Two paths diverging — one opening toward dawn and a temple, the other narrowing into red shadow

Chapter 16 of 18 · 24 verses

दैवासुरसम्पद्विभागयोगDivine and demonic natures

Two sets of qualities and where each leads; desire, anger and greed named as the three gates.

What kind of person are my repeated choices making me?

Whatever they are practising. The chapter sets fearlessness, purity, self-restraint, truth and compassion against hypocrisy, arrogance and cruelty (16.1–4), and describes the second as a whole way of seeing: appetite, anxious accumulation, self-exaltation. Then it narrows to three — desire, anger and greed, the gates that ruin a person (16.21). It is to be read first as a mirror. It is not a vocabulary for classifying other people, and it was never meant to become one.

Read it with this in mindThis chapter is first a mirror, not a weapon for labelling opponents. Qualities are cultivated through repeated choices. Scriptural guidance should form discernment, not replace thoughtful application.

Hansi Gita Bhawan Trust · The Gita for Life

Plate 16 — Daivasura Sampad Vibhaga Yoga: Divine and demonic tendencies

Where we are in the dialogue

Divine and Destructive Qualities

Krishna contrasts divine qualities—fearlessness, purity, self-restraint, truth and compassion—with hypocrisy, arrogance and cruelty. The destructive worldview is ruled by appetite, anxious accumulation and self-exaltation. Desire, anger and greed are named as three gates to ruin.

Words to carry through: moral formation; fearlessness; purity; hypocrisy; desire; anger; greed; guidance
The chapter’s spine: 16.1–5 16.7–21 16.23–24
Threads running through it: Character Asuric Desire Dharma

16.1–3Divine qualitiesFearlessness, purity, self-control, truth, compassion and related qualities are enumerated.
श्रीभगवानुवाचShri Bhagavan said
16.1
अभयं सत्त्वसंशुद्धिर्ज्ञानयोगव्यवस्थितिः ।
दानं दमश्च यज्ञश्च स्वाध्यायस्तप आर्जवम् ॥
abhayaṁ sattvasaṁśuddhirjñānayogavyavasthitiḥ / dānaṁ damaśca yajñaśca svādhyāyastapa ārjavam
Fearlessness, a clean and settled mind, steadiness in knowledge and in yoga, giving, restraint of the senses, sacrifice, study of the scriptures, austerity, and being straight with people.
निर्भयता, मन की शुद्धि, ज्ञान और योग में स्थिरता, दान, इंद्रियों पर संयम, यज्ञ, स्वाध्याय, तप, और व्यवहार में सरलता।
Trust’s themeCharacter
16.2
अहिंसा सत्यमक्रोधस्त्यागः शान्तिरपैशुनम् ।
दया भूतेष्वलोलुप्त्वं मार्दवं ह्रीरचापलम् ॥
ahiṁsā satyamakrodhastyāgaḥ śāntirapaiśunam / dayā bhūteṣvaloluptvaṁ mārdavaṁ hrīracāpalam
Not harming, truthfulness, freedom from anger, letting go, calm, refusing to speak against people, kindness to living beings, no craving for what one sees, gentleness, modesty, and no restlessness.
अहिंसा, सत्य, क्रोध का न होना, त्याग, शांति, किसी की चुगली न करना, प्राणियों पर दया, विषयों के प्रति लालसा का अभाव, कोमलता, लज्जा और चंचलता का न होना।
Read underSama-darshanaTrust’s themeCharacter
16.3
तेजः क्षमा धृतिः शौचमद्रोहो नातिमानिता ।
भवन्ति सम्पदं दैवीमभिजातस्य भारत ॥
tejaḥ kṣamā dhṛtiḥ śaucamadroho nātimānitā / bhavanti sampadaṁ daivīmabhijātasya bhārata
Vigour, patience, firmness, cleanliness, freedom from ill will, and freedom from excessive pride — these belong to the man born to the divine nature, Bharata.
तेज, क्षमा, धैर्य, शुद्धता, किसी से बैर न रखना और अत्यधिक अभिमान का न होना — हे भारत, ये उस मनुष्य में होते हैं जो दैवी संपदा लेकर जन्मा है।
Trust’s themeCharacter
16.4–9Asuric qualities and worldviewPride, hypocrisy, harshness and nihilistic/materialist orientation are described.
16.4
दम्भो दर्पोऽभिमानश्च क्रोधः पारुष्यमेव च ।
अज्ञानं चाभिजातस्य पार्थ सम्पदमासुरीम् ॥
dambho darpo’bhimānaśca krodhaḥ pāruṣyameva ca / ajñānaṁ cābhijātasya pārtha sampadamāsurīm
Show, arrogance, self-importance, anger, harsh speech and ignorance — these belong to the man born to the demonic nature, Partha.
दिखावा, घमंड, अपने को बड़ा मानना, क्रोध, कठोर वाणी और अज्ञान — हे पार्थ, ये उस मनुष्य में होते हैं जो आसुरी संपदा लेकर जन्मा है।
Trust’s themeAsuric
16.5
दैवी सम्पद्विमोक्षाय निबन्धायासुरी मता ।
मा शुचः सम्पदं दैवीमभिजातोऽसि पाण्डव ॥
daivī sampadvimokṣāya nibandhāyāsurī matā / mā śucaḥ sampadaṁ daivīmabhijāto’si pāṇḍava
The divine nature is held to lead to freedom, the demonic to bondage. Do not grieve, Pandava. You were born to the divine nature.
दैवी संपदा मुक्ति की ओर ले जाती है और आसुरी बंधन की ओर, ऐसा माना गया है। हे पांडव, शोक मत करो। तुम दैवी संपदा लेकर ही जन्मे हो।
Trust’s themeAsuric
16.6
द्वौ भूतसर्गौ लोकेऽस्मिन्दैव आसुर एव च ।
दैवो विस्तरशः प्रोक्त आसुरं पार्थ मे शृणु ॥
dvau bhūtasargau loke’smindaiva āsura eva ca / daivo vistaraśaḥ prokta āsuraṁ pārtha me śṛṇu
There are two kinds of created beings in this world, the divine and the demonic. I have described the divine at length. Now hear from me about the demonic, Partha.
इस लोक में दो प्रकार के प्राणी बने हैं — दैवी और आसुरी। दैवी का वर्णन मैंने विस्तार से कर दिया। हे पार्थ, अब मुझसे आसुरी के बारे में सुनो।
Trust’s themeAsuric
16.7
प्रवृत्तिं च निवृत्तिं च जना न विदुरासुराः ।
न शौचं नापि चाचारो न सत्यं तेषु विद्यते ॥
pravṛttiṁ ca nivṛttiṁ ca janā na vidurāsurāḥ / na śaucaṁ nāpi cācāro na satyaṁ teṣu vidyate
People of the demonic kind do not know what is worth doing or what is worth leaving alone. No cleanliness is found in them, nor decent conduct, nor truth.
आसुरी स्वभाव वाले लोग यह नहीं जानते कि क्या करना चाहिए और क्या छोड़ देना चाहिए। उनमें न शुद्धता मिलती है, न अच्छा आचरण, न सत्य।
Trust’s themeAsuric
16.8
असत्यमप्रतिष्ठं ते जगदाहुरनीश्वरम् ।
अपरस्परसम्भूतं किमन्यत्कामहैतुकम् ॥
asatyamapratiṣṭhaṁ te jagadāhuranīśvaram / aparasparasambhūtaṁ kimanyatkāmahaitukam
They say the world has no truth in it, no ground to stand on, no God running it; that it simply arises from the union of male and female, and that desire is its only cause.
वे कहते हैं कि इस जगत में न सत्य है, न कोई आधार, न कोई ईश्वर जो इसे चलाता हो; कि यह बस स्त्री-पुरुष के संयोग से बन जाता है, और काम के सिवा इसका कोई कारण नहीं।
Trust’s themeAsuric
16.9
एतां दृष्टिमवष्टभ्य नष्टात्मानोऽल्पबुद्धयः ।
प्रभवन्त्युग्रकर्माणः क्षयाय जगतोऽहिताः ॥
etāṁ dṛṣṭimavaṣṭabhya naṣṭātmāno’lpabuddhayaḥ / prabhavantyugrakarmāṇaḥ kṣayāya jagato’hitāḥ
Holding fast to this view, these ruined men of small understanding come forward with cruel deeds. They are enemies of the world and work towards its destruction.
इसी दृष्टि को पकड़कर ये नष्टबुद्धि और अल्पमति लोग क्रूर कर्म लेकर आगे आते हैं। ये जगत के शत्रु हैं और उसके विनाश के लिए काम करते हैं।
Trust’s themeAsuric
16.10–20Desire, ego and destructive conductInsatiable desire, anxiety, self-exaltation and hatred deepen bondage.
16.10
काममाश्रित्य दुष्पूरं दम्भमानमदान्विताः ।
मोहाद्गृहीत्वासद्ग्राहान्प्रवर्तन्तेऽशुचिव्रताः ॥
kāmamāśritya duṣpūraṁ dambhamānamadānvitāḥ / mohādgṛhītvāsadgrāhānpravartante’śucivratāḥ
Clinging to a desire that can never be filled, full of show, pride and conceit, they take up false ideas out of delusion and go on acting with impure intentions.
कभी न भरने वाली कामना को पकड़े रहकर, दिखावे, मान और मद से भरे हुए, वे मोह में पड़कर झूठी धारणाएँ अपना लेते हैं और अपवित्र संकल्पों के साथ चलते रहते हैं।
Trust’s themeDesire
16.11
चिन्तामपरिमेयां च प्रलयान्तामुपाश्रिताः ।
कामोपभोगपरमा एतावदिति निश्चिताः ॥
cintāmaparimeyāṁ ca pralayāntāmupāśritāḥ / kāmopabhogaparamā etāvaditi niścitāḥ
They give themselves over to worry beyond measure, worry that ends only at death. Enjoying their desires is their highest aim, and they are certain that this is all there is.
वे उन चिंताओं में डूबे रहते हैं जिनका कोई माप नहीं और जो मरते दम तक नहीं छूटतीं। भोग ही उनका सबसे बड़ा लक्ष्य है, और उन्हें पक्का विश्वास है कि बस इतना ही सब कुछ है।
Trust’s themeDesire
16.12
आशापाशशतैर्बद्धाः कामक्रोधपरायणाः ।
ईहन्ते कामभोगार्थमन्यायेनार्थसञ्चयान् ॥
āśāpāśaśatairbaddhāḥ kāmakrodhaparāyaṇāḥ / īhante kāmabhogārthamanyāyenārthasañcayān
Bound by a hundred cords of hope, given over to desire and anger, they work to pile up wealth by unfair means, to spend on the pleasures they want.
आशा के सैकड़ों फंदों में बँधे, काम और क्रोध के वश में रहकर, वे भोगों पर ख़र्च करने के लिए अन्याय से धन जोड़ने में लगे रहते हैं।
Trust’s themeDesire
16.13
इदमद्य मया लब्धमिमं प्राप्स्ये मनोरथम् ।
इदमस्तीदमपि मे भविष्यति पुनर्धनम् ॥
idamadya mayā labdhamimaṁ prāpsye manoratham / idamastīdamapi me bhaviṣyati punardhanam
This much I have got today; that wish too I shall get. This is mine already, and this further wealth will be mine as well.
आज मैंने इतना पा लिया; उस मनोरथ को भी पा लूँगा। यह तो मेरा है ही, और इतना धन आगे और मेरा हो जाएगा।
Trust’s themeDesire
16.14
असौ मया हतः शत्रुर्हनिष्ये चापरानपि ।
ईश्वरोऽहमहं भोगी सिद्धोऽहं बलवान्सुखी ॥
asau mayā hataḥ śatrurhaniṣye cāparānapi / īśvaro’hamahaṁ bhogī siddho’haṁ balavānsukhī
That enemy has been killed by me, and I shall kill the others too. I am the master, I am the one who enjoys, I have succeeded, I am strong and happy.
उस शत्रु को मैंने मार डाला, और बाकी को भी मार डालूँगा। मैं ही स्वामी हूँ, मैं ही भोगने वाला हूँ, मैं सफल हूँ, मैं बलवान और सुखी हूँ।
Trust’s themeDesire
16.15
आढ्योऽभिजनवानस्मि कोऽन्योऽस्ति सदृशो मया ।
यक्ष्ये दास्यामि मोदिष्य इत्यज्ञानविमोहिताः ॥
āḍhyo’bhijanavānasmi ko’nyo’sti sadṛśo mayā / yakṣye dāsyāmi modiṣya ityajñānavimohitāḥ
I am rich and well born; who else is my equal? I shall sacrifice, I shall give, I shall enjoy myself — so they talk, led astray by ignorance.
मैं धनवान हूँ और ऊँचे कुल का; मेरे बराबर और कौन है? मैं यज्ञ करूँगा, दान दूँगा, आनंद उठाऊँगा — अज्ञान से भटके हुए वे ऐसा कहते हैं।
Trust’s themeDesire
16.16
अनेकचित्तविभ्रान्ता मोहजालसमावृताः ।
प्रसक्ताः कामभोगेषु पतन्ति नरकेऽशुचौ ॥
anekacittavibhrāntā mohajālasamāvṛtāḥ / prasaktāḥ kāmabhogeṣu patanti narake’śucau
Pulled apart by too many thoughts, wrapped in a net of delusion, fastened on the enjoyment of desires, they fall into an unclean hell.
बहुत सारे विचारों में भटके हुए, मोह के जाल में लिपटे हुए, भोगों में आसक्त, वे अपवित्र नरक में गिरते हैं।
Trust’s themeDesire
16.17
आत्मसम्भाविताः स्तब्धा धनमानमदान्विताः ।
यजन्ते नामयज्ञैस्ते दम्भेनाविधिपूर्वकम् ॥
ātmasambhāvitāḥ stabdhā dhanamānamadānvitāḥ / yajante nāmayajñaiste dambhenāvidhipūrvakam
Thinking highly of themselves, unbending, filled with the pride of wealth and standing, they offer sacrifices that are sacrifices in name only, done for show and without regard for the rules.
अपने को बड़ा मानते हुए, अकड़े हुए, धन और मान के मद से भरे हुए, वे केवल नाम के यज्ञ करते हैं — दिखावे के लिए, विधि की परवाह किए बिना।
Trust’s themeDesire
16.18
अहङ्कारं बलं दर्पं कामं क्रोधं च संश्रिताः ।
मामात्मपरदेहेषु प्रद्विषन्तोऽभ्यसूयकाः ॥
ahaṅkāraṁ balaṁ darpaṁ kāmaṁ krodhaṁ ca saṁśritāḥ / māmātmaparadeheṣu pradviṣanto’bhyasūyakāḥ
Leaning on ego, force, arrogance, desire and anger, these fault-finding people hate me where I stand, in their own bodies and in the bodies of others.
अहंकार, बल, दर्प, काम और क्रोध के सहारे चलते हुए, ये दोष ढूँढ़ने वाले लोग अपने और दूसरों के शरीरों में स्थित मुझसे ही द्वेष करते हैं।
Trust’s themeDesire
16.19
तानहं द्विषतः क्रूरान्संसारेषु नराधमान् ।
क्षिपाम्यजस्रमशुभानासुरीष्वेव योनिषु ॥
tānahaṁ dviṣataḥ krūrānsaṁsāreṣu narādhamān / kṣipāmyajasramaśubhānāsurīṣveva yoniṣu
These hate-filled, cruel men, the lowest among people, I throw again and again into the rounds of birth, into unclean wombs of the demonic kind.
इन द्वेष करने वाले, क्रूर और नराधम लोगों को मैं बार-बार जन्म के चक्रों में, अशुभ आसुरी योनियों में ही डालता रहता हूँ।
Trust’s themeDesire
16.20
आसुरीं योनिमापन्ना मूढा जन्मनि जन्मनि ।
मामप्राप्यैव कौन्तेय ततो यान्त्यधमां गतिम् ॥
āsurīṁ yonimāpannā mūḍhā janmani janmani / māmaprāpyaiva kaunteya tato yāntyadhamāṁ gatim
Falling into a demonic womb birth after birth, these deluded men never reach me, Kaunteya, and go on from there to a state lower still.
जन्म-जन्म में आसुरी योनि पाकर ये मूढ़ लोग मुझ तक कभी नहीं पहुँचते, हे कौन्तेय, और वहाँ से और भी नीची गति में चले जाते हैं।
Trust’s themeDesire
16.21–24Three gates and scriptural discernmentDesire, anger and greed are named as destructive gates; shastra becomes a standard for action.
16.21
त्रिविधं नरकस्येदं द्वारं नाशनमात्मनः ।
कामः क्रोधस्तथा लोभस्तस्मादेतत्त्रयं त्यजेत् ॥
trividhaṁ narakasyedaṁ dvāraṁ nāśanamātmanaḥ / kāmaḥ krodhastathā lobhastasmādetattrayaṁ tyajet
This gate to hell is of three kinds, and it destroys a person: desire, anger and greed. Therefore one should let all three go.
नरक का यह द्वार तीन प्रकार का है, और यह मनुष्य को नष्ट कर देता है: काम, क्रोध और लोभ। इसलिए इन तीनों को छोड़ देना चाहिए।
Read underDharmaTrust’s themeDharma
Three gates to destruction
Desire, anger and greed are gathered into a memorable triad. The verse should be used for self-examination, not quick moral labeling of others.
Read deeper · Read with 2.62–63, 3.37–43 and 17.5–6.
Hansi Gita Bhawan Trust · The Gita for Life
16.22
एतैर्विमुक्तः कौन्तेय तमोद्वारैस्त्रिभिर्नरः ।
आचरत्यात्मनः श्रेयस्ततो याति परां गतिम् ॥
etairvimuktaḥ kaunteya tamodvāraistribhirnaraḥ / ācaratyātmanaḥ śreyastato yāti parāṁ gatim
A man released from these three gates of darkness, Kaunteya, does what is good for himself, and from there he goes to the highest goal.
हे कौन्तेय, जो मनुष्य अंधकार के इन तीन द्वारों से छूट जाता है, वह अपने लिए जो कल्याणकारी है वही करता है, और वहाँ से परम गति को प्राप्त होता है।
Trust’s themeDharma
16.23
यः शास्त्रविधिमुत्सृज्य वर्तते कामकारतः ।
न स सिद्धिमवाप्नोति न सुखं न परां गतिम् ॥
yaḥ śāstravidhimutsṛjya vartate kāmakārataḥ / na sa siddhimavāpnoti na sukhaṁ na parāṁ gatim
Whoever sets aside what the scriptures lay down and acts on the pull of his own desire does not reach fulfilment, nor happiness, nor the highest goal.
जो शास्त्र के विधान को छोड़कर अपनी कामना के वेग से चलता है, वह न सिद्धि पाता है, न सुख, न परम गति।
Trust’s themeDharma
16.24
तस्माच्छास्त्रं प्रमाणं ते कार्याकार्यव्यवस्थितौ ।
ज्ञात्वा शास्त्रविधानोक्तं कर्म कर्तुमिहार्हसि ॥
tasmācchāstraṁ pramāṇaṁ te kāryākāryavyavasthitau / jñātvā śāstravidhānoktaṁ karma kartumihārhasi
So let the scriptures be your measure in settling what should be done and what should not. Know what the scriptures lay down, and do your work here accordingly.
इसलिए क्या करना चाहिए और क्या नहीं, यह तय करने में शास्त्र को ही अपना प्रमाण मानो। शास्त्र का विधान जानकर तुम्हें यहाँ अपना कर्म करना चाहिए।
Read underDharmaTrust’s themeDharma
THE HUMAN QUESTION
What do my faith, habits and motives reveal?
Hansi Gita Bhawan Trust · The Gita for Life

Sanskrit transcribed from published texts and cross-checked verse by verse; transliteration generated from the Devanagari. The English and Hindi renderings are the Trust’s own.

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