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Chapter 16 · The Divine and Demoniac Natures · 24 verses

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Character & ethicsChapter 16 · The Divine and Demoniac Natures

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 16.10

Demoniac qualities and their consequences

काममाश्रित्य दुष्पूरं दम्भमानमदान्विता: ।

मोहाद्‍गृहीत्वासद्‍ग्राहान्प्रवर्तन्तेऽश‍ुचिव्रता: ॥ १० ॥

kāmam āśritya duṣpūraṁ

dambha-māna-madānvitāḥ

mohād gṛhītvāsad-grāhān

pravartante ’śuci-vratāḥ

Translation

Taking shelter of insatiable lust and absorbed in the conceit of pride and false prestige, the demoniac, thus illusioned, are always sworn to unclean work, attracted by the impermanent.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

What this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.

Trapped by Endless Desire

  1. 1The demoniac take shelter of endless lust, pride, and false prestige, committing themselves to unclean work and temporary things.
  2. 2Prabhupāda explains that their desires keep growing. Though temporary pleasures bring anxiety, illusion makes them think they are advancing.
  3. 3Be careful not to mistake growing desires, wealth, or worldly honor for real advancement.

Where we are

In the story

Chapter 16, The Divine and Demoniac Natures: demoniac qualities and their consequences.

What it teaches

Theme summary

Cultivate divine qualities in character.

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Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Key ideas: daivī-sampat, dharma.

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 16.10 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to character & ethics?

Practice

Choose one virtue to practice consciously today.

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Related verses

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Study notes are editorial summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport.

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