Bhagavad Gita Chapter 16: Daivasura Sampad Vibhaga Yoga, Divine and Demonic Qualities

Chapter 16 is a mirror. God describes two natures: the divine, which leads to freedom, and the demonic, which leads to bondage and downfall. It is not about any caste or group but about the two tendencies that work in all of us.

Verses 1 to 3: the divine wealth (26 qualities)

Abhayam sattva samshuddhir jnana yoga vyavasthitih
danam damash cha yajnash cha svadhyayas tapa arjavam (16.1)

Krishna lists the divine qualities:

• Verse 1: fearlessness, purity of heart, steadfastness in knowledge and yoga, charity, self-control, sacrifice, study of scripture, austerity and straightforwardness.
• Verse 2: non-violence, truthfulness, freedom from anger, renunciation, peace, refraining from slander, compassion for all beings, freedom from greed, gentleness, modesty and steadiness.
• Verse 3: vigour, forgiveness, fortitude, purity, freedom from malice and from excessive pride.

"These, Bharata, are the qualities of one born with the divine nature."

Verses 4 and 5: the demonic wealth

"Hypocrisy, arrogance, conceit, anger, harshness and ignorance, Partha, are the marks of one born with the demonic nature (16.4). The divine nature leads to liberation, the demonic to bondage. Do not grieve, son of Pandu; you are born with the divine nature."

Verses 6 to 18: the demonic nature in detail

There are two kinds of beings in this world, the divine and the demonic. The divine has been described; now hear of the demonic.

Those of demonic nature know neither what to do nor what to avoid; there is no purity, good conduct or truth in them. They say the world is unreal, without foundation, without God, born only of the union of male and female, caused by lust. Holding this view, lost souls of small understanding and cruel deeds arise as enemies of the world, for its destruction.

Clinging to insatiable desires, full of hypocrisy, pride and arrogance, holding false ideas through delusion, they act with impure resolves. Absorbed in countless cares that end only with death, regarding sense enjoyment as the highest goal and sure that this is all, bound by hundreds of ropes of hope, given over to desire and anger, they seek to pile up wealth by unjust means for their pleasures.

Their thinking runs: "This I have gained today; this wish I shall fulfil next. This wealth is mine, and more will be mine. That enemy I have slain, and others I shall slay. I am the lord, I am the enjoyer, I am successful, powerful and happy. I am rich and well-born; who else is like me? I will perform sacrifices, give charity and enjoy myself." Deluded by ignorance, their minds confused, caught in the net of delusion, addicted to pleasure, they fall into a foul hell.

Self-conceited, stubborn, drunk with wealth and pride, they perform sacrifices in name only, for show, against the scriptural rules. Given to ego, power, arrogance, lust and anger, these malicious people hate me, who dwell in their own bodies and in others.

Verses 19 and 20: the result

"These cruel, hateful, evil-doing lowest of people I hurl again and again into demonic wombs in the cycle of births. Born again and again in demonic wombs, not reaching me, these deluded ones sink to an even lower state, son of Kunti."

Verses 21 and 22: the three gates of hell

Tri vidham narakasyedam dvaram nashanam atmanah
kamah krodhas tatha lobhas tasmad etat trayam tyajet (16.21)

Meaning: Desire, anger and greed: these are the three gates of hell that destroy the self. Therefore give up these three.

One released from these three gates of darkness, son of Kunti, does what is good for the self and reaches the supreme goal.

Verses 23 and 24: scripture as the guide

"One who sets aside the injunctions of scripture and acts on the impulse of desire attains neither perfection, nor happiness, nor the supreme goal. Therefore let scripture be your authority in deciding what should and should not be done; knowing what scripture prescribes, you should act here (16.24)."

What this chapter teaches

• The list of divine qualities is an excellent daily self-examination.
• The endless race of "this I gained today, that I will get tomorrow" is the sign of the demonic nature.
• Desire, anger and greed are the three gates of hell; avoiding them is the road to heaven.
• Following scripture and good people is safer than acting on whim.