Daivāsura Sampad Vibhāg Yog
Distinguishing divine and demonic qualities
Chapter Theme
This chapter draws a clear line between two kinds of human nature: the divine (daivi) and the demoniac (asuri). It lists qualities that lead to freedom and qualities that lead to bondage. The text shows how our character shapes our fate.
The divine nature includes fearlessness, purity, self-control, truthfulness, compassion, and steadiness in duty. These traits guide a person toward wisdom, peace, and ultimately liberation. The demoniac nature includes arrogance, cruelty, hypocrisy, greed, and attachment. These traits create conflict, pain, and continued bondage.
Krishna explains that actions born of the divine lead to higher states, while actions born of the demoniac bring degradation. He warns that people shaped by demoniac qualities harm themselves and others and move away from spiritual truth.
Despite the clear contrast, the chapter points to a practical path: cultivate divine qualities through right conduct, self-study, and surrender to God. Steady practice and devotion can change a person’s nature and destiny.
Key Teachings
- Two natures guide life: divine qualities free you; demoniac qualities bind you.
- Practice honesty, self-control, compassion, humility, and steady duty to grow spiritually.
- Pride, anger, deceit, and cruelty lead to suffering and spiritual decline.
- Actions and inner habits determine where you head—toward liberation or bondage.
- Sincere surrender and devotion to God can free one from the results of past wrongs.
Life Application
- Notice which qualities dominate your thoughts and actions; choose small daily practices (truthfulness, restraint, charity) to build the divine habits.
- When anger, pride, or greed arise, pause and act from duty and compassion instead of impulse.
- Make regular practices—prayer, self-reflection, service—to steady the mind and deepen surrender.
Reflection Question
Which of your habits reflect the divine nature, and which reflect the demoniac? How will you change one habit this week?
Verses in this Chapter
The Blessed Lord said: Fearlessness, purity of heart, steadfastness in knowledge and yoga, almsgiving, control of the senses, sacrifice, study of scriptures, austerity, and straightforwardness. Harmlessness, truth, absence of anger, renunciation, peacefulness, absence of crookedness, compassion for beings, non-covetousness, gentleness, modesty, and absence of fickleness. Vigor, forgiveness, fortitude, purity, absence of hatred, absence of pride—these belong to one born for a divine state, O Arjuna.
Hypocrisy, arrogance, and self-conceit, anger, harshness, and ignorance—these belong to one who is born for a demoniacal state, O Partha.
The divine nature is deemed conducive to liberation, and the demonic to bondage. Grieve not, O Arjuna, for you are born with divine endowments.
There are two types of beings in this world: the divine and the demoniacal. The divine has been described at length; hear from Me, O Arjuna, about the demoniacal.
The demoniacal do not know what to do and what to refrain from; they have neither purity, nor right conduct, nor truth.
They say, "This universe is without truth, without a moral basis, without a God, brought about by mutual union, with lust as its cause; what else?"
Holding this view, these ruined souls of small intellect and fierce deeds come forth as enemies of the world, intent on its destruction.
Filled with insatiable desires, full of hypocrisy, pride, and arrogance, holding evil ideas due to delusion, they work with impure intentions.
Giving themselves over to immeasurable cares that end only with death, regarding the gratification of lust as their highest aim, and feeling sure that that is all.
Bound by a hundred ties of hope, given over to lust and anger, they strive to obtain hoards of wealth by unlawful means for sensual enjoyment.
"I have gained this today; I will fulfill this desire of mine; this is mine, and this wealth will be mine in the future." "I have slain that enemy, and I shall slay others too. I am the Lord; I enjoy, I am perfect, powerful, and happy." "I am wealthy and born into a noble family. Who is my equal? I shall perform sacrifices, give charity, and rejoice," thus deluded by ignorance.
Bewildered by many fancies, entangled in the snare of delusion, addicted to the gratification of lust, they fall into a foul hell.
Self-conceited, stubborn, filled with pride and intoxication of wealth, they perform sacrifices in name only for ostentation, contrary to scriptural ordinances.
Given over to egoism, power, haughtiness, lust, and anger, these malicious people hate Me in their own bodies and in the bodies of others.
Those cruel haters, the worst among men in the world, I hurl those evil-doers into the wombs of demons only. Entering into demoniacal wombs and deluded, birth after birth, they do not attain Me, thus falling, O Arjuna, into a condition still lower than that.
There are three gates to this hell, destructive of the self: lust, anger, and greed; therefore, one should abandon these three.
A person who is liberated from these three gates of darkness, O Arjuna, practices what is beneficial for them and thus goes to the Supreme Goal.
He who, having cast aside the ordinances of the scriptures, acts under the impulse of desire, does not attain perfection, nor happiness, nor the Supreme Goal.
Therefore, let the scripture be thy authority in determining what ought to be done and what ought not to be done. Having known what is said in the ordinance of the scriptures, thou shouldst act in this world.