In Bhagavad Gita 16.10, Krishna says that resorting to insatiable desire, full of hypocrisy, pride and arrogance, holding false ideas through delusion, they act with impure resolves.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
काममाश्रित्य दुष्पूरं
दम्भमानमदान्विताः
मोहाद्गृहीत्वासद्ग्राहान्
प्रवर्तन्तेऽशुचिव्रताः ॥ १६-१० ॥
kāmamāśritya duṣpūraṃ
dambhamānamadānvitāḥ
mohādgṛhītvāsadgrāhān
pravartante’śucivratāḥ
English transliteration kaamamaashritya dushpooram
dambhamaanamadaanvitaah
mohaadgriheetvaasadgraahaan
pravartante’shuchivrataah ॥ 16.10 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Clinging to insatiable desire, full of hypocrisy, pride and arrogance, holding false ideas through delusion, they act with impure resolves.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| कामम् kāmam | desire |
| आश्रित्य āśritya | clinging to |
| दुष्पूरम् duṣpūram | insatiable |
| दम्भमानमदान्विताः dambhamānamadānvitāḥ | full of hypocrisy, pride and arrogance dambha (hypocrisy) + māna (pride) + mada (arrogance) + anvitāḥ (full) |
| मोहात् mohāt | through delusion |
| गृहीत्वा gṛhītvā | holding |
| असद्ग्राहान् asadgrāhān | false ideas asat (false) + grāhān (ideas) |
| प्रवर्तन्ते pravartante | act |
| अशुचिव्रताः aśucivratāḥ | with impure resolves aśuci (impure) + vratāḥ (resolves) |
Word-wise Chanting
- kā–ma–māś–rit–ya duṣ–pū–raṃ 8 syllables kaa-ma-maash-rit-ya dush-poo-ram
- dam–bha–mā–na–ma–dān–vi–tāḥ | 8 syllables dam-bha-maa-na-ma-daan-vi-taah
- mo–hād–gṛ–hīt–vā–sad–grā–hān– 8 syllables mo-haad-gri-heet-vaa-sad-graa-haan-
- pra–var–tan–te–‘śu–civ–ra–tāḥ || 16-10 8 syllables pra-var-tan-te-‘shu-chiv-ra-taah
How to read this
How to chant: each line is one pāda (quarter-verse); chant it in one breath. The hyphen (-) divides the syllables, inside a word and across a sandhi join, so every pāda shows its 8 syllables (11 in triṣṭubh verses). A consonant cluster is divided after its first consonant (kar-ma, vet-ti): that syllable is held longer. Mark above a syllable: guru, long (two beats); laghu, short (one beat). | closes the half-verse, || the verse; the number is the syllable count of the pāda.
Deeper Explanation – Chapter 16 Verse 10
Context
Krishna continues describing the demonic nature (16.6–16.20).
Meaning
Their desire is duṣpūra, impossible to satisfy. They are filled with dambha, hypocrisy; māna, pride; and mada, arrogance. Gripped by false ideas born of delusion, they pursue aśuci-vrata, impure aims.
Insatiable desire is like fire fed with fuel; it only grows. The verse warns where unchecked desire leads.
In Practice
Notice one desire that keeps growing the more you feed it, and practise restraint today.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 16: Daivasura Sampad Vibhaga Yoga (Divine and Undivine Qualities). Read the chapter overview, browse every verse of the Gita, or return to the chapter-by-chapter guide. For a reading plan, see how to study the Bhagavad Gita and the study resources.