The sixteenth chapter of the Bhagavad Gita, called daivāsurasampadvibhāgayōgaḥ or 'The yōga of the Division between the Divine and the Demonic,' opens on the battlefield of kurukṣētra. Here, amid the tension and uncertainty of war, śrīkṛṣṇa continues his profound conversation with arjuna. The fate of the pāṇḍavāḥ and the kauravāḥ hangs in the balance, but the Gita's focus remains on the inner battles that define each person.
In the previous chapter, śrīkṛṣṇa taught puruṣōttamayōgaḥ, describing the upside-down Ashvattha tree, the perishable and imperishable principles, and the Supreme Person beyond both. Now, the Gita shifts from that cosmic vision of existence to the personal qualities that shape a person's inner life.
Looking ahead, the next chapter will explore the power of faith and conviction-how our beliefs shape the way we live and the results we achieve. But before we get there, Chapter 16 asks us to take a hard look at ourselves. It challenges us to recognize the seeds of both light and darkness within, and to consciously cultivate the qualities that lead to freedom, peace, and true strength.
ōṃ śrī paramātmanē namaḥ
atha ṣōḍaśō'dhyāyaḥ
daivāsurasampadvibhāgayōgaḥ
Translation (bhāvārtha):
Salutations to the Supreme Self. Now begins the sixteenth chapter, called The Yoga of the Division between Divine and Demonic Qualities.
śrī bhagavānuvācha
abhayaṃ sattvasaṃśuddhiḥ jñānayōgavyavasthitiḥ ।
dānaṃ damaścha yajñaścha svādhyāyastapa ārjavam ॥1॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
The Blessed Lord said: Fearlessness, purity of mind, dedication to knowledge and spiritual discipline, generosity, mastery over the senses, performing sacrifices, study of sacred texts, self-discipline, and sincerity-these are the qualities of the divine.
ahiṃsā satyamakrōdhaḥ tyāgaḥ śāntirapaiśunam ।
dayā bhūtēṣvalōluptvaṃ mārdavaṃ hrīrachāpalam ॥2॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
Non-violence, truthfulness, freedom from anger, renunciation, inner calm, refraining from slander, compassion for all beings, lack of greed, gentleness, modesty, and steadiness are qualities that define a person of divine nature.
tējaḥ kṣamā dhṛtiḥ śaucham adrōhō nātimānitā ।
bhavanti sampadaṃ daivīm abhijātasya bhārata ॥3॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
Vigor, forgiveness, determination, purity, freedom from malice, and humility-these qualities, Arjuna, are found in those born with a divine nature.
dambhō darpō'bhimānaścha krōdhaḥ pāruṣyamēva cha ।
ajñānaṃ chābhijātasya pārtha sampadamāsurīm ॥4॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
O Arjuna, hypocrisy, arrogance, self-importance, anger, harshness, and ignorance are the qualities found in those who are born with a demoniac nature.
daivī sampadvimōkṣāya nibandhāyāsurī matā ।
mā śuchaḥ sampadaṃ daivīm abhijātō'si pāṇḍava ॥5॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
The divine qualities lead toward liberation, while the demoniac ones are understood to result in bondage. Do not be troubled, Arjuna; you have been born with divine qualities.
dvau bhūtasargau lōkē'smin daiva āsura ēva cha ।
daivō vistaraśaḥ prōktaḥ āsuraṃ pārtha mē śṛṇu ॥6॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
In this world, there are two kinds of beings: those with a divine nature and those with a demoniacal nature. The qualities of the divine have already been explained in detail. Now, Arjuna, listen as I describe the demoniacal qualities.
pravṛttiṃ cha nivṛttiṃ cha janā na vidurāsurāḥ ।
na śauchaṃ nāpi chāchāraḥ na satyaṃ tēṣu vidyatē ॥7॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
People of demonic nature do not understand what actions should be taken or avoided. In them, there is neither purity, nor proper conduct, nor truthfulness.
asatyamapratiṣṭhaṃ tē jagadāhuranīśvaram ।
aparasparasambhūtaṃ kimanyatkāmahaitukam ॥8॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
They claim that the universe is false, has no real foundation, and is without any divine ruler. They say it arises only from the union of opposites, driven by desire, and that there is no other cause behind it.
ētāṃ dṛṣṭimavaṣṭabhya naṣṭātmānō'lpabuddhayaḥ ।
prabhavantyugrakarmāṇaḥ kṣayāya jagatō'hitāḥ ॥9॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
Clinging to this belief, people whose true self is lost and whose understanding is shallow, act with harsh and destructive deeds. Such individuals, hostile to the world, arise to bring about its ruin.
kāmamāśritya duṣpūraṃ dambhamānamadānvitāḥ ।
mōhādgṛhītvāsadgrāhān pravartantē'śuchivratāḥ ॥10॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
Relying on endless desires, and filled with hypocrisy, pride, and arrogance, these people, confused by delusion, adopt false beliefs and act with impure intentions.
chintāmaparimēyāṃ cha pralayāntāmupāśritāḥ ।
kāmōpabhōgaparamāḥ ētāvaditi niśchitāḥ ॥11॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
They are consumed by endless worries that persist until death, believing that indulging in desires is life's highest purpose, and are certain that nothing more exists beyond this.
āśāpāśaśatairbaddhāḥ kāmakrōdhaparāyaṇāḥ ।
īhantē kāmabhōgārtham anyāyēnārthasañchayān ॥12॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
Driven by countless hopes and desires, and fully absorbed in craving and anger, such people relentlessly pursue the accumulation of wealth through unjust means, all for the sake of enjoying sensual pleasures.
idamadya mayā labdham imaṃ prāpsyē manōratham ।
idamastīdamapi mē bhaviṣyati punardhanam ॥13॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
Today I have gained this; soon I will achieve that other thing I desire. This is already mine, and more wealth will come to me again in the future.
asau mayā hataḥ śatṛḥ haniṣyē chāparānapi ।
īśvarō'hamahaṃ bhōgī siddhō'haṃ balavānsukhī ॥14॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
That enemy has been defeated by me, and I will overcome others as well. I am the master, I am the one who enjoys, I am accomplished, powerful, and happy.
āḍhyō'bhijanavānasmi kō'nyō'sti sadṛśō mayā ।
yakṣyē dāsyāmi mōdiṣyē ityajñānavimōhitāḥ ॥15॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
I am wealthy and well-born; who else is there like me? I will perform rituals, I will give gifts, I will enjoy life. Thinking in this way, they are confused by ignorance.
anēkachittavibhrāntāḥ mōhajālasamāvṛtāḥ ।
prasaktāḥ kāmabhōgēṣu patanti narakē'śuchau ॥16॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
Confused by countless thoughts and caught in the web of delusion, those who are deeply attached to sensual pleasures end up falling into a state of impure suffering.
ātmasambhāvitāḥ stabdhāḥ dhanamānamadānvitāḥ ।
yajantē nāmayajñaistē dambhēnāvidhipūrvakam ॥17॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
Self-important and stubborn, intoxicated by pride and wealth, these people perform rituals that are sacrifices in name only. Their actions are driven by show and hypocrisy, ignoring the proper guidelines set by tradition.
ahaṅkāraṃ balaṃ darpaṃ kāmaṃ krōdhaṃ cha saṃśritāḥ ।
māmātmaparadēhēṣu pradviṣantō'bhyasūyakāḥ ॥18॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
Relying on ego, strength, arrogance, desire, and anger, these malicious people become hateful towards Me, present within their own bodies and in those of others.
tānahaṃ dviṣataḥ krūrān saṃsārēṣu narādhamān ।
kṣipāmyajasramaśubhān āsurīṣvēva yōniṣu ॥19॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
Those who are hateful, cruel, and the lowest among humans, I continually cast into the cycles of worldly existence, placing them in demonic births, so they remain in inauspicious conditions.
āsurīṃ yōnimāpannāḥ mūḍhā janmani janmani ।
māmaprāpyaiva kauntēya tatō yāntyadhamāṃ gatim ॥20॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
Those who are deluded, repeatedly taking birth in demoniac wombs, never come to Me, Arjuna. Instead, they continue to fall into even lower states of existence.
trividhaṃ narakasyēdaṃ dvāraṃ nāśanamātmanaḥ ।
kāmaḥ krōdhastathā lōbhaḥ tasmādētattrayaṃ tyajēt ॥21॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
There are three gateways leading to ruin: desire, anger, and greed. These destroy a person's well-being, so one should let go of all three.
ētairvimuktaḥ kauntēya tamōdvāraistribhirnaraḥ ।
ācharatyātmanaḥ śrēyaḥ tatō yāti parāṃ gatim ॥22॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
O Arjuna, a person who is freed from these three gates leading to darkness acts for the true benefit of the self, and by doing so, attains the highest goal.
yaḥ śāstravidhimutsṛjya vartatē kāmakārataḥ ।
na sa siddhimavāpnōti na sukhaṃ na parāṃ gatim ॥23॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
Whoever ignores the guidance of the scriptures and acts solely according to their own desires does not achieve perfection, nor true happiness, nor the highest spiritual goal.
tasmāchChāstraṃ pramāṇaṃ tē kāryākāryavyavasthitau ।
jñātvā śāstravidhānōktaṃ karma kartumihārhasi ॥24॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
Therefore, let scripture be your guide in deciding what should and should not be done. After understanding what the scriptural rules prescribe, you should act accordingly in this world.
॥ ōṃ tatsaditi śrīmadbhagavadgītāsu upaniṣatsu brahmavidyāyāṃ
yōgaśāstrē śrīkṛṣṇārjunasaṃvādē daivāsurasampadvibhāgayōgō nāma ṣōḍaśō'dhyāyaḥ ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
Thus ends the sixteenth chapter, called The Yoga of the Division between Divine and Demonic Qualities, from the dialogue between Sri Krishna and Arjuna, in the Upanishad-like scripture of the glorious Bhagavad Gita, which teaches the knowledge of Brahman and the science of yoga.
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