Bhagavad Gita Chapter 16, Verse 10

Chapter 16 – Daivasura Sampad Vibhaga Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

काममाश्रित्य दुष्पूरं दम्भमानमदान्विताः ।
मोहाद्गृहीत्वासद्ग्राहान्प्रवर्तन्तेऽशुचिव्रताः ॥

Transliteration

kāmamāśritya duṣpūraṃ dambhamānamadānvitāḥ .
mohādgṛhītvāsadgrāhānpravartante.aśucivratāḥ ॥

Meaning

Clinging to insatiable desire, full of hypocrisy, pride and arrogance, holding wrong notions through delusion, they act with impure resolves.

Word meanings

कामम् – desire
आश्रित्य – taking refuge in, clinging to
दुष्पूरम् – insatiable
दम्भमानमदान्विताः – full of hypocrisy, pride and arrogance
मोहात् – through delusion
गृहीत्वा – holding
असद्ग्राहान् – wrong notions, evil obsessions
प्रवर्तन्ते – they act, engage in work
अशुचिव्रताः – with impure resolves

Anvaya (word order)

दुष्पूरं कामम् आश्रित्य दम्भमानमदान्विताः मोहात् असद्ग्राहान् गृहीत्वा अशुचिव्रताः (ते) प्रवर्तन्ते ।

Explanation

What is the foundation of the demonic life? Krishna says: kamam ashritya dushpuram, 'clinging to insatiable desire'. As pouring ghee on a fire does not put it out but makes it blaze, enjoyment does not quench desire but feeds it. In Chapter 3 Krishna called desire a dushpura anala, 'a fire that is never satisfied' (3.39).

Dambha-mana-madanvitah: they are full of hypocrisy (show), pride (thinking themselves great) and mada, intoxication, especially with wealth, youth and power. These three inflame desire further. Ostentation needs more wealth, maintaining prestige needs more power, and in intoxication one forgets all limits.

Mohad grihitvasad-grahan: through delusion they seize on asad-graha, wrong notions and obsessions. Shankara gives examples: believing that some improper means will bring wealth, or that some sinister rite will destroy an enemy. They hold to these notions whatever reason and experience may say.

Ashuchi-vratah pravartante: their vratas, their life-resolves, are impure. The vows of the divine person are truth, non-violence and service; those of the demonic are to get wealth at any cost, to destroy rivals and to stay immersed in pleasure. With such resolves they go about their work in the world.

Context

The previous verse mentioned the destructive deeds of the demonic; this verse describes the desires and resolves that drive them. The next two verses portray their anxieties and their craving for enjoyment.

Life lesson

The fire of desire is quenched not by indulgence but by contentment and discernment. Keep your life's resolves pure; as your resolve is, so your life becomes.

Key terms

Dushpura kama: Insatiable desire
Mada: Intoxication with wealth, youth or power
Asad-graha: Wrong notions and stubborn obsessions
Ashuchi-vrata: One whose resolves are impure