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Chapter 16 · The Divine and Demoniac Natures · 24 verses

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How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Remember who is speaking. Kṛṣṇa is speaking. Take the verse as He directs.
  2. 2Say the verse and its words. Read the Sanskrit, then each word with its meaning.
  3. 3Read the translation as it is. Let the translation say what it says, without adding your own meaning.
  4. 4Read the purport. Hear the verse through the disciplic succession.
  5. 5Bring your own question. Ask: where does this verse meet my life, my trouble, my doubt?
  6. 6Act on it, remembering Kṛṣṇa. Carry one instruction into your work today.
Read the full guide: how to read the Bhagavad-gītā ›
Character & ethicsChapter 16 · The Divine and Demoniac Natures
16.516.7

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 16.6

Demoniac qualities and their consequences

Jīva · The soul

द्वौ भूतसर्गौ लोकेऽस्मिन्दैव आसुर एव च ।

दैवो विस्तरश: प्रोक्त आसुरं पार्थ मे श‍ृणु ॥ ६ ॥

dvau bhūta-sargau loke ’smin

daiva āsura eva ca

daivo vistaraśaḥ prokta

āsuraṁ pārtha me śṛṇu

Translation

O son of Pṛthā, in this world there are two kinds of created beings. One is called divine and the other demoniac. I have already explained to you at length the divine qualities. Now hear from Me of the demoniac.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

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

3 study points

Divine and Demoniac Qualities

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa says there are two kinds of beings: divine and demoniac. Having explained divine qualities, He now describes the demoniac.

  2. 2

    Prabhupāda explains that divine beings follow scriptural rules and authorities, while demoniac beings ignore these rules and act as they please.

  3. 3

    Perform your duties according to authoritative scripture, rather than simply doing whatever you want.

Key points from the purport

Two kinds of created beings — ‘Divine’ and ‘Demoniac’

Both demigods and demons are born of Prajapati (purport)

The only criteria of differentiation between the two, as mentioned in the purport is:

“Obedience to the regulative principles of scriptures”

Further reading

Transcendental And Demoniac Qualities

Krishna first describes the twenty-six divine qualities

Then He mentions the six demoniac qualities

Chapter 16, section I: Transcendental And Demoniac Qualities
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. dvautwo
  2. bhūta-sargaucreated living beings
  3. lokein the world
  4. asminthis
  5. daivaḥgodly
  6. āsuraḥdemoniac
  7. evacertainly
  8. caand
3

Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Key ideas: daivī-sampat, dharma.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 16.6 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to character & ethics?

Practice

Choose one virtue to practice consciously today.

5

Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

BG 16.7Demoniac qualities and their consequencesBG 16.8Demoniac qualities and their consequencesBG 12.13Qualities of a devotee dear to Krishna
Live this todayCultivating the Divine QualitiesA practice from BG 16.1-3, close to this verse

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

  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 4 of 9 · 10 minChapters & storiesGo chapter by chapter, with the Mahābhārata stories that explain what is happening.Back · LearnPrabhupāda's Introduction