Bhagavad Gita 16.6

Verse 6

द्वौ भूतसर्गौ लोकेऽस्मिन्दैव आसुर एव च | दैवो विस्तरशः प्रोक्त आसुरं पार्थ मे शृणु || ६ ||

Transliteration

dvau bhūta-sargau loke 'smin daiva āsura eva ca daivo vistaraśaḥ prokta āsuraṁ pārtha me śṛṇu

Synonyms

dvau—two; bhūta-sargau—created beings; loke—in the world; asmin—this; daivaḥ—divine; āsuraḥ—demoniac; eva—certainly; ca—and; daivaḥ—divine; vistaraśaḥ—at length; proktaḥ—said; āsuram—demoniac; pārtha—O son of Pritha; me—from Me; śṛṇu—just hear.

Translation

In this world there are two kinds of created beings—the divine and the demoniac. The divine have been described at length. Now hear from Me about the demoniac, O Partha.

Multi-Tradition Commentary

Swami Chinmayananda

Having detailed the divine qualities, the Lord now turns to their opposites. The two-fold division of humanity is not a rigid caste or destiny but a description of orientations—the direction in which one's understanding, will, and desire are pointed. One can move from the demoniac orientation to the divine through self-knowledge, discipline, and grace. This is the great hope offered by the Gita.

Practical Application (Modern Life)

Understanding the demoniac qualities is not about labeling others but about recognizing these tendencies within yourself—and all human beings carry both. Self-awareness requires honesty about the darker patterns operating in your psychology. This honest recognition, free from self-condemnation, is the beginning of genuine transformation.

Chapter Content

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