Daivasura Sampad Vibhaga Yoga
Daivasura Sampad Vibhaga Yoga • 24 verses
Krishna describes the divine and demonic qualities present in human nature, encouraging Arjuna to cultivate the divine qualities of fearlessness, compassion, and wisdom while renouncing ego, arrogance, and cruelty.
Chapter Overview
Chapter 16 is the Gita's ethical framework — a detailed description of the qualities that lead toward liberation (divine qualities) and those that lead toward bondage and suffering (demonic qualities).
The divine qualities (daivi sampat) include: fearlessness, purity of heart, steadfastness in yoga, charity, self-control, sacrifice, study of scripture, austerity, uprightness, non-violence, truthfulness, freedom from anger, renunciation, tranquility, freedom from fault-finding, compassion, absence of greed, gentleness, modesty, and absence of fickleness.
The demonic qualities (asuri sampat) include: ostentation, arrogance, pride, anger, harshness, and delusion. The demonic person believes only in material reality, denies the divine, and acts purely from desire and ego — leading to suffering, both personal and collective.
Krishna's warning about the demonic nature is stark: pride, desire, and anger are the triple gates to hell — the three most powerful forces that destroy the soul. The person driven by these forces can never find peace, no matter how much they acquire or achieve.
For modern readers, Chapter 16 offers a clear diagnostic: which qualities am I cultivating, and which am I neglecting or indulging? The list of divine qualities is a complete character development curriculum. The list of demonic qualities is an honest mirror for our shadow tendencies.
The chapter ends with a practical instruction: let the scriptures (shastra) be your authority in determining what to do and what not to do. When you are uncertain, consult the wisdom tradition rather than acting purely from impulse.
Key Verses
श्रीभगवानुवाच | अभयं सत्त्वसंशुद्धिर्ज्ञानयोगव्यवस्थितिः | दानं दमश्च यज्ञश्च स्वाध्यायस्तप आर्जवम् ||१६-१||
śrībhagavānuvāca . abhayaṃ sattvasaṃśuddhirjñānayogavyavasthitiḥ . dānaṃ damaśca yajñaśca svādhyāyastapa ārjavam ||16-1||
16.1 The Blessed Lord said Fearlessness, purity of heart, steadfastness in knowledge and Yoga, almsgiving, control of the senses, sacrifice, study of scriptures, austerity and straightforwardness.
अहिंसा सत्यमक्रोधस्त्यागः शान्तिरपैशुनम् | दया भूतेष्वलोलुप्त्वं मार्दवं ह्रीरचापलम् ||१६-२||
ahiṃsā satyamakrodhastyāgaḥ śāntirapaiśunam . dayā bhūteṣvaloluptvaṃ mārdavaṃ hrīracāpalam ||16-2||
16.2 Harmlessness, truth, absence of anger, renunciation, peacefulness, absence of crookedness, compassion towards beings, non-covetousness, gentleness, modesty, absence of fickleness.
तेजः क्षमा धृतिः शौचमद्रोहो नातिमानिता | भवन्ति सम्पदं दैवीमभिजातस्य भारत ||१६-३||
tejaḥ kṣamā dhṛtiḥ śaucamadroho nātimānitā . bhavanti sampadaṃ daivīmabhijātasya bhārata ||16-3||
16.3 Vigour, forgiveness, fortitude, purity, absence of hatred, absence of pride these belong to the one born for a divine state, O Arjuna.
दम्भो दर्पोऽभिमानश्च क्रोधः पारुष्यमेव च | अज्ञानं चाभिजातस्य पार्थ सम्पदमासुरीम् ||१६-४||
dambho darpo.abhimānaśca krodhaḥ pāruṣyameva ca . ajñānaṃ cābhijātasya pārtha sampadamāsurīm ||16-4||
16.4 Hypocrisy, arrogance and self-conceit, anger and also harshness and ignorance, belong to one who is born for a demoniacal state, O Partha (Arjuna).
दैवी सम्पद्विमोक्षाय निबन्धायासुरी मता | मा शुचः सम्पदं दैवीमभिजातोऽसि पाण्डव ||१६-५||
daivī sampadvimokṣāya nibandhāyāsurī matā . mā śucaḥ sampadaṃ daivīmabhijāto.asi pāṇḍava ||16-5||
16.5 The divine nature is deemed conducive to liberation, and the demoniacal to bondage. Grieve not, O Arjuna, thou art born with divine endowments.