Bhagavad Gita · 16.15 · Yoga through Discerning the Divine and Demoniac Natures·15 of 24
आढ्योऽभिजनवानस्मि कोऽन्योऽस्ति सदृशो मया।यक्ष्ये दास्यामि मोदिष्य इत्यज्ञानविमोहिताः ॥
āḍhyo ’bhijanavān asmi ko ’nyo ’sti sadṛiśho mayā yakṣhye dāsyāmi modiṣhya ity
ajñāna-vimohitāḥ aneka-chitta-vibhrāntā moha-jāla-samāvṛitāḥ prasaktāḥ kāma-bhogeṣhu patanti narake ’śhuchau
Sanskrit recitation
When ego turns cruel · 16.6–16.16 · Teaching
Translation
"I am wealthy and born into a noble family. Who is my equal? I shall perform sacrifices, give charity, and rejoice," thus deluded by ignorance.
Meaning
Kubera (the god of wealth) may be wealthy, but he cannot be compared with me. Even Vishnu Himself does not possess the wealth that I possess. In comparison with my illustrious family and the extent of my relations even Brahma is indeed of inferior descent. They are as nothing when compared with me. Who then is there in the whole world eal to meWellborn Born in a family learned in the scriptures for seven generations. None is eal to me in this respect. I will do may sacrificial rites to get name and fame. None is eal to me in this respect also. I will give money and presents to those who entertain me with dance, music and songs in praise of me. None is eal to me in charity (giving) also. I will indulge in eating, drinking and women.
After Swami Sivananda
When ego turns cruel· 16.6–16.16→
Teachers usually read this idea across several verses together, one shared reflection covers the whole unit.
- 16.6There are two types of beings in this world: the divine and the demoniacal. The divine has been described at length; hear from Me, O Arjuna, about the demoniacal.
- 16.7The demoniacal do not know what to do and what to refrain from; they have neither purity, nor right conduct, nor truth.
- 16.8They say, "This universe is without truth, without a moral basis, without a God, brought about by mutual union, with lust as its cause; what else?"
- 16.9Holding this view, these ruined souls of small intellect and fierce deeds come forth as enemies of the world, intent on its destruction.
- 16.10Filled with insatiable desires, full of hypocrisy, pride, and arrogance, holding evil ideas due to delusion, they work with impure intentions.
- 16.11Giving themselves over to immeasurable cares that end only with death, regarding the gratification of lust as their highest aim, and feeling sure that that is all.
- 16.12Bound by a hundred ties of hope, given over to lust and anger, they strive to obtain hoards of wealth by unlawful means for sensual enjoyment.
- 16.13"I have gained this today; I will fulfill this desire of mine; this is mine, and this wealth will be mine in the future."
- 16.14"I have slain that enemy, and I shall slay others too. I am the Lord; I enjoy, I am perfect, powerful, and happy."
16.15"I am wealthy and born into a noble family. Who is my equal? I shall perform sacrifices, give charity, and rejoice," thus deluded by ignorance.
- 16.16Bewildered by many fancies, entangled in the snare of delusion, addicted to the gratification of lust, they fall into a foul hell.
Word-by-word→
- iti
- thus
- asmi
- me
- asti
- is
- moha
- delusion
- jāla
- mesh
- kaḥ
- who
- mayā
- to me
- chitta
- imaginings
- narake
- to hell
- anyaḥ
- else
- patanti
- descend
- ajñāna
- ignorance
- aśhuchau
- murky
- dāsyāmi
- I shall give alms
- yakṣhye
- I shall perform sacrifices
- modiṣhye
- I shall rejoice
- āḍhyaḥ
- wealthy
- prasaktāḥ
- addicted
- vimohitāḥ
- deluded aneka—many
- abhijana-vān
- having highly placed relatives
- sadṛiśhaḥ
- like
- vibhrāntāḥ
- led astray
- kāma-bhogeṣhu
- gratification of sensuous pleasures
- samāvṛitāḥ
- enveloped
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