Honesty, refraining from harm, truthfulness, freedom from anger,
renunciation, tranquillity, freedom from fault finding, compassion to
all beings, freedom from greed, kindness, modesty, never wavering;
Hypocrisy, pride, anger, rudeness and ignorance, O Arjuna, belong to one
who possesses a demonic nature.
dambho darpo’bhimānaśca krodhaḥ pāruṣyam eva ca |
ajñānaṁ cābhijātasya pārtha sampadam āsurīm ||
16.5
Those who have these divine qualities attain liberation, whereas those
demonic qualities are a source of bondage. Do not worry, O Arjuna, for
you have been born with divine qualities.
There are two types of beings that have been produced in this world —
the divine and the demonic. So far, the qualities of the divine have
been described at length, now hear from Me, O Arjuna, about the demonic.
dvau bhūta sargau loke ’smin daiva āsura eva ca |
daivo vistaraśaḥ proktaḥ āsuraṁ pārtha me śṛṇu ||
VERSES 7-20: QUALITIES OF THE UNRIGHTEOUS
16.7
Asuric individuals know nothing about right action nor what to refrain
from. Neither purity, truthfulness, nor right conduct can be found in
them.
pravṛttiṁ ca nivṛttiṁ ca janā na vidurāsurāḥ |
na śaucaṁ nāpi cācāro na satyaṁ teṣu vidyate ||
16.8
Such people say that this universe is unreal, without any foundation and
without any Lord. They say this has all come into being without any
cause. It has simply been brought about by sexual desire, with sensual
gratification being the only reason for it.
asatyam apratiṣṭhaṁ te jagad-āhur anīśvaram |
aparaspara sambhūtaṁ kim anyat kāma haitukam ||
16.9
Those who have ruined themselves, and have little intelligence, hold
these views. Hostile to all, they perform cruel deeds and bring
destruction to the world.
Filled with insatiable desires, due to delusion, they stubbornly hold to
false ideas. They act with insincere intentions based on deceit, pride
and passion.
Deluded by ignorance, such people declare, “I have gained this today,
and I will gain more to meet my desires. This wealth is mine, and much
more will be mine in the future.”
idam-adya mayā labdham imaṁ prāpsyase manoratham |
idam astīdam api me bhaviṣyati punar dhanam ||
16.14
“This enemy is slain by me, and I shall kill the others. I am the lord,
I am the enjoyer, I am successful, powerful and happy.”
Being utterly self-centred, stubborn, intoxicated with pride, wealth and
passion, they insincerely perform sacrifices in name only, deviating
from the prescribed way.
Overcome with ego, power, pride, desire and anger, these demonic people
hate and envy Me, the one who is present in their own bodies and those
of others.
These wicked people are filled with hatred and are the worst of
humankind. Within this cycle of birth and death, I continuously cast
them into the wombs of demonic beings.
One who has been liberated from these three gates of darkness, O Arjuna,
will do what is beneficial to the Self and hence one reaches that
Supreme Abode.
etair vimuktaḥ kaunteya tamo dvārais tribhir naraḥ |
ācaraty-ātmanaḥ śreyas tato yāti parāṁ gatim ||
16.23
Whoever disregards the principles of the scriptures and acts under the
influence of their personal desire, can never attain perfection,
happiness, or the Supreme Abode.
yaḥ śāstra vidhim utsṛjya vartate kāma kārataḥ |
na sa siddhim avāpnoti na sukhaṁ na parāṁ gatim ||
16.24
Therefore, let the scriptures be your authority for determining what
should and should not be done. Having learnt what they have instructed,
you can perform your duty.