Chapter 16

Śrī Kṛṣṇa said: Fearlessness, purity of being, the steadfast pursuit of knowledge, charity, self-control, worship, study of the Vedas, austerity, honesty; non-violence, truthfulness, freedom from anger, renunciation, tranquillity, freedom from fault-finding; compassion toward all beings, freedom from greed, gentleness, modesty, steadiness; energy, patience, fortitude, purity, freedom from malice, and absence of excessive pride—these are qualities of one born with a divine nature, O Bhārata

Hypocrisy, pride, arrogance, harshness, and ignorance, O Pārtha, belong to one born with a demonic nature.

A divine disposition leads to liberation, whereas a demonic disposition is considered to lead to bondage. Do not worry, O Pāṇḍava, for you have been born with a divine disposition.

There are two types of beings in this world—the divine and the demonic. The divine has been described in detail; now hear from Me, O Pārtha, about the demonic.

Demonic people know neither right action nor renunciation. Neither purity, proper conduct, nor truthfulness is found in them.

They say that this world is unreal, without any foundation, and without God; that it has arisen from mutual union, with sensual desire is its sole cause

Those who have ruined themselves and possess meager intelligence hold such a view. Hostile to the world, they take birth for its destruction and engage in vile deeds.

Resorting to insatiable desire and filled with deceit, pride, and arrogance, these people of impure resolve stubbornly cling to false notions out of delusion and thus act in the world.

Convinced that sensual enjoyment is the supreme goal and thinking it to be all there is, embracing endless anxieties lasting until the moment of death, bound by hundreds of desires and attachments, devoted to lust and anger, they strive to accumulate wealth through unjust means for the fulfillment of their desires.

Deluded by ignorance, such people declare, “I have gained this today, and I shall fulfill this [other] desire. This is mine, and that wealth shall also be mine. This enemy has been slain by me, and I shall kill the others as well. I am the lord, I am the enjoyer, I am successful, powerful, and happy. I am wealthy and of noble birth; who else can equal me? I will perform sacrifices, I will give charity, I will rejoice!”

Bewildered by many fantasies, caught by the net of delusion, and addicted to sensual enjoyments, they fall into a filthy hell.

Being self-glorifying, stubborn, and intoxicated with wealth, pride, and arrogance, they hypocritically perform sacrifices in name only, contrary to the injunctions of scripture.

Overcome with ego, power, pride, desire, and anger, these envious people hate Me, who is present in their own bodies and in those of others.

These cruel vicious people, filled with hatred and the lowest of mankind, I continuously cast into the wombs of demonic beings in this saṁsāra.

Thrown into a demonic womb life after life, these fools fail to attain Me, O Kaunteya, and thus sink to the lowest state of existence.

Desire, anger, and greed—this is the threefold gate to hell leading to one’s destruction. Therefore, one should abandon these three.

Liberated from these three gates of darkness, a person practices what is favorable to the Self and thereafter reaches the Supreme Abode, O Kaunteya.

Whoever abandons the injunctions of śāstra and acts under the influence of personal desire attains neither perfection, happiness, nor the Supreme Abode.

Therefore, let śāstra be your authority in determining what should and should not be done. Knowing the scriptural injunctions, you should perform your duty in this world.