In previous chapters of Srimad Bhagwad Gita, Sri Krishna constantly encourages us to follow the path of Dharma, aiming for principles like Nishkama Karma, Stithaprajna, Equanimity, developing Bhakti, harnessing Jnana and performing our karma without any attachment to the end result. Naturally, the curious mind will enquire how to identify these attributes? And more importantly what are the attributes or practices that one should safe guard themselves against. What’s the benefit of developing these sadgunas? How to perform our actions in the right manner?
Sri Krishna addresses this question towards the end of the chapter. This is my preferred verse for this chapter:
तस्माच्छास्त्रं प्रमाणं ते कार्याकार्यव्यवस्थितौ ।
ज्ञात्वा शास्त्रविधानोक्तं कर्म कर्तुमिहार्हसि ॥ 24॥
Therefore, let the scriptures be your authority in determining what should be done and what should not be done. Understand the scriptural injunctions and teachings, and then perform your actions in this world accordingly.
Design your life based on the ancient wisdom of Sastras and perform the actions in this world according to their guidance. Some may term this Sastric or Vedic way of life. Please note that this is applicable to the entire humanity in general and not specific to a sect or group. Modern commentaries bereft of wisdom twist these messages. We need to consider this verse in conjunction with a previous verse of Chapter 13 i.e. 13.26 where Sri Krishna has clearly articulated that one can pick up these best practices by following people who are already on that path.
The first question that arises from the above verse: What are the favoured practices? This is captured in the first couple of verses of this chapter.
श्रीभगवानुवाच ।
अभयं सत्त्वसंशुद्धिर्ज्ञानयोगव्यवस्थिति: ।
दानं दमश्च यज्ञश्च स्वाध्यायस्तप आर्जवम् ॥ 16.1॥
अहिंसा सत्यमक्रोधस्त्याग: शान्तिरपैशुनम् ।
दया भूतेष्वलोलुप्त्वं मार्दवं ह्रीरचापलम् ॥ 16.2॥
तेज: क्षमा धृति: शौचमद्रोहोनातिमानिता ।
भवन्ति सम्पदं दैवीमभिजातस्य भारत ॥ 16.3॥
Sri Krishna said: O scion of Bharat, these are the saintly virtues of those endowed with a divine nature—
- fearlessness
- purity of mind
- steadfastness in spiritual knowledge
- charity
- control of the senses
- sacrifice
- study of the sacred books
- austerity
- straightforwardness
- non-violence
- truthfulness
- absence of anger
- renunciation
- peacefulness
- restraint from fault-finding
- compassion toward all living beings
- absence of covetousness
- gentleness
- modesty
- lack of fickleness
- vigor
- forgiveness
- fortitude
- cleanliness
- bearing enmity toward none
- absence of vanity.
The next natural question would be what are the attributes one SHOULD NOT develop. What did Sri Krishna say about this topic? Sri Krishna gives an elaborate commentary on this topic over the rest of the chapter. Since it would be a repetition of the entire chapter, I am highlighting some key attributes that we should watch out for, which are termed as demonic by Sri Krishna (and hence the name of the chapter).
- Hypocrisy
- Arrogance
- Conceit
- Anger
- Harshness
- Ignorance
- No purity or good conduct or truthfulness
- Entire purpose is towards sexual gratification
- Insatiable lust
In Sanatana Dharma, there are 4 purusharthas - Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha. One needs to understand the interplay of these 4 and how each one of them play a very important role in shaping our spiritual journey. One point to note is that Kama is NOT Lust alone, but represents desire.
Sri Krisha’s advice in this chapter is to ensure that we don’t overdo on some facets while ignoring the others.
आशापाशशतैर्बद्धा: कामक्रोधपरायणा: ।
ईहन्ते कामभोगार्थमन्यायेनार्थसञ्जयान् ॥ 16.12॥
Held in bondage by hundreds of desires, and driven by lust and anger, they strive to accumulate wealth by unjust means, all for the gratification of their senses.
Desire is a never ending spiral and one can’t have enough of anything. Personally I believe that after a certain stage of life, Contentment (Santrupti) is very important to maintain peace and balance in life. People can get power drunk thinking that wealth and having highly placed relatives or contacts ensures that they can achieve anything in life. If there is a semblance of repentance (paapa-prajna), they feel that can get away by performing sacrifices and giving alms.
आढ्योऽभिजनवानस्मि कोऽन्योऽस्ति सदृशो मया ।
यक्ष्ये दास्यामि मोदिष्य इत्यज्ञानविमोहिता: ॥ 16.15॥
“I am wealthy and I have highly placed relatives. Who else is equal to me? I shall perform sacrifices (to the celestial gods); I shall give alms; I shall rejoice.” In this way, they are deluded by ignorance.
On a side note, modern day thinking is reflective of this warning that Sri Krishna has sounded long ago. Generalising some observations, many think that having a holy dip in Ganga (Ganga Snaan) or visiting Maha Vishnu temple on Vaikunta Ekadasi, one is absolved of their sins. This is a very short sighted and narrow thinking which is completely contrary to what Krishna has advised in Gita. Srimad Bhagwad Gita is a way of life - every living second is a continuous evolution and one needs to keep performing corrective actions along the way. Just doing one day can’t undo the ramifications of the actions performed over years. This is reinforced by Krishna again in this chapter.
आत्मसम्भाविता: स्तब्धा धनमानमदान्विता: ।
यजन्ते नामयज्ञैस्ते दम्भेनाविधिपूर्वकम् ॥ 16.17॥
Such self-conceited and stubborn people, full of pride and arrogant in their wealth, perform ostentatious sacrifices in name only, with no regard to the rules of the scriptures.
Sri Krishna clearly mentions that such people endowed with demonic characteristics as above will take birth in wombs of demonic nature again and again abusing the Paramaatma within and sink into the depths of the hell. Summarising the various characteristics, Sri Krishna identifies 3 key inhibitors towards spiritual progress.
त्रिविधं नरकस्येदं द्वारं नाशनमात्मन: ।
काम: क्रोधस्तथा लोभस्तस्मादेतत्त्रयं त्यजेत् ॥ 16.21॥
There are three gates leading to the hell of self-destruction for the soul—lust, anger, and greed. Therefore, one should abandon all three.
If someone acts under the impulse of desire, discarding Sastras, they neither attain perfection nor happiness or the supreme goal of Moksha (16.23).
Setting the context, this is a Krishna-Arjuna Samvaada i.e. discussion / discourse from Sri Krishna to Arjuna. It is but natural that Arjuna may have a doubt about his own standing w.r.t. these attributes. Sri Krishna lays his fears to rest at the onset itself.
दैवी सम्पद्विमोक्षाय निबन्धायासुरी मता ।
मा शुच: सम्पदं दैवीमभिजातोऽसि पाण्डव ॥ 16.5॥
The divine qualities lead to liberation, while the demoniac qualities are the cause for a continuing destiny of bondage. Grieve not, O Arjun, as you were born with saintly virtues.
In Vishnu Sahasranama, there are many names of Paramaatma which indicate his ability to eradicate these attributes in us.
कामहा कामकृत्कान्तः कामः कामप्रदः प्रभुः || VSN.33 ||
Kāmahā: One who destroys the desire-nature in seekers after liberation.
क्रोधहा क्रोधकृत्कर्ता विश्वबाहुर्महीधरः || VSN.34 ||
Krōdhahā: One who eradicates anger in virtuous people.
The teachings of this chapter is perhaps best encapsulated in the phalasruthi of Vishnu Sahasranama.
इमं स्तवमधीयानः श्रद्धाभक्तिसमन्वितः ।
युज्येतात्म सुखक्षान्ति श्रीधृति स्मृति कीर्तिभिः || VSN.Phalasruthi.12 ||
One who studies this hymn with faith and devotion will be endowed with happiness, forbearance, prosperity, patience, memory and fame.
न क्रोधो न च मात्सर्यं न लोभो नाशुभामतिः ।
भवन्ति कृतपुण्यानां भक्तानां पुरुषोत्तमे || VSN.Phalasruthi.13 ||
No anger, no jealousy, no greed, no evil thought arises in those virtuous ones who are devoted to Purushottama.
If we are clear about what our objectives are, we will receive the fruits appropriately. This is clearly indicated in the phalasruthi of Vishnu Sahasranama.
धर्मार्थी प्राप्नुयाद्धर्ममर्थार्थी चार्थमाप्नुयात् ।
कामानवाप्नुयात् कामी प्रजार्थी चाप्नुयात्प्रजाम् ॥ VSN.Phalasruthi.04 ||
One who seeks dharma attains dharma; one who seeks wealth attains wealth; one who seeks pleasures attains pleasures; one who seeks offspring attains offspring.
Kannada philosopher poet Kavi Someshwara in 12th Century has also captured this essence of Sri Krishna’s teachings in his composition (Someshwara Shatakas)
ಶುಚಿ ತಾನಾಗದೆ ಸರ್ವಶಾಸ್ತ್ರ ನಿಪುಣಂ ತಾನಾಗದೆ ಕಾಮಮಂ |
ಪಚನಂಗೈಯ್ಯದೆ ಕೋಪಮಂ ಬಿಡದೆ ಲೋಭಚ್ಛೇದ ಮಾಡದೇ ||
ರುಚಿ ಮೋಹಕ್ಕೊಳಗಾಗದಂತು ಮದ ಮಾತ್ಸರ್ಯಂಗಳಂ ನೀಗದೇ |
ವಚನಬ್ರಹ್ಮದೆ ಮುಕ್ತಿಯೇ ಹರಹರಾ ಶ್ರೀಚೆನ್ನಸೋಮೇಶ್ವರಾ || 100 ||
Without purifying oneself and without genuinely mastering all the sacred scriptures...
Without cooking down (destroying) lust (Kama), dropping anger (Krodha), and cutting off greed (Lobha)...
Without falling prey to the tempting tastes of delusion (Moha), and fully eliminating pride (Mada) and envy (Matsarya)...
Can one achieve final liberation (Mukti) merely through hollow, boastful words (Vachana Brahma)? No, it is impossible
There is one more composition
ಇರಿಯಲ್ಬಲ್ಲೊಡೆ ವೀರನಾಗು ಧರೆಯೊಳ್ ನಾನಾ ಚಮತ್ಕಾರಮಂ
ಅರಿಯಲ್ಬಲ್ಲೊಡೆ ಮಂತ್ರಿಯಾಗು ವಿಭುವಾಗಾರೆಂದೊಡಂ ಕೋಪಮಂ
ತೊರೆಯಲ್ಬಲ್ಲೊಡೆ ಯೋಗಿಯಪ್ಪುದರಿಷಡ್ವರ್ಗಂಗಳಂ ಗೆಲ್ವೊಡೇ
ತೆರಬಲ್ಲರ್ಪೊಣೆಯಪ್ಪುದೈ ಹರಹರಾ ಶ್ರೀಚೆನ್ನಸೋಮೇಶ್ವರಾ ||77||
The last couple of phrases of this composition is remarkable.
But if you are someone who has successfully conquered all the six internal enemies (ಅರಿಷಡ್ವರ್ಗಂಗಳಂ ಗೆಲ್ವೊಡೆ - Arishadvargangalam gelvode), then you become the ultimate protector, a guarantor, or a savior (ಪೊಣೆಯಪ್ಪುದೈ - Poneyappudai) who can guide and clear the debts/sins of the entire world.
This chapter makes us contemplate about our own choices, evolution and spiritual journey.
Please
do share your view on the choice of shloka and my interpretations
thereof. I would like to get your thoughts and feedback and maybe we
discover something hidden in Srimad Bhagwad Gita.
Sarvam Sri Krishnaarpanamastu
Verses and meanings from:
- https://www.holy-bhagavad-gita.org/
- https://shlokam.org/shloka/vishnu-sahasranamam.htm
- https://shlokam.org/shloka/purusha-suktam.htm
- Someshwara Shataka
Previous Chapters:
- Arjuna Vishada Yoga
- Sankhya Yoga
- Karma Yoga
- Jnana Karma Sanyasa Yoga
- Karma Sanyasa Yoga
- Dhyana Yoga
- Jnana Vijnana Yoga
- Akshara Brahma Yoga
- Raja Vidya Yoga
- Vibhuti Yoga
- Vishwaroopa Darshana Yoga
- Bhakti Yoga
- Kshetra Kshetrajna Vibhaga Yoga
- Guna Traya Vibhaga Yoga
- Purushottama Yoga
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