Chapter 16

Divine and Demonic Natures

The qualities that lead to freedom, like fearlessness and compassion, and those that bind, like pride, anger and greed.

Verses in this chapter(24)

16.1The Blessed Lord said: Fearlessness, purity of heart, steadfastness in knowledge and Yoga, almsgiving, control of the senses, sacrifice, study of scriptures, austerity and...
16.2Harmlessness, truth, absence of anger, renunciation, peacefulness, absence of crookedness, compassion towards beings, non-covetousness, gentleness, modesty, absence of fickleness.
16.3Vigour, forgiveness, fortitude, purity, absence of hatred, absence of pride these belong to the one born for a divine state, O Arjuna.
16.4Hypocrisy, arrogance and self-conceit, anger and also harshness and ignorance, belong to one who is born for a demoniacal state, O Partha (Arjuna).
16.5The divine nature is deemed conducive to liberation, and the demoniacal to bondage. Grieve not, O Arjuna, thou art born with divine endowments.
16.6There are two types of beings in this world, the divine and the demoniacal; the divine has been described at length; hear from Me, O Arjuna, of the demoniacal.
16.7The demoniacal know not what to do and what to refrain from; neither purity, nor right conduct nor truth is found in them.
16.8They say, "This universe is without truth, without (moral) basis, without a God, brought about by mutual union, with lust for its cause; what else?
16.9Holding this view, these ruined souls of small intellect and fierce deeds, come forth as the enemies of the world for its destruction.
16.10Filled with insatiable desires, full of hypocrisy, pride and arrogance, holding evil ideas through delusion, they work with impure resolves.
16.11Giving themselves over to immeasurable cares ending only with death, regarding gratification of lust as their highest aim, and feeling sure that that is all.
16.12Bound by a hundred ties of hope, given over to lust and anger, they strive to obtain by unlawful means hoards to wealth for sensual enjoyments.
16.13This has been gained by me today; this desire of mine I shall fuffil; this is mine and this wealth also shall be mine in future.
16.14That enemy has been slain by me; and others also I shall slay. I am the lord. I enjoy. I am perfect, powerful and happy.
16.15I am rich and born in a noble family. Who else is equal to me? I shall perform sacrifices. I shall give (charity). I shall rejoice," thus deluded by ignorance.
16.16Bewildered by many a fancy, entangled in the snare of delusion, addicted to the gratification of lust, they fall into a foul hell.
16.17Self-conceited, stubborn, filled with the pride and intoxication of wealth, they perform sacrifices in name out of ostentation, contrary to scriptural ordinances.
16.18Given over to egoism, power, haughtiness, lust and anger, these malicious people hate Me in their own bodies and in those of others.
16.19Those cruel haters, worst among men in the world, I hurl those evil-doers into the wombs of demons only.
16.20Entering into demoniacal wombs and deluded, birth after birth, not attaining Me, they thus fall, O Arjuna, into a condition still lower than that.
16.21Triple is the gate of this hell, destructive of the self lust, anger and greed; therefore one should abandon these three.
16.22A man who is liberated from these three gates to darkness, O Arjuna, practises what is good for him and thus goes to the Supreme Goal.
16.23He who, having cast aside the ordinances of the scriptures, acts under the impulse of desire, attains not perfection, nor happiness nor the Supreme Goal.
16.24Therefore, let the scripture be thy authority in determining what ought to be done and what ought not to be done. Having known what is said in the ordinance of the scriptures...

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