The Yoga of Divine and Demonic Qualities

श्रीभगवानुवाच। अभयं सत्त्वसंशुद्धिर्ज्ञानयोगव्यवस्थितिः। दानं दमश्च यज्ञश्च स्वाध्यायस्तप आर्जवम्॥

The Supreme Lord said: Fearlessness, purity of heart, steadfastness in knowledge and yoga, charity, self-control, sacrifice, study of scriptures, austerity, straightforwardness...

अहिंसा सत्यमक्रोधस्त्यागः शान्तिरपैशुनम्। दया भूतेष्वलोलुप्त्वं मार्दवं ह्रीरचापलम्॥

...non-violence, truthfulness, absence of anger, renunciation, peacefulness, absence of slander, compassion to all beings, freedom from greed, gentleness, modesty, absence of fickleness...

तेजः क्षमा धृतिः शौचमद्रोहो नातिमानिता। भवन्ति संपदं दैवीमभिजातस्य भारत॥

...vigor, forgiveness, fortitude, cleanliness, freedom from malice, absence of excessive pride — these belong to one born with divine qualities, O Bharata.

दम्भो दर्पोऽभिमानश्च क्रोधः पारुष्यमेव च। अज्ञानं चाभिजातस्य पार्थ संपदमासुरीम्॥

Hypocrisy, arrogance, self-conceit, anger, harshness, and ignorance — these belong to one born with demoniac qualities, O Partha.

दैवी संपद्विमोक्षाय निबन्धायासुरी मता। मा शुचः संपदं दैवीमभिजातोऽसि पाण्डव॥

Divine nature leads to liberation; demoniac nature leads to bondage. Do not grieve, O Pandava — you are born with divine qualities.

द्वौ भूतसर्गौ लोकेऽस्मिन्दैव आसुर एव च। दैवो विस्तरशः प्रोक्त आसुरं पार्थ मे शृणु॥

There are two types of beings in this world: divine and demoniac. The divine has been described at length. Now hear from Me about the demoniac, O Partha.

प्रवृत्तिं च निवृत्तिं च जना न विदुरासुराः। न शौचं नापि चाचारो न सत्यं तेषु विद्यते॥

The demoniac do not know what to do and what not to do. Neither purity, nor right conduct, nor truth is found in them.

असत्यमप्रतिष्ठं ते जगदाहुरनीश्वरम्। अपरस्परसंभूतं किमन्यत्कामहैतुकम्॥

They say the world is unreal, without foundation, without a God, brought about by mutual union alone, caused by lust — what else?

एतां दृष्टिमवष्टभ्य नष्टात्मानोऽल्पबुद्धयः। प्रभवन्त्युग्रकर्माणः क्षयाय जगतोऽहिताः॥

Holding this view, these ruined souls of small intellect and cruel deeds arise as enemies of the world for its destruction.

काममाश्रित्य दुष्पूरं दम्भमानमदान्विताः। मोहाद्गृहीत्वासद्ग्राहान्प्रवर्तन्तेऽशुचिव्रताः॥

Resorting to insatiable desire, filled with hypocrisy, pride, and arrogance, they hold false views through delusion and act with impure resolves.

चिन्तामपरिमेयां च प्रलयान्तामुपाश्रिताः। कामोपभोगपरमा एतावदिति निश्चिताः॥

Beset by immeasurable anxieties ending only at death, regarding gratification of desires as the highest goal, convinced that is all there is...

आशापाशशतैर्बद्धाः कामक्रोधपरायणाः। ईहन्ते कामभोगार्थमन्यायेनार्थसञ्चयान्॥

...bound by hundreds of cords of hope, given over to desire and anger, they strive to amass wealth by unjust means for the gratification of desires.

इदमद्य मया लब्धमिमं प्राप्स्ये मनोरथम्। इदमस्तीदमपि मे भविष्यति पुनर्धनम्॥

'This I have gained today; this desire I shall fulfill; this wealth is mine, and this also shall be mine in the future...'

असौ मया हतः शत्रुर्हनिष्ये चापरानपि। ईश्वरोऽहमहं भोगी सिद्धोऽहं बलवान्सुखी॥

'That enemy has been slain by me, and I shall slay others too. I am the lord, I am the enjoyer, I am successful, powerful, and happy...'

आढ्योऽभिजनवानस्मि कोऽन्योऽस्ति सदृशो मया। यक्ष्ये दास्यामि मोदिष्य इत्यज्ञानविमोहिताः॥

'I am wealthy and highborn. Who else is equal to me? I shall perform sacrifices, I shall give charity, I shall rejoice' — thus deluded by ignorance.