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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
16.2317.1

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 16.24

Lust, anger, greed and scriptural guidance

तस्माच्छास्त्रं प्रमाणं ते कार्याकार्यव्यवस्थितौ ।

ज्ञात्वा शास्त्रविधानोक्तं कर्म कर्तुमिहार्हसि ॥ २४ ॥

tasmāc chāstraṁ pramāṇaṁ te

kāryākārya-vyavasthitau

jñātvā śāstra-vidhānoktaṁ

karma kartum ihārhasi

Translation

One should therefore understand what is duty and what is not duty by the regulations of the scriptures. Knowing such rules and regulations, one should act so that he may gradually be elevated.

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.

Let Scripture Guide Your Actions

  1. 1Learn from scripture what is duty and what is not, then act accordingly to rise gradually.
  2. 2Prabhupāda explains that the Vedas aim at knowing Kṛṣṇa. Understanding Him and serving Him with devotion is the highest perfection of knowledge.
  3. 3Follow scriptural guidance rather than making your own rules, and engage in devotional service by chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa.

Where we are

In the story

Chapter 16, The Divine and Demoniac Natures: lust, anger, greed and scriptural guidance.

What it teaches

Theme summary

Cultivate divine qualities in character.

2

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

Practice

Choose one virtue to practice consciously today.

4

The story behind it

Mahābhārata episodes and stories from the purports that shed light on this verse.

All stories for chapter 16 ›
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Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

BG 16.21Lust, anger and greed lead toward degradation.BG 16.22Lust, anger, greed and scriptural guidanceBG 12.13Qualities of a devotee dear to Krishna

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

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Ask about BG 16.24 — get a simple answer linked to related ideas and verses.

Back to step 3The key ideasNext · Step 5 of 7 · 5 minLive the teachingsBring it into your day with a practice and a question, straight from Prabhupāda's purports.