Bhagavad Gita Chapter 16, Verse 23

Chapter 16 – Daivasura Sampad Vibhaga Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

यः शास्त्रविधिमुत्सृज्य वर्तते कामकारतः ।
न स सिद्धिमवाप्नोति न सुखं न परां गतिम् ॥

Transliteration

yaḥ śāstravidhimutsṛjya vartate kāmakārataḥ .
na sa siddhimavāpnoti na sukhaṃ na parāṃ gatim ॥

Meaning

One who discards the injunctions of scripture and acts on the impulse of desire attains neither perfection, nor happiness, nor the supreme goal.

Word meanings

यः – who
शास्त्रविधिम् – the injunctions of scripture
उत्सृज्य – discarding
वर्तते – acts
कामकारतः – on the impulse of desire, at whim
न – not
सः – he
सिद्धिम् – perfection
अवाप्नोति – attains
न सुखम् – nor happiness
न पराम् गतिम् – nor the supreme goal

Anvaya (word order)

यः शास्त्रविधिम् उत्सृज्य कामकारतः वर्तते, सः न सिद्धिम् अवाप्नोति, न सुखं, न परां गतिम् ।

Explanation

In the previous verse Krishna said that one freed from desire, anger and greed practises what is good for himself. But who is to decide what is truly good? Our own mind, which is itself swayed by these very faults? This verse and the next give the answer: scripture.

Shastra-vidhim utsrijya, 'discarding the injunctions of scripture'. Shastra means the texts that present, as guidance, the truths realised through the deep experience of the sages: the Vedas, the Upanishads, the smritis and the Gita itself. Vidhi means the rules that tell us what should be done and what should not.

Vartate kama-karatah, 'acts on the impulse of desire'. The root problem is kama-kara, making one's own taste, convenience and wish the only test. This is exactly the outlook described in the demonic nature (16.7): not knowing what to do and what to avoid.

Such a person gains three things not at all. Na siddhim: no spiritual perfection, no purification of the inner instrument and no fitness for life's higher aims. Na sukham: no real happiness or peace in this world. Na param gatim: no supreme goal, no liberation hereafter. The irony is that one who acts on whim for the sake of happiness fails to find that very happiness.

This verse does not endorse blind belief. Krishna is opposing whim driven by desire, not thoughtful discernment. The Gita itself gives Arjuna every chance to question and reflect, and at the end says, 'Reflect on this fully, then do as you choose' (18.63). The authority of scripture and the discernment of the individual together reveal the right path.

The verse also points to a great challenge of the modern age. When everyone treats 'whatever I like' as morality, a society is left with no shared values. Scripture is a common inheritance that preserves the experience of generations.

Context

The previous verse spoke of practising one's true good after freedom from the three faults; this verse shows that whimsical conduct which ignores scriptural guidance leads nowhere. The next verse draws the conclusion: take scripture as your authority.

Life lesson

Making one's own wishes and convenience the sole measure of right and wrong brings neither peace nor progress. Walk by combining the guidance born of the sages' experience with your own discernment.

Key terms

Shastra-vidhi: The injunctions and prohibitions laid down in scripture
Kama-kara: Acting on the impulse of desire, at whim
Siddhi: Spiritual perfection, purification of the inner instrument