Step 4 of 7 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Pick any verse to see what it means and how to use it in your life.

  1. 1Tap a chapter, then a verse
  2. 2Read what it means
  3. 3Try the practice
700 verses37 detailed
Or browse by chapter
Chapter

Chapter 16 · The Divine and Demoniac Natures · 24 verses

123456789101112131415161718192021222324

Deep profile← → keys move between verses

Character & ethicsChapter 16 · The Divine and Demoniac Natures
16.316.5

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 16.4

Divine qualities and Krishna’s reassurance

दम्भो दर्पोऽभिमानश्च क्रोध: पारुष्यमेव च ।

अज्ञानं चाभिजातस्य पार्थ सम्पदमासुरीम् ॥ ४ ॥

dambho darpo ’bhimānaś ca

krodhaḥ pāruṣyam eva ca

ajñānaṁ cābhijātasya

pārtha sampadam āsurīm

Translation

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

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

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

Qualities of Demoniac Nature

  1. 1Pride, arrogance, conceit, anger, harshness and ignorance belong to those of demoniac nature.
  2. 2Prabhupāda explains that they show off religion without following its principles, demand respect and reject authority. These qualities lead to hell.
  3. 3Follow religious principles rather than making a show of religion, and avoid harsh speech over small matters.

Where we are

In the story

Chapter 16, The Divine and Demoniac Natures: divine qualities and krishna’s reassurance.

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.

3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 16.4 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 ›
5

Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

BG 16.1Divine qualities and Krishna’s reassuranceBG 16.2Divine qualities and Krishna’s reassuranceBG 12.13Qualities of a devotee dear to Krishna

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

Ask the study guide

Ask about BG 16.4 — 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.