Chapter 16: The Yoga of Divine and Demonic Natures

Krishna contrasts divine qualities (fearlessness, purity, compassion, non-violence) with demonic ones (pride, arrogance, anger, harshness). The divine lead to liberation, the demonic to bondage. Three gates lead to ruin: lust, anger, and greed. One should let scripture guide action.

Verses (24)

16.1
श्री भगवानुवाच अभयं सत्त्वसंशुद्धिः ज्ञानयोगव्यवस्थितिः। दानं दमश्च यज्ञश्च स्वाध्यायस्तप आर्जवम्।...

Build unshakeable leadership through courage, mental clarity, continuous learning, generosity, self-discipline, and ethical integrity in all decisions...
16.2
अहिंसा सत्यमक्रोधस्त्यागः शान्तिरपैशुनम्।दया भूतेष्वलोलुप्त्वं मार्दवं ह्रीरचापलम्।।16.2।।

Lead with integrity by practicing honesty, emotional control, and compassion while releasing anger and greed—these qualities build trust and sustainab...
16.3
तेजः क्षमा धृतिः शौचमद्रोहो नातिमानिता। भवन्ति सम्पदं दैवीमभिजातस्य भारत।।16.3।।

Cultivate resilience, humility, and integrity in your leadership. These qualities—courage, forgiveness, discipline, and freedom from ego—define effect...
16.4
दम्भो दर्पोऽभिमानश्च क्रोधः पारुष्यमेव च।अज्ञानं चाभिजातस्य पार्थ सम्पदमासुरीम्।।16.4।।

Leaders who display arrogance, hide behind false virtue, and dismiss others' perspectives undermine their effectiveness. True strength requires humili...
16.5
दैवी सम्पद्विमोक्षाय निबन्धायासुरी मता।मा शुचः सम्पदं दैवीमभिजातोऽसि पाण्डव।।16.5।।

Your choices define your freedom or constraint. Choose integrity, courage, and service over ego and fear to unlock your potential.
16.6
द्वौ भूतसर्गौ लोकेऽस्मिन् दैव आसुर एव च।दैवो विस्तरशः प्रोक्त आसुरं पार्थ मे श्रृणु।।16.6।।

Leaders face a choice: cultivate qualities that elevate teams—integrity, courage, clarity—or those that diminish them—deception, fear, confusion. Choo...
16.7
प्रवृत्तिं च निवृत्तिं च जना न विदुरासुराः।न शौचं नापि चाचारो न सत्यं तेषु विद्यते।।16.7।।

Leaders who ignore ethical boundaries lose clarity on right action. Integrity and truthfulness are essential foundations for sound decision-making and...
16.8
असत्यमप्रतिष्ठं ते जगदाहुरनीश्वरम्।अपरस्परसम्भूतं किमन्यत्कामहैतुकम्।।16.8।।

Don't dismiss what you don't understand as meaningless. Every outcome has causes worth examining before dismissing its reality or value.
16.9
एतां दृष्टिमवष्टभ्य नष्टात्मानोऽल्पबुद्धयः।प्रभवन्त्युग्रकर्माणः क्षयाय जगतोऽहिताः।।16.9।।

Leaders driven by fear and harmful intent, lacking wisdom, inevitably destroy what they build. Choose integrity and courage over self-preservation.
16.10
काममाश्रित्य दुष्पूरं दम्भमानमदान्विताः।मोहाद्गृहीत्वासद्ग्राहान्प्रवर्तन्तेऽशुचिव्रताः।।16.10।।

Leaders driven by unchecked ego and desire make poor decisions. Success requires honest self-awareness, humility, and clarity of purpose over personal...
16.11
चिन्तामपरिमेयां च प्रलयान्तामुपाश्रिताः।कामोपभोगपरमा एतावदिति निश्िचताः।।16.11।।

Endless pursuit of material gains blinds leaders to deeper purpose. True success requires looking beyond immediate desires to meaningful, lasting impa...
16.12
आशापाशशतैर्बद्धाः कामक्रोधपरायणाः।ईहन्ते कामभोगार्थमन्यायेनार्थसञ्चयान्।।16.12।।

Unchecked desire and anger cloud judgment, driving unethical shortcuts for short-term gains. True success requires disciplined focus on sustainable va...
16.13
इदमद्य मया लब्धमिमं प्राप्स्ये मनोरथम्।इदमस्तीदमपि मे भविष्यति पुनर्धनम्।।16.13।।

Focus on present effort rather than future outcomes. Attachment to desired results clouds judgment and diminishes performance in the moment.
16.14
असौ मया हतः शत्रुर्हनिष्ये चापरानपि।ईश्वरोऽहमहं भोगी सिद्धोऽहं बलवान्सुखी।।16.14।।

Ego-driven confidence blinds leaders. True strength comes from humble action, not claiming credit or control over outcomes.
16.15
आढ्योऽभिजनवानस्मि कोऽन्योऽस्ति सदृशो मया।यक्ष्ये दास्यामि मोदिष्य इत्यज्ञानविमोहिताः।।16.15।।

Arrogance blinds leaders to reality. True strength lies in humble action and service, not self-congratulation or status. Success requires constant lea...
16.16
अनेकचित्तविभ्रान्ता मोहजालसमावृताः।प्रसक्ताः कामभोगेषु पतन्ति नरकेऽशुचौ।।16.16।।

Constant distraction by desires and overthinking clouds judgment, leading to poor decisions. Stay focused on core values and long-term goals to avoid ...
16.17
आत्मसम्भाविताः स्तब्धा धनमानमदान्विताः।यजन्ते नामयज्ञैस्ते दम्भेनाविधिपूर्वकम्।।16.17।।

Success without humility breeds blind decisions. True leadership requires grounding in principles, not ego-driven displays of power or wealth.
16.18
अहङ्कारं बलं दर्पं कामं क्रोधं च संश्रिताः।मामात्मपरदेहेषु प्रद्विषन्तोऽभ्यसूयकाः।।16.18।।

Ego and anger blind leaders to shared humanity, breeding toxic envy. Success requires humility, emotional control, and recognizing worth in all people...
16.19
तानहं द्विषतः क्रूरान्संसारेषु नराधमान्।क्षिपाम्यजस्रमशुभानासुरीष्वेव योनिषु।।16.19।।

Persistent negative behavior creates its own consequences. Leaders who consistently choose cruelty isolate themselves and undermine their influence, r...
16.20
असुरीं योनिमापन्ना मूढा जन्मनि जन्मनि।मामप्राप्यैव कौन्तेय ततो यान्त्यधमां गतिम्।।16.20।।

Repeated poor choices create downward spirals. Break negative patterns now through conscious action, or face compounding consequences that distance yo...
16.21
त्रिविधं नरकस्येदं द्वारं नाशनमात्मनः।कामः क्रोधस्तथा लोभस्तस्मादेतत्त्रयं त्यजेत्।।16.21।।

Three forces derail leaders: unchecked desire, reactive anger, and endless wanting. Master these impulses to protect your judgment and integrity.
16.22
एतैर्विमुक्तः कौन्तेय तमोद्वारैस्त्रिभिर्नरः।आचरत्यात्मनः श्रेयस्ततो याति परां गतिम्।।16.22।।

Avoid destructive impulses—greed, anger, delusion—to make wise decisions and achieve your highest potential as a leader.
16.23
यः शास्त्रविधिमुत्सृज्य वर्तते कामकारतः।न स सिद्धिमवाप्नोति न सुखं न परां गतिम्।।16.23।।

Acting on impulse without principle leads to failure. Align decisions with core values and proven wisdom to achieve lasting success and fulfillment.
16.24
तस्माच्छास्त्रं प्रमाणं ते कार्याकार्यव्यवस्थितौ।ज्ञात्वा शास्त्रविधानोक्तं कर्म कर्तुमिहार्हसि।।16....

Know your principles, understand your role, then act decisively. Clarity of duty precedes effective execution in any endeavor.