:: Chapter 16 :: The Divine And Demoniac Natures

Text 4

dambho darpo 'bhimanas ca
krodhah parusyam eva ca
ajnanam cabhijatasya
partha sampadam asurim

Synonyms

dambhah--pride; darpah--arrogance; abhimanah--conceit; ca--and; krodhah--anger; parusyam--harshness; eva--certainly; ca--and; ajnanam--ignorance; ca--and; abhijatasya--of one who is born of; partha--O son of Prtha; sampadam--the qualities; asurim--the demoniac nature.

Translation

Pride, arrogance, conceit, anger, harshness and ignorance--these qualities belong to those of demoniac nature, O son of Prtha.

Purport

In this verse, the royal road to hell is described. The demoniac want to make a show of religion and advancement in spiritual science, although they do not follow the principles. They are always arrogant or proud in possessing some type of education or so much wealth. They desire to be worshiped by others, and demand respectability, although they do not command respect. Over trifles they become very angry and speak harshly, not gently. They do not know what should be done and what should not be done. They do everything whimsically, according to their own desire, and they do not recognize any authority. These demoniac qualities are taken on by them from the beginning of their bodies in the wombs of their mothers, and as they grow they manifest all these inauspicious qualities.

Text 5

daivi sampad vimoksaya
nibandhayasuri mata
ma sucah sampadam daivim
abhijato 'si pandava

Synonyms

daivi--transcendental; sampat--assets; vimoksaya--meant for liberation; nibandhaya--for bondage; asuri--demoniac qualities; mata--are considered; ma--do not; sucah--worry; sampadam--assets; daivim--transcendental; abhijatah--born of; asi--you are; pandava--O son of Pandu.

Translation

The transcendental qualities are conducive to liberation, whereas the demoniac qualities make for bondage. Do not worry, O son of Pandu, for you are born with the divine qualities.

Purport

Lord Krisna encouraged Arjuna by telling him that he was not born with demoniac qualities. His involvement in the fight was not demoniac, because he was considering the pros and cons. He was considering whether respectable persons such as Bhisma and Drona should be killed or not, so he was not acting under the influence of anger, false prestige or harshness. Therefore he was not of the quality of the demons. For a ksatriya, a military man, shooting arrows at the enemy is considered transcendental, and refraining from such a duty is demoniac. Therefore there was no cause for Arjuna to lament. Anyone who performs the regulative principles of the different orders of life is transcendentally situated.

Text 6

dvau bhuta-sargau loke 'smin
daiva asura eva ca
daivo vistarasah prokta
asuram partha me srnu

Synonyms

dvau--two; bhuta-sargau--created living beings; loke--in the world; asmin--this; daivah--godly; asurah--demoniac; eva--certainly; ca--and; daivah--the divine; vistarasah--at great length; proktah--said; asuram--the demoniac; partha--O son of Prtha; me--from Me; srnu--just hear.

Translation

O son of Prtha, in this world there are two kinds of created beings. One is called the divine and the other demoniac. I have already explained to you at length the divine qualities. Now hear from Me of the demoniac.

Purport

Lord Krisna, having assured Arjuna that he was born with the divine qualities, is now describing the demoniac way. The conditioned living entities are divided into two classes in this world. Those who are born with divine qualities follow a regulated life; that is to say they abide by the injunctions in scriptures and by the authorities. One should perform duties in the light of authoritative scripture. This mentality is called divine. One who does not follow the regulative principles as they are laid down in the scriptures and who acts according to his whims is called demoniac or asuric. There is no other criterion but obedience to the regulative principles of scriptures. It is mentioned in Vedic literature that both the demigods and the demons are born of the Prajapati; the only difference is that one class obeys the Vedic injunctions and the other does not.