Introduction: Bhagavad Gita Chapter 16, describes those pious souls, who have been doing scripture-based worship i.e. worship according to the Vedas since their previous human births. It also emphasises that those inflicted with lust, greed, anger etc. cannot do worship. Moreover in verse 16.23 and 16.24, there is a description that arbitrary worship is fruitless. Only Scripture based worship is useful.
Read Full Summary of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 16
Abhyam’, sattvsanshuddhiH, gyaanyogvyavasthitiH,
Daanm’, damH, ch, yagyaH, ch, swaadhyaayH, tapH, aarjavam’ ||1||
Translation: (Abhayam’) fearless (sattvsanshuddhiH) complete purity of inner-self (gyaanyogvyavasthitiH) knowledgeable (ch) and (daanm’) charity (damH) self-control (yagyaH) performance of yagya (swaadhyaayH) study of religious scriptures (tapH) penance in the form of bearing hardships in the path of bhakti (ch) and (aarjavam’) submissiveness. (1)
Translation: Fearlessness, complete purity of inner-self, knowledgeable and charity, self-control, performance of yagya, study of religious scriptures, penance in the form of bearing hardships in the path of bhakti and submissiveness.
Ahimsa, satyam’, akrodhH, tyaagH, shaantiH, apaeshunm’,
Dayaa, bhooteshu, aloluptvam’, maardvam’, hriH, achaapalam’ ||2||
Translation: (Ahimsa) to not hurt anyone in any way by mind, speech and body (satyam’) truthful (akrodhH) to not even show anger towards someone who harms oneself (tyaagH) to even surrender one’s head to God (shaantiH) absence of unsteadiness of mind (apaeshunm’) to not criticize anyone (bhooteshu) towards all living beings (dayaa) kindness (aloluptvam’) without vices/defects (maardvam’) gentleness (hriH) ashamed of doing wrong deeds (achaapalam’) absence of flattery. (2)
Translation: To not hurt anyone in any way by mind, speech and body, truthful, to not even show anger towards someone who harms oneself, to even surrender one’s head to God, absence of unsteadiness of mind, to not criticize anyone, kindness towards all living beings, without vices, gentleness, ashamed of doing wrong deeds, absence of flattery.
TejH, kshmaH, dhrtiH, shaucham’, adrohH, naatimaanita,
Bhavanti, sampadam’, daiveem’, abhijaatasya, bharat ||3||
Translation: (TejH) brilliance (kshma) forgiveness (dhrtiH) patience (shaucham’) purity (adrohH) absence of hostility (naatimaanita) does not get oneself honoured (bharat) oh Arjun! (daiveem’, sampadam’) devotional nature (abhijaatasya) characteristics of a person born with (bhavanti) are. (3)
Translation: Brilliance, forgiveness, patience, purity, absence of hostility, does not get oneself honoured, Oh Arjun! These are the characteristics of a person born with devotional nature.
Important: From Verse 4 to 20, there is description of the characteristics of those people who did not do scripture-based sadhna even in their previous human births. Then, after going in the births of various other life forms and hell etc and after enjoying the transitory happiness in heaven etc, when they again acquire a human body, then also, out of their nature, remain firm in the same kind of sadhna (religious practices) and vices.
DambhH, darpH, abhimaanH, ch, krodhH, paarushyam’, ev, ch,
Agyaanm’, ch, abhijaatasya, paarth, sampadam’, aasureem’ ||4||
Translation: (Paarth) Oh Paarth! (dambhH) hypocrisy (darpH) arrogance (ch) and (abhimaanH) conceit (ch) and (krodhH) anger (paarushyam’) harshness (ch) and (agyaanm’) ignorance (ev) actually, all these (aasureem’) demoniac (sampadam’) attributes (abhijaatasya) characteristics of a person born with. (4)
Translation: Oh Paarth! hypocrisy, arrogance and conceit and anger, harshness and also ignorance – all these are the characteristics of a person born with demoniac attributes.
Daivi, sampat’, vimokshaay, nibandhaay, aasuri, mataa,
Ma, shuchH, sampadam’, daiveem’, abhijaatH, asi, pandav ||5||
Translation: (Daivi, sampat’) saintly characteristics (vimokshaay) for liberation and (aasuri) the demoniac attributes (nibandhaay) for bondage (mataa) are believed to be. Therefore, (Pandav) oh Arjun, you (ma, shuchH) do not grieve because you (daiveem’, sampadam’) devotional nature (abhijaatH) born with (asi) are. (5)
Translation: The saintly characteristics are believed to be for liberation, and demoniac attributes for bondage. Therefore, oh Arjun, do not grieve because you are born with devotional nature.
Dwau, bhootsargau, loke, asmin’, daivH, aasurH, ev, ch,
DaivH, vistarashH, proktH, aasuram’, paarth, me, shrnu ||6||
Translation: (Paarth) Oh Arjun! (asmin’) this (loke) in world (bhootsargau) creation of living beings (dwau ev) is only of two types; one (daivH) those with saintly nature (ch) and other (aasurH) with demoniac nature; of these (daivH) those with saintly nature (vistarashH) in detail (proktH) described earlier, now you (aasuram’) those with demoniac nature (me) from me (shrnu) hear. (6)
Translation: Oh Arjun! In this world, there is creation of only two types of living beings; one with saintly nature and the other with demoniac nature. Of these, those with saintly nature have been described earlier in detail. Now, you hear about those with demoniac nature from me.
Prvrttim’, ch, nivrttim’, ch, janaaH, na, viduH, aasuraH,
Na, shauchm’, na, api, ch, aachaarH, na, satyam’, teshu, vidyte ||7||
Translation: (AasuraH) those with demoniac nature (janaaH) people i.e. even if they are called saints, whether their disciples or they themselves who do sadhna opposite to the injunctions of the scriptures (prvrttim’) what to do (ch) and (nivrttim’) what to refrain from (ch) even (na) not (viduH) know, therefore (teshu) in them (na) neither (shauchm’) internal purity (na) nor (aachaarH) good conduct (ch) and (satyam’) truth (api) also (na) not (vidyte) is known. (7)
Translation: The people with demoniac nature, even if they are called saints, whether their disciples or they themselves, who do sadhna opposite to the injunctions of the scriptures, do not even know what to do and what to refrain from ; therefore, neither they have internal purity, nor good conduct and also truth is not known.
Important: In Bhagavad Gita Chapter 15 Verse 15 and Bhagavad Gita Chapter 9 Verse 17, the meaning of VedyaH and Vedyam’ has been given as ‘To know’.
Asatyam’, aprtishtham’, te, jagat’, aahuH, aneeshvaram’,
Aparasparsambhootam’, kim’, anyat’, kaamhaitukam’ ||8||
Translation: (Te) those people with demoniac nature (aahuH) say that (jagat’) world (aprtishtham’) without any base (asatyam’) unreal in every way and (aneeshvaram’) without God (aparasparsambhootam’) self-generated only by union of male and female (kaamhaitukam’) only sex is its cause (anyat’) apart from this (kim’) what is. (8)
Translation: Those people with demoniac nature say that the world is without any base, is unreal in every way and is without God. It is self-generated only by the union of male and female. Only sex is its cause. What else is, apart from this? Those with such beliefs are of demoniac nature.
Etaam’, drshtim’, avashtabhya, nashtaatmaanH, alpbuddhyH,
Prbhvanti, ugrkarmaanH, kshyaay, jagatH, ahitaaH ||9||
Translation: (Etaam’) this (drshtim’) point of view, false knowledge (avashtabhya) by following (nashtaatmaanH) the disgraceful souls (alpbuddhyH) who are dim-witted (ahitaH) who harm everyone (ugrkarmaanH) who perform cruel deeds (jagatH) world (kshyaay) for destruction (prbhvanti) are born. (9)
Translation: With this point of view, following the false knowedge, the disgraceful souls, who are dim-witted, who harm everyone, who perform cruel deeds, are born for the destruction of the world.
Kaamm’, aashritya, dushpoorm’, dambhmaanmadaanvitaH,
Mohaat’, grheetva, asad’graahaan’, prvartante, ashuchitvrtaH ||10||
Translation: (DambhmaanmadaanvitaH) filled with hypocrisy, pride and arrogance (dushpoorm’) insatiabe (kaamm’) desires (aashritya) taking shelter/ driven by (mohaat’) out of ignorance (asad’graahaan’) false principles opposed to the scriptures (grheetva) acquiring (ashuchivrtaH) by adopting corrupt behaviour (prvartante) wander about in the world. (10)
Translation: Filled with hypocrisy, pride and arrogance, driven by insatiable desires, out of ignorance, acquiring the false principles opposed to the scriptures wander about in the world.
Chintaam’, aparimeyaam’, ch, prlyaantaam’, upaashritaH,
KaamopbhogparmaH, etaavat’, iti, nishchitaH ||11||
Translation: (Prlyaantaam’) which remain even after death (aparimeyaam’) innumerable (chintaam’) worries (upaashritaH) taking shelter of / obsessed with (kaamopbhogparmaH) who remain eager to enjoy the worldly enjoyments (ch) and (etaavat’) only this is happiness (iti) thus (nishchitaH) believe. (11)
Translation: Obsessed with innumerable worries which remain even after death, they remain eager to enjoy the worldly enjoyments and thus believe that only this is happiness.
AashaapaashshataeH, baddhaH, kaamkrodhparaayanaaH,
Iihante, kaambhogaarthm’, anyaayen, arthsanchyaan’ ||12||
Translation: (AashaapaashshataeH) by hundreds of shackles of desires (baddhaH) bound (kaamkrodhparaayanaaH) overpowered by lust and anger (Kaambogaarthm’) for indulging in worldly enjoyments (anyaayen) by unjust means (arthsanchyaan’) to collect wealth etc. (iihante) strive. (12)
Translation: Bound by hundreds of shackles of desires, overpowered by lust and anger, strive to collect wealth etc by unjust means for indulging in worldly enjoyments.
Idam’, adya, mya, labdham’, imm’, praapsye, manoratham’,
Idam’, asti, idam’, api, me, bhavishyati, punH, dhanam’ ||13||
Translation: (Mya) I (adya) today (idam’) this (labdham’) have acquired and now (imm’) this (manoratham’) desire (praapsye) will fulfill (me) I (idam’) this much (dhanam’) wealth (asti) have (punH) again (api) also (idam’) this (bhavishyati) will be. (13)
Translation: Today, I have acquired this and now I will fulfil this desire. I have this much wealth and will also have this much again.
Asau, mya, hatH, shatruH, hanishye, ch, apraan’, api,
IshvarH, aham’, aham’, bhogi, siddhH, aham’, balwaan’, sukhi ||14||
Translation: (Asau) that (shatruH) enemy (mya) by me (hatH) has been killed (ch) and those (apraan’) other enemies (api) also (aham’) I (hanishye) will kill (aham’) I (IshvarH) am God (bhogi) enjoyer of luxuries (aham’) I (siddhH) am endowed with all supernatural powers (balwaan’) powerful and (sukhi) am happy. (14)
Translation: That enemy has been killed by me and I will also kill those other enemies. I am God and the enjoyer of luxuries. I am endowed with all the supernatural powers and am powerful and happy.
AadyaH, abhijanvaan’, asmi, kaH, anyaH, asti, sadrshH, mya,
Yakshye, daasyaami, modishye, iti, agyaanvimohitaH ||15||
AnekchitvibhraantaH, mohjaalsamaavrtaH,
PrsaktaH, kaambhogeshu, patanti, narke, ashuchau ||16||
Translation: (AadyaH) very wealthy and (abhijanvaan’) have a big family or many disciples (asmi) am (mya) my (sadrshH) equal (anyaH) else (kaH) who (asti) is (yakshye) will perform yagya (daasyaami) will do charity (modishye) will rejoice (iti) in this way (agyaanvimohitaH) deluded by ignorance and (anekchitvibhraantaH) with a mind perplexed in many ways (mohjaalsamaavrtaH) entangled in the snare of delusion and (kaambhogeshu) in the sensual pleasures (prsaktaH) excessively attached, the demoniac people (ashuchau) deep, impure (narke) hell (patanti) fall. (15, 16)
Translation: I am very wealthy and have a big family or many disciples. Who else is equal to me? I will perform yagya, will do charity and will rejoice. In this way, deluded by ignorance and with a mind perplexed in many ways, entangled in the snare of delusion, and excessively attached to sensual pleasures, the demoniac people fall into deep impure hell.
AatmsambhaavitaH, stabdhaH, dhanmaanmadaanvitaH,
Yajante, naamyagyaeH, te, dambhen, avidhipoorvakam’ ||17||
Translation: (Te) they (aatmsambhaavitaH) who consider themselves to be superior (stabdhaH) firm on bad behaviour (dhanmaanmadaanvitaH) intoxicated with wealth and prestige (naamyagyaeH) by performing yagyas only for name i.e. by doing arbitrary bhakti (dambhen) with ostentation (avidhipoorvakam’) opposite to the injunctions of the scriptures (yajante) worship. (17)
Translation: They, who consider themselves to be superior, firm on bad behaviour, intoxicated with wealth and prestige, worship with ostentation by performing yagyas only for name i.e. by doing arbitrary bhakti, which is opposite to the injunctions of the scriptures.
Ahankaaram’, balam’, darpam’, kaamm’, krodhm’, ch, sanshritaH,
Mam’, aatmpardeheshu, prdvishantH, abhyasooykaH ||18||
Translation: (Ahankaaram’) conceit (balam’) power (darpam’) arrogance (kaamm’) desire and (krodhm’) anger etc (sanshritaH) devoted to / overpowered by (ch) and (abhyasooykaH) who criticize others (aatmpardeheshu) the God along with the soul in every body (mam’) me (prdvishantH) they hate. (18)
Translation: Overpowered by conceit, power, arrogance, desire and anger etc, those who criticize others, hate the God along with the soul in every body and me.
Taan’, aham’, dvishatH, krooraan’, sansaareshu, naraadhmaan’,
Kshipaami, ajastrm’, ashubhaan’, aasureeshu, ev, yonishu ||19||
Translation: (Aham’) I (taan’) those (dvishatH) who hate (ashubhaan’) sinful persons and (krooraan’) who perform cruel deeds (naraadhmaan’) the degraded men (ev) in reality (sansaareshu) in the world (ajastrm’) repeatedly (aasureeshu) demoniac (yonishu) in births/wombs (kshipaami) hurl. (19)
Translation: In reality, I hurl those who hate, the sinful persons, who perform cruel deeds, the degraded men, repeatedly in demoniac births in the world.
Aasureem, yonim’, aapannaH, moodaH, janmni, janmni,
Mam’, apraapya, ev, kauntey, tatH, yaanti, adhmaam’, gatim’ ||20||
Translation: (Kauntey) Oh Arjun! (moodaH) those fools (mam’) me (apraapya) not attaining (ev) only (janmni) birth (janmni) to birth (aasureem’) demoniac (yonim’) wombs (aapannaH) attain (tatH) than that (adhmaam’) very low (gatim’) state (yaanti) attain i.e. fall into deep hells. (20)
Translation: Oh Arjun! Those fools, instead of attaining me, attain the demoniac wombs from birth to birth, and then attain a further lower state than that i.e. fall into deep hells.
Important: The description of aforesaid mantras 6 to 20 is also in Bhagavad Gita Chapter 7 Verse 12 to 15 and 20 to 23, and in Bhagavad Gita Chapter 9 Verse Verse 21 to 25.
Trividham’, narkasya, idam’, dwaarm’, naashnm’, aatmanH,
KaamH, krodhH, tatha, lobhH, tasmaat’, etat’, tryam’, tyajet’ ||21||
Translation: (KaamH) lust (krodhH) anger (tatha) and (lobhH) greed (idam’) these (trividham’) three types of (narkasya) of hell (dwaarm’) gates (aatmanH) of soul (naashnm’) are destroyers i.e. are suicidal (tasmaat’) therefore (etat’) these (tryam’) three (tyajet’) one should abandon. (21)
Translation: Lust, anger and greed, these three types of gates of hell are the destroyers of the soul i.e. are suicidal. Therefore, one should abandon these three.
EtaeH, vimuktH, kauntey, tamodwaaraeH, tribhiH, narH,
Aacharti, aatmanH, shreyH, tatH, yaati, paraam’, gatim’ ||22||
Translation: (Kauntey) Oh Arjun! (etaeH) these (tribhiH) three (tamodwaaraeH) gates of hell (vimuktH) liberated (narH) a person (aatmanH) of soul (shreyH) welfare (aacharti) acts (tatH) thus, he (paraam’) supreme (gatim’) state (yaati) goes to i.e. attains the Purna Parmatma. (22)
Translation: Oh Arjun! A person liberated from these three gates of hell acts for the welfare of the soul. Thus he goes to the supreme state i.e. attains the Purna Parmatma.
YaH, shaastrvidhim’, utsrjya, vartte, kaamkaaratH,
Na, saH, siddhim’, avaapnoti, na, sukham’, na, paraam’, gatim’ ||23||
Translation: (YaH) he who (shaastrvidhim’) injunctions of scriptures (utsrjya) abandoning (kaamkaaratH) according to his whimsical desires (vartte) acts (saH) he (na) neither (siddhim’) siddhi/perfection/spiritual success (avaapnoti) attains (na) nor (paraam’) supreme (gatim’) state/salvation and (na) nor (sukham’) happiness. (23)
Translation: He who, abandoning the injunctions of the scriptures, acts according to the whimsical desires, neither attains siddhi/perfection, nor supreme state/salvation, nor happiness.
Tasmaat’, shaastrm’, prmaanm’, te, kaaryaakaaryavyavasthitau,
Gyaatva, shaastrvidhaanoktam’, karm, kartum’, ih, arhasi ||24||
Translation: (Tasmaat’) therefore (te) for you (kaaryaakaaryavyavasthitau) in the state of what should be done and what should not be done (shaastrm’) only scripture (prmaanm’) is evidence (ih) this (gyaatva) knowing (shaastrvidhaanoktam’) in accordance with the ordinances of the scriptures (karm) acts (kartum’) to be performed (arhasi) should be / worthy of. (24)
Translation: Therefore, in the state of what should be done and what should not be done, Scripture is the only evidence for you. Knowing this, only those acts should be performed, which are in accordance with the ordinances of the scriptures.
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