Bhagavad Gita Chapter 16, Verse 7

Chapter 16 – Daivasura Sampad Vibhaga Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

प्रवृत्तिं च निवृत्तिं च जना न विदुरासुराः ।
न शौचं नापि चाचारो न सत्यं तेषु विद्यते ॥

Transliteration

pravṛttiṃ ca nivṛttiṃ ca janā na vidurāsurāḥ .
na śaucaṃ nāpi cācāro na satyaṃ teṣu vidyate ॥

Meaning

The demonic do not know what should be done and what should be avoided. Neither purity, nor good conduct, nor truth is found in them.

Word meanings

प्रवृत्तिम् – what should be done, right action
च – and
निवृत्तिम् – what should be avoided, refraining
च – and
जनाः – people
न विदुः – do not know
आसुराः – of demonic nature
न – neither
शौचम् – purity
न अपि च – nor even
आचारः – good conduct
न – nor
सत्यम् – truth
तेषु – in them
विद्यते – is found

Anvaya (word order)

आसुराः जनाः प्रवृत्तिं च निवृत्तिं च न विदुः; तेषु न शौचं, न अपि च आचारः, न सत्यं विद्यते ।

Explanation

Krishna begins His detailed description of the demonic nature with its root fault: the lack of discernment. The demonic do not know pravritti and nivritti. Pravritti is what one should engage in: duty, dharma and service. Nivritti is what one should turn away from: unrighteousness, violence and immorality. A person who does not know this distinction is like a ship without a compass.

This ignorance is not merely lack of information but also unwillingness to know. For the demonic person the only test is 'What do I like? What do I gain?' Scripture, ethics and the welfare of others find no place in his decisions.

Three consequences of this root fault are named. Na shaucham: there is no purity in them, outer or inner. Napi chacharah: no good conduct, no fitting and restrained behaviour. Na satyam: no truth; they do not hesitate to lie and deceive for their own ends.

All three, purity, good conduct and truth, appeared among the divine qualities. Krishna thus shows that the demonic nature is the exact reverse image of the divine. Where the lamp of discernment goes out, these virtues disappear one by one.

Context

In the previous verse Krishna asked Arjuna to hear about the demonic nature; the description begins here. The next verse describes the demonic view of the world and of God.

Life lesson

Knowing what to do and what to avoid is life's compass. Instead of making 'what I like' the only test, give dharma, truth and the good of others a place in your decisions.

Key terms

Pravritti: Engaging in what ought to be done
Nivritti: Refraining from what ought not to be done
Achara: Good conduct, disciplined behaviour