The story · He seeks the Pāṇḍavas’ wealth, enemy defeat and expanding dominance.
What the verses say · The demoniac person thinks of gaining more wealth and killing enemies, becoming trapped in illusion and attachment to sense enjoyment.
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Chapter16
Daivāsura-sampad-vibhāga-yoga · 24 verses
The Divine and Demoniac Natures
Develop divine qualities, reject lust, anger and greed, and follow scripture.
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Verse notes
Every verse in simple words, from Prabhupāda's translation and purport. Tap a verse to study it in depth.
BG 16.1Qualities of Divine Nature
Study this verse- The Lord names fearlessness, purity, spiritual knowledge, and other qualities as signs of divine nature.
- Prabhupāda explains that a renounced person becomes fearless by trusting that Kṛṣṇa is always within and protects a surrendered soul.
- Cultivate spiritual knowledge and practice self-control to grow in spiritual understanding.
BG 16.2Qualities of Divine Nature
Study this verse- The Lord names nonviolence, truthfulness, compassion and gentleness among the qualities of people with divine nature.
- Prabhupāda explains that these qualities help us grow in spiritual understanding and become free from the material world.
- Practice truthfulness and gentleness, and avoid finding fault with others.
BG 16.3Qualities of Divine Nature
Study this verse- The Lord lists vigor, forgiveness, fortitude, cleanliness, and freedom from envy and the desire for honor as qualities of godly people.
- Prabhupāda explains that divine qualities help us grow in spiritual understanding and become free from the material world.
- Practice forgiveness and cleanliness, and give up envy and the desire for honor.
BG 16.4Qualities of Demoniac Nature
Study this verse- Pride, arrogance, conceit, anger, harshness and ignorance belong to those of demoniac nature.
- Prabhupāda explains that they show off religion without following its principles, demand respect and reject authority. These qualities lead to hell.
- Follow religious principles rather than making a show of religion, and avoid harsh speech over small matters.
BG 16.5Divine Qualities Bring Liberation
Study this verse- Divine qualities lead to liberation; demoniac qualities bring bondage. Kṛṣṇa assures Arjuna that he has divine qualities.
- Prabhupāda explains that Arjuna carefully considered his duty to fight, rather than acting from anger, false pride or harshness.
- Follow the prescribed rules and duties of your order of life to be spiritually situated.
BG 16.6Divine and Demoniac Qualities
Study this verse- Kṛṣṇa says there are two kinds of beings: divine and demoniac. Having explained divine qualities, He now describes the demoniac.
- Prabhupāda explains that divine beings follow scriptural rules and authorities, while demoniac beings ignore these rules and act as they please.
- Perform your duties according to authoritative scripture, rather than simply doing whatever you want.
BG 16.7Right Conduct and Cleanliness
Study this verse- Demoniac people do not know what to do or avoid. They lack cleanliness, proper behavior, and truth.
- Prabhupāda explains that they either do not know scriptural rules or are unwilling to follow them.
- Keep your body clean, and practice inner cleanliness by remembering God's holy names and chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa.
BG 16.8Denying God’s Control
Study this verse- The demonic say the world is unreal, has no foundation or controlling God, and comes only from lust.
- Prabhupāda explains that they see everything as matter and deny the soul, but Kṛṣṇa directs the material world.
- Learn from Kṛṣṇa’s words rather than accepting unsupported theories about creation.
BG 16.9Destruction Through Godlessness
Study this verse- The demoniac, lost to themselves and lacking intelligence, do harmful, horrible work meant to destroy the world.
- Prabhupāda explains that materialists without any concept of God call their inventions progress, though these increase cruelty and bring destruction.
- Do not mistake inventions that promote cruelty and destruction for real progress.
BG 16.10Trapped by Endless Desire
Study this verse- The demoniac take shelter of endless lust, pride, and false prestige, committing themselves to unclean work and temporary things.
- Prabhupāda explains that their desires keep growing. Though temporary pleasures bring anxiety, illusion makes them think they are advancing.
- Be careful not to mistake growing desires, wealth, or worldly honor for real advancement.
BG 16.11Sense Enjoyment and Endless Anxiety
Study this verse- Those who make sense enjoyment life's main goal face endless anxiety and gain money illegally to satisfy their desires.
- Prabhupāda explains that they lack faith in God and do not know that the Supersoul in their heart witnesses their actions.
- Do not make sense enjoyment your life's goal; remember that the Supersoul observes your actions.
BG 16.12Trapped by Endless Desires
Study this verse- Those who make sense pleasure life's main goal face endless anxiety. Bound by desires, lust and anger, they earn money illegally for enjoyment.
- Prabhupāda explains that the demoniac ignore life after death and karma. They do not recognize the Supersoul, who witnesses their actions within the heart.
- Remember that the Supersoul sees your actions. Do not seek pleasure without considering the consequences.
BG 16.13Wealth and False Pride
Study this verse- The demoniac person counts his wealth and schemes to gain more.
- He claims to be the lord and enjoyer of everything, perfect, powerful and happy.
- The translation explains that such persons are deluded by ignorance.
BG 16.14Pride and False Claims
Study this verse- The demoniac person boasts of killing enemies and claims to be the lord, enjoyer, perfect, powerful and happy.
- The translation explains that such people are misled by ignorance.
- Do not mistake power and enjoyment for being perfect or the lord of everything.
BG 16.15Pride and Ignorance
Study this verse- The demoniac person boasts of wealth, powerful relatives, and plans for sacrifice and charity.
- Such claims of being supreme, powerful, and happy show delusion caused by ignorance.
- Do not boast about wealth or use sacrifice and charity to feed pride.
BG 16.16Caught in Illusion
Study this verse- Troubled by anxieties and trapped in illusion, they become deeply attached to sense enjoyment and fall into hell.
- Prabhupāda explains that demoniac people endlessly seek wealth, credit only their own efforts, and ignore the law of karma.
- Avoid sinful ways of gaining wealth, and do not think your success comes only from your own strength.
BG 16.17Religion in Name Only
Study this verse- Misled by wealth and false prestige, the proud perform sacrifices only for show, without following rules.
- Prabhupāda explains that such demoniac people ignore scripture and authority, mislead others, and invent their own religious paths.
- Follow scripture and its rules rather than making a religious show or inventing your own path.
BG 16.18Envy of the Supreme Lord
Study this verse- Misled by false ego, strength, pride, lust and anger, demons envy the Supreme Lord within themselves and others, and speak against true religion.
- Prabhupāda explains that pride in wealth and strength leads them to reject God’s supremacy and scriptural authority, thinking themselves independent.
- Respect God’s supreme control and the scriptures, remembering that this life prepares us for the next.
BG 16.19The Lord Decides the Next Birth
Study this verse- The Lord repeatedly casts the envious and mischievous, the lowest among people, into demoniac forms of material life.
- Prabhupāda explains that each soul’s next body is decided by the Supreme Lord, not by personal choice or chance.
- Accept the Lord’s supremacy rather than acting only according to your own whims.
BG 16.20Mercy and Demoniac Life
Study this verse- Those repeatedly born into demoniac life cannot approach the Lord and gradually sink to the lowest forms of existence.
- Prabhupāda explains that the Lord hates no one. Even placing demons in lower forms of life is a feature of His mercy.
- Demons killed by the Supreme Lord become liberated, so His killing them also shows His mercy.
BG 16.21Give Up Three Enemies
Study this verse- Lust, anger and greed are three gates to hell that degrade the soul.
- Prabhupāda explains that anger and greed arise when lust is not satisfied. These enemies can block liberation from material entanglement.
- Try to give up lust, anger and greed to avoid falling into demoniac life.
BG 16.22Freedom from Three Enemies
Study this verse- One who escapes the three gates of hell acts for self-realization and gradually reaches the supreme destination.
- Prabhupāda explains that giving up lust, anger and greed purifies life. Self-realization is perfected in devotional service, which guarantees liberation.
- Be careful of lust, anger and greed, and follow the rules given in Vedic literature to grow in spiritual realization.
BG 16.23Follow Scripture, Serve Kṛṣṇa
Study this verse- Those who reject scriptural rules and act on their own whims gain neither perfection, happiness, nor the supreme destination.
- Prabhupāda explains that rules and knowledge must lead to understanding and serving the Supreme Lord. Highest perfection requires Kṛṣṇa consciousness and devotional service.
- Apply scriptural guidance in daily life, rather than following lust and greed, and gradually develop devotional service to Kṛṣṇa.
BG 16.24Let Scripture Guide Your Actions
Study this verse- Learn from scripture what is duty and what is not, then act accordingly to rise gradually.
- Prabhupāda explains that the Vedas aim at knowing Kṛṣṇa. Understanding Him and serving Him with devotion is the highest perfection of knowledge.
- Follow scriptural guidance rather than making your own rules, and engage in devotional service by chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa.
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Stories
The Mahābhārata background, and stories Prabhupāda tells in his purports. Tap one to read it.