Bhagavad Gita Chapter 16, Verse 4

Chapter 16 – Daivasura Sampad Vibhaga Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

दम्भो दर्पोऽभिमानश्च क्रोधः पारुष्यमेव च ।
अज्ञानं चाभिजातस्य पार्थ सम्पदमासुरीम् ॥

Transliteration

dambho darpo.abhimānaśca krodhaḥ pāruṣyameva ca .
ajñānaṃ cābhijātasya pārtha sampadamāsurīm ॥

Meaning

Hypocrisy, arrogance, conceit, anger, harshness and ignorance: these, O Partha, belong to one born with the demonic endowment.

Word meanings

दम्भः – hypocrisy, ostentation of piety
दर्पः – arrogance, pride of wealth or power
अभिमानः – conceit, self-importance
च – and
क्रोधः – anger
पारुष्यम् – harshness, rough speech
एव च – and also
अज्ञानम् – ignorance, lack of discernment
च – and
अभिजातस्य – of one born with
पार्थ – O son of Pritha
सम्पदम् – endowment
आसुरीम् – demonic

Anvaya (word order)

पार्थ, दम्भः, दर्पः, अभिमानः च, क्रोधः, पारुष्यम् एव च, अज्ञानं च — (एतानि) आसुरीं सम्पदम् अभिजातस्य (भवन्ति) ।

Explanation

In contrast to the twenty-six divine qualities, Krishna now names six principal faults of the demonic endowment. The list is short, but these six are powerful enough to destroy many virtues. The word asura is connected with asu, 'life-breath': it describes those who live only for the breath, that is, for sense-pleasure and self-interest.

Dambha is making a show of being religious or virtuous when one is not so inwardly; it is the exact opposite of the divine quality arjava, sincerity. Darpa is arrogance born of wealth, learning, family or strength, which leads a person to overstep all bounds. Abhimana is conceit, regarding oneself as supremely worthy and superior; it is the opposite of natimanita, humility.

Krodha is anger, the opposite of akrodha. Parushya is harshness, especially bitter speech and insulting others; it is the opposite of mardava, gentleness. Ajnana is ignorance, lacking discernment of duty and non-duty, truth and falsehood; it opposes jnana-yoga-vyavasthiti.

These faults breed one another. Ignorance gives rise to conceit, conceit to arrogance, arrogance to harshness and anger towards others, and hypocrisy grows up to hide one's shortcomings. Together they form a system that hollows a person out from within.

The word asura should not be taken to mean a particular race or species. In the Gita it describes a mentality that can arise in anyone at any time. This verse is therefore not for labelling others but for recognising these faults within ourselves.

Context

The first three verses described the divine qualities; this verse briefly lists the opposite faults of the demonic endowment. The next verse states the results of each and reassures Arjuna.

Life lesson

Hypocrisy, arrogance, anger and harsh words overshadow every other virtue a person has. Before looking for them in others, recognise them in yourself and gradually let them go.

Key terms

Asuri sampad: The demonic endowment — a cluster of faults that leads to bondage
Dambha: Hypocrisy, a show of piety or virtue
Darpa: Arrogance born of wealth, power or learning
Parushya: Harshness, especially in speech