In Bhagavad Gita 16.5, Krishna says divine qualities lead to liberation and demonic ones to bondage, and he reassures Arjuna not to grieve, for he was born with divine qualities.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
दैवी सम्पद्विमोक्षाय
निबन्धायासुरी मता
मा शुचः सम्पदं दैवीम्
अभिजातोऽसि पाण्डव ॥ १६-५ ॥
daivī sampadvimokṣāya
nibandhāyāsurī matā
mā śucaḥ sampadaṃ daivīm
abhijāto’si pāṇḍava
English transliteration daivee sampadvimokshaaya
nibandhaayaasuree mataa
maa shuchah sampadam daiveem
abhijaato’si paandava ॥ 16.5 ॥
Translation / Meaning
The divine qualities are considered to lead to liberation, the demonic to bondage. Do not grieve, O son of Pandu: you are born with the divine qualities.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| दैवी daivī | divine |
| सम्पत् sampat | qualities |
| विमोक्षाय vimokṣāya | to liberation |
| निबन्धाय nibandhāya | to bondage |
| आसुरी āsurī | demonic |
| मता matā | considered |
| मा mā | do not |
| शुचः śucaḥ | grieve |
| सम्पदम् sampadam | qualities |
| दैवीम् daivīm | divine |
| अभिजातः abhijātaḥ | born with |
| असि asi | you are |
| पाण्डव pāṇḍava | O son of Pāṇḍu |
Word-wise Chanting
- dai–vī sam–pad–vi–mo–kṣā–ya 8 syllables dai-vee sam-pad-vi-mo-kshaa-ya
- ni–ban–dhā–yā–su–rī ma–tā | 8 syllables ni-ban-dhaa-yaa-su-ree ma-taa
- mā śu–caḥ sam–pa–daṃ dai–vīm– 8 syllables maa shu-chah sam-pa-dam dai-veem-
- a–bhi–jā–to–‘si pāṇ–ḍa–va || 16-5 8 syllables a-bhi-jaa-to-‘si paan-da-va
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 5
Context
Krishna states the consequences of the two natures.
Meaning
The divine wealth leads to vimokṣa, freedom; the demonic leads to nibandha, bondage. Seeing Arjuna anxious, Krishna reassures him: mā śucaḥ, do not grieve; you are born with the divine qualities.
Krishna’s reassurance is tender. A sincere seeker who worries about having demonic qualities already shows divine ones. Concern for goodness is itself a sign of goodness.
In Practice
If you worry about your faults, remember that the very concern shows your divine nature. Keep growing.
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.