त्रं प्रमाणं ते कार्याकार्यव्यवस्थितौ
ज्ञात्वा शास्त्रविधानोक्तं कर्म कर्तुमिहार्हसि

Therefore, whenever there is doubt on what should be done, let the scriptures guide you.

Commentary

Summary

BG 16.1 - 24

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