Bhagavad Gita Chapter 16, Verse 5

Chapter 16 – Daivasura Sampad Vibhaga Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

दैवी सम्पद्विमोक्षाय निबन्धायासुरी मता ।
मा शुचः सम्पदं दैवीमभिजातोऽसि पाण्डव ॥

Transliteration

daivī sampadvimokṣāya nibandhāyāsurī matā .
mā śucaḥ sampadaṃ daivīmabhijāto.asi pāṇḍava ॥

Meaning

The divine endowment is said to lead to liberation and the demonic to bondage. Do not grieve, O Pandava; you are born with the divine endowment.

Word meanings

दैवी – divine
सम्पत् – endowment
विमोक्षाय – for liberation
निबन्धाय – for bondage
आसुरी – the demonic (endowment)
मता – is considered
मा शुचः – do not grieve
सम्पदम् – endowment
दैवीम् – divine
अभिजातः – born with
असि – you are
पाण्डव – O son of Pandu

Anvaya (word order)

दैवी सम्पत् विमोक्षाय, आसुरी निबन्धाय मता । पाण्डव, मा शुचः, (त्वं) दैवीं सम्पदम् अभिजातः असि ।

Explanation

Having described both endowments, Krishna states their results in a single sentence: the divine endowment leads to vimoksha, complete freedom from worldly bondage, and the demonic to nibandha, tight bondage. This is the Gita's plain verdict: our character is our destiny.

Why do divine qualities lead to freedom? Because they purify the inner instrument, lessen the ego and make one fit for knowledge and devotion. Why do demonic faults lead to bondage? Because they inflate ego and desire, so that fresh actions and their fruits keep binding the soul more tightly.

Hearing this, Arjuna might have worried: 'I stand ready for battle, surrounded by anger and violence. Could the demonic endowment be in me?' Anticipating this fear, Krishna says with compassion, ma shuchah, 'do not grieve; you are born with the divine endowment.'

The reassurance is important. Action undertaken from duty to protect dharma, without personal hatred, is not demonic even if it looks harsh from outside. The difference between divine and demonic lies not in the outer act but in the inner motive. Arjuna's hesitation, his compassion and his sincere inquiry into dharma are themselves proof of his divine nature.

Context

The preceding verses described the divine and demonic endowments; here their results are stated and Arjuna is reassured. From the next verse Krishna begins a detailed description of the demonic nature.

Life lesson

Our qualities either free us or bind us. Do not lose heart on seeing your shortcomings; recognise the good qualities within you and nourish them. That is the way to freedom.

Key terms

Vimoksha: Complete liberation from bondage
Nibandha: Firm bondage
Ma shuchah: 'Do not grieve' — the Lord's reassurance