Chapters
I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII XIII XIV XV XVI XVII XVIII

sri-bhagavan uvaca

abhayam sattva-samsuddhir
jnana-yoga-vyavasthitih
danam damas ca yajnas ca
svadhyayas tapa arjavam

The Blessed Lord said:

1. Fearlessness, purity of heart, steadfastness in knowledge and yoga, charity, control of the senses, Yajna [performance of sacrifice], study of the scriptures, austerity and straight-forwardness.

ahimsa satyam akrodhas
tyagah santir apaisunam
daya bhutesv aloluptvam
mardavam hrir acapalam

2. Non-violence, truth, absence of anger, renunciation, serenity, absence of faultfinding, compassion to beings, uncovetousness, gentleness, modesty, absence of fickleness [steady determination].

tejah ksama dhrtih saucam
adroho nati-manita
bhavanti sampadam daivim
abhijatasya bharata

3. Vigor, forgiveness, fortitude, purity, absence of hatred, absence of pride, these belong to one born for a divine state, O Bharata.

dambho darpo 'bhimanas ca
krodhah parusyam eva ca
ajnanam cabhijatasya
partha sampadam asurim

4. Ostentation, arrogance and self-conceit, anger and also harshness and ignorance belong to one who is born, O Partha, for a demoniac state.

daivi sampad vimoksaya
nibandhayasuri mata
ma sucah sampadam daivim
abhijato 'si pandava

5. The divine nature is deemed for liberation, the demoniacal for bondage; grieve not, O Pandava, you are born for a divine state.

dvau bhuta-sargau loke 'smin
daiva asura eva ca
daivo vistarasah prokta
asuram partha me srnu

6. There are two types of beings in this world, the divine and the demoniacal; the divine has been described at length; hear from Me, O Partha, of the demoniacal.

pravrttim ca nivrttim ca
jana na vidur asurah
na saucam napi cacaro
na satyam tesu vidyate

7. The demoniac know not what to do and what to refrain from; neither purity, nor right conduct nor truth is found in them.

asatyam apratistham te
jagad ahur anisvaram
aparaspara-sambhutam
kim anyat kama-haitukam

8. They say, "the universe is unreal, without a moral basis, without a God, born of mutual union, brought about by lust; what else?"

etam drstim avastabhya
nastatmano 'lpa-buddhayah
prabhavanty ugra-karmanah
ksayaya jagato 'hitah

9. Holding this view, these ruined souls of small intellect, of fierce deeds, rise as the enemies of the world for its destruction.

kamam asritya duspuram
dambha-mana-madanvitah
mohad grhitvasad-grahan
pravartante 'suci-vratah

10. Filled with insatiable desires, full of hypocrisy, pride and arrogance, holding evil ideas through delusion, they work with impure resolve;

cintam aparimeyam ca
pralayantam upasritah
kamopabhoga-parama
etavad iti niscitah

11. Beset with immense cares ending only with death, regarding gratification of lust as the highest, and feeling sure that that is all;

asa-pasa-satair baddhah
kama-krodha-parayanah
ihante kama-bhogartham
anyayenartha-sancayan

12. Bound by a hundred ties of hope, given over to lust and anger, they strive to secure by unjust means hoards of wealth for sensual enjoyment.

idam adya maya labdham
imam prapsye manoratham
idam astidam api me
bhavisyati punar dhanam

13. "This today has been gained by me; this desire I shall fulfil; this is mine, and this wealth also shall be mine in future."

asau maya hatah satrur
hanisye caparan api
isvaro 'ham aham bhogi
siddho 'ham balavan sukhi

14. "That enemy has been slain by me, and others also shall I slay, I am a lord, I enjoy. I am successful, powerful, and happy."

adhyo 'bhijanavan asmi
ko 'nyo 'ti sadrso maya
yaksye dasyami modisya
ity ajnana-vimohitah

15. "I am rich and well-born. Who else is equal to me? I will sacrifice, I will give charity, I will rejoice." Thus deluded by ignorance;

aneka-citta-vibhranta
moha-jala-samavrtah
prasaktah kama-bhogesu
patanti narake 'sucau

16. Bewildered by many a fancy, enmeshed in the snare of delusion, addicted to the gratification of lust, they fall into a foul hell.

atma-sambhavitah stabdha
dhana-mana-madanvitah
yajante nama-yajnais te
dambhenavidhi-purvakam

17. Self-conceited, stubborn, filled with the pride and intoxication of wealth, they perform sacrifice in name for ostentation, disregarding ordinance.

ahankaram balam darpam
kamam krodham ca samsritah
mam atma-para-dehesu
pradvisanto 'bhyasuyakah

18. Given over to egoism, power, insolence, lust and wrath, these malicious people hate Me in their own bodies and those of others.

tan aham dvisatah kruran
samsaresu naradhaman
ksioamy ajashram asubhan
asurisv eva yonisu

19. Those cruel haters, worst among men in the world, I hurl these evildoers forever into the wombs of the demons only.

asurim yonim apanna
mudha janmani janmani
mam aprapyaiva kaunteya
tato yanty adhamam gatim

20. Entering into demoniac wombs, the deluded ones, in birth after birth, without ever reaching Me, they thus fall, O Kaunteya [son of Kunti], into a condition still lower.

tri-vidham narakasyedam
dvaram nasanam atmanah
kamah krodhas tatha lobhas
tasmad etat trayam tyajet

21. Triple is this gate of hell, destructive of the self - lust, anger and greed; therefore should one abandon these three.

etair vimuktah kaunteya
tamo-dvarais tribhir narah
acaraty atmanah sreyas
tato yati param gatim

22. The man who is liberated from these three gates to darkness, O Kaunteya [son of Kunti], practices what is good for him and thus goes to the Supreme Good.

yah sastra-vidhim utsrjya
vartate kama-karatah
na sa siddhim avapnoti
na sukham na param gatim

23. He, who, casting aside the ordinances of the scriptures, acts on the impulse of desire, attains not perfection, nor happiness nor the Supreme Goal.

tasmac chastram pramanam te
karyakarya-vyavasthitau
jnatva sastra-vidhanoktam
karma kartum iharhasi

24. Therefore, let the scriptures be your authority in deciding what ought to be done and what ought not to be done. Having known what is said in the ordinance of the scriptures you should act here.

In the Upanishad of the Bhagavad Gita, the knowledge of Brahman, the Supreme, the science of Yoga and the dialogue between Sri Krishna and Arjuna, this is the sixteenth discourse designated: