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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
16.816.10

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 16.9

Demoniac qualities and their consequences

Prakṛti · Material nature

एतां दृष्टिमवष्टभ्य नष्टात्मानोऽल्पबुद्धय: ।

प्रभवन्त्युग्रकर्माण: क्षयाय जगतोऽहिता: ॥ ९ ॥

etāṁ dṛṣṭim avaṣṭabhya

naṣṭātmāno ’lpa-buddhayaḥ

prabhavanty ugra-karmāṇaḥ

kṣayāya jagato ’hitāḥ

Translation

Following such conclusions, the demoniac, who are lost to themselves and who have no intelligence, engage in unbeneficial, horrible works meant to destroy the world.

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

Destruction Through Godlessness

  1. 1

    The demoniac, lost to themselves and lacking intelligence, do harmful, horrible work meant to destroy the world.

  2. 2

    Prabhupāda explains that materialists without any concept of God call their inventions progress, though these increase cruelty and bring destruction.

  3. 3

    Do not mistake inventions that promote cruelty and destruction for real progress.

Key points from the purport

Demoniac attitude and engagements are explained here

Attitude – The demoniac are lost to themselves (illusioned) and have no intelligence

Engagement – Engaged in unbeneficial, horrible works meant to destroy the world

a

Illusioned, no intelligence — because they think to be advancing but engaged in the work that is destructive

b

Ugra-karma — Painful, horrible, destructive acts

Trying to enjoy sense gratification, they engage in materialistic inventions with the only result of violence and cruelty to other living beings

Two examples: Animal killing and nuclear weapons

Further reading

The Demoniac Nature

Krishna wants to assure Arjuna that he possesses divine and not demoniac qualities

Describes the activities, mentality and qualities of those with demoniac tendencies

Krishna repeatedly casts these mischievous demons into demoniac, abominable species

Chapter 16, section II: The Demoniac Nature
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. etāmthis
  2. dṛṣṭimvision
  3. avaṣṭabhyaaccepting
  4. naṣṭahaving lost
  5. ātmānaḥthemselves
  6. alpa-buddhayaḥthe less intelligent
  7. prabhavantiflourish
  8. ugra-karmāṇaḥengaged in painful activities
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 16.9 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 16.6Demoniac qualities and their consequencesBG 16.7Demoniac 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
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