- 16.1अभयं सत्त्वसंशुद्धिर्ज्ञानयोगव्यवस्थितिः ।Krishna begins by listing the qualities that belong to a divine way of living.
- 16.2अहिंसा सत्यमक्रोधस्त्यागः शान्तिरपैशुनम् ।The divine path expresses itself through restraint, kindness, and inner peace.
- 16.3तेजः क्षमा धृतिः शौचमद्रोहो नातिमानिता ।Divine nature includes strength, patience, cleanliness, humility, and the ability to forgive.
- 16.4दम्भो दर्पोऽभिमानश्च क्रोधः पारुष्यमेव च ।The demonic nature is marked by ego, cruelty, and ignorance.
- 16.5दैवी सम्पद्विमोक्षाय निबन्धायासुरी मता ।Divine qualities free a person, while asuric qualities bind them.
- 16.6द्वौ भूतसर्गौ लोकेऽस्मिन्दैव आसुर एव च ।Krishna introduces the opposite pattern so Arjuna can recognize it clearly.
- 16.7प्रवृत्तिं च निवृत्तिं च जना न विदुरासुराः ।The asuric mind loses moral clarity and no longer knows how to live rightly.
- 16.8असत्यमप्रतिष्ठं ते जगदाहुरनीश्वरम् ।The asuric view denies moral order, divine presence, and deeper purpose.
- 16.9एतां दृष्टिमवष्टभ्य नष्टात्मानोऽल्पबुद्धयः ।Wrong vision eventually produces harmful behavior and damage around them.
- 16.10काममाश्रित्य दुष्पूरं दम्भमानमदान्विताः ।Asuric people are driven by craving and ego, and their actions become corrupt.
- 16.11चिन्तामपरिमेयां च प्रलयान्तामुपाश्रिताः ।Their minds stay trapped in fear and pleasure-seeking, with no higher horizon.
- 16.12आशापाशशतैर्बद्धाः कामक्रोधपरायणाः ।Desire and anger push them toward dishonest ways of gaining what they want.
- 16.13इदमद्य मया लब्धमिमं प्राप्स्ये मनोरथम् ।Their minds keep chasing more possession, more control, and more acquisition.
- 16.14असौ मया हतः शत्रुर्हनिष्ये चापरानपि ।Ego turns violence and domination into a false story of greatness.
- 16.15आढ्योऽभिजनवानस्मि कोऽन्योऽस्ति सदृशो मया ।They boast about status and see themselves as superior, while ignorance keeps them blind.
- 16.16अनेकचित्तविभ्रान्ता मोहजालसमावृताः ।Confusion and attachment eventually drag such people into a dark and degrading state.
- 16.17आत्मसम्भाविताः स्तब्धा धनमानमदान्विताः ।Their religious acts are hollow because ego has replaced sincerity.
- 16.18अहंकारं बलं दर्पं कामं क्रोधं च संश्रिताः ।Their hostility is so deep that it turns against the divine presence within themselves and others.
- 16.19तानहं द्विषतः क्रुरान्संसारेषु नराधमान् ।Persistent cruelty keeps a person moving through destructive patterns of rebirth.
- 16.20आसुरीं योनिमापन्ना मूढा जन्मनि जन्मनि ।Repeated delusion keeps a person far from Krishna and leads to a lower destiny.
- 16.21त्रिविधं नरकस्येदं द्वारं नाशनमात्मनः ।Craving, rage, and greed are the main inner doors that lead a person downward.
- 16.22एतैर्विमुक्तः कौन्तेय तमोद्वारैस्त्रिभिर्नरः ।When desire, anger, and greed are overcome, one can act for true good and reach the supreme goal.
- 16.23यः शास्त्रविधिमुत्सृज्य वर्तते कामकारतः ।A life ruled only by impulse cannot reach fulfillment.
- 16.24तस्माच्छास्त्रं प्रमाणं ते कार्याकार्यव्यवस्थितौ ।Right action must be guided by a reliable spiritual standard.
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