In Bhagavad Gita 16.18, Krishna says that given to ego, power, arrogance, desire and anger, these malicious people hate him who dwells in their own bodies and in others.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
अहङ्कारं बलं दर्पं
कामं क्रोधं च संश्रिताः
मामात्मपरदेहेषु
प्रद्विषन्तोऽभ्यसूयकाः ॥ १६-१८ ॥
ahaṅkāraṃ balaṃ darpaṃ
kāmaṃ krodhaṃ ca saṃśritāḥ
māmātmaparadeheṣu
pradviṣanto’bhyasūyakāḥ
English transliteration ahankaaram balam darpam
kaamam krodham cha samshritaah
maamaatmaparadeheshu
pradvishanto’bhyasooyakaah ॥ 16.18 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Given over to egoism, power, arrogance, desire and anger, these malicious people hate Me, who dwell in their own bodies and in the bodies of others.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| अहङ्कारम् ahaṅkāram | egoism |
| बलम् balam | power |
| दर्पम् darpam | arrogance |
| कामम् kāmam | desire |
| क्रोधम् krodham | anger |
| च ca | and |
| संश्रिताः saṃśritāḥ | given over to |
| माम् mām | Me |
| आत्मपरदेहेषु ātmaparadeheṣu | in their own and others’ bodies ātma (own) + para (others) + deheṣu (bodies) |
| प्रद्विषन्तः pradviṣantaḥ | hating |
| अभ्यसूयकाः abhyasūyakāḥ | malicious |
Word-wise Chanting
- a–haṅ–kā–raṃ ba–laṃ dar–paṃ 8 syllables a-han-kaa-ram ba-lam dar-pam
- kā–maṃ kro–dhaṃ ca saṃś–ri–tāḥ | 8 syllables kaa-mam kro-dham cha samsh-ri-taah
- mā–māt–ma–pa–ra–de–he–ṣu 8 syllables maa-maat-ma-pa-ra-de-he-shu
- prad–vi–ṣan–to–‘bhya–sū–ya–kāḥ || 16-18 8 syllables prad-vi-shan-to-‘bhya-soo-ya-kaah
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 18
Context
Krishna continues describing the consequences (16.16–16.20).
Meaning
Taking refuge in ahaṅkāra, ego; bala, force; darpa, arrogance; kāma, desire; and krodha, anger, they become abhyasūyaka, envious and fault-finding. In hating others, they actually hate the Divine who dwells in all bodies, including their own.
Every act of hatred toward another is hatred toward the Divine within them, and within ourselves. This makes cruelty a form of self-harm.
In Practice
When you feel resentment toward someone today, remember the Divine within them, and let the resentment soften.
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.