In Bhagavad Gita 16.6, Krishna says there are two kinds of beings in this world, the divine and the demonic; having described the divine at length, he will now describe the demonic.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
द्वौ भूतसर्गौ लोकेऽस्मिन्
दैव आसुर एव च
दैवो विस्तरशः प्रोक्त
आसुरं पार्थ मे शृणु ॥ १६-६ ॥
dvau bhūtasargau loke’smin
daiva āsura eva ca
daivo vistaraśaḥ prokta
āsuraṃ pārtha me śṛṇu
English transliteration dvau bhootasargau loke’smin
daiva aasura eva cha
daivo vistarashah prokta
aasuram paartha me shrinu ॥ 16.6 ॥
Translation / Meaning
There are two kinds of created beings in this world: the divine and the demonic. The divine has been described at length; now hear from Me, O Partha, about the demonic.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| द्वौ dvau | two |
| भूतसर्गौ bhūtasargau | kinds of created beings bhūta (beings) + sargau (creations) |
| लोके loke | in the world |
| अस्मिन् asmin | this |
| दैवः daivaḥ | the divine |
| आसुरः āsuraḥ | the demonic |
| एव eva | indeed |
| च ca | and |
| दैवः daivaḥ | the divine |
| विस्तरशः vistaraśaḥ | at length |
| प्रोक्तः proktaḥ | described |
| आसुरम् āsuram | the demonic |
| पार्थ pārtha | O Pārtha |
| मे me | from Me |
| शृणु śṛṇu | hear |
Word-wise Chanting
- dvau bhū–ta–sar–gau lo–ke–‘smin– 8 syllables dvau bhoo-ta-sar-gau lo-ke-‘smin-
- dai–va ā–su–ra e–va ca | 8 syllables dai-va aa-su-ra e-va cha
- dai–vo vis–ta–ra–śaḥ prok–ta 8 syllables dai-vo vis-ta-ra-shah prok-ta
- ā–su–raṃ pār–tha me śṛ–ṇu || 16-6 8 syllables aa-su-ram paar-tha me shri-nu
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 6
Context
Krishna introduces his description of the demonic nature (16.6–16.20).
Meaning
Krishna distinguishes two types of human disposition: the daiva, divine, and the āsura, demonic. He has already described the divine many times in the Gita; now he will describe the demonic in detail so that it can be recognised and avoided.
Knowing what to avoid is as important as knowing what to cultivate. These verses are a mirror for honest self-examination, not a tool for judging others.
In Practice
Read the following verses as a mirror for yourself, not as a description of others.
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.