In Bhagavad Gita 16.7, Krishna says demonic people do not know what should be done and what should be avoided; neither purity, nor good conduct, nor truth is found in them.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
प्रवृत्तिं च निवृत्तिं च
जना न विदुरासुराः
न शौचं नापि चाचारो
न सत्यं तेषु विद्यते ॥ १६-७ ॥
pravṛttiṃ ca nivṛttiṃ ca
janā na vidurāsurāḥ
na śaucaṃ nāpi cācāro
na satyaṃ teṣu vidyate
English transliteration pravrittim cha nivrittim cha
janaa na viduraasuraah
na shaucham naapi chaachaaro
na satyam teshu vidyate ॥ 16.7 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Demonic people do not know what should be done and what should be refrained from. Neither purity, nor good conduct, nor truth is found in them.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| प्रवृत्तिम् pravṛttim | what should be done |
| च ca | and |
| निवृत्तिम् nivṛttim | what should be refrained from |
| च ca | and |
| जनाः janāḥ | people |
| न na | not |
| विदुः viduḥ | know |
| आसुराः āsurāḥ | demonic |
| न na | not |
| शौचम् śaucam | purity |
| न na | not |
| अपि api | also |
| च ca | and |
| आचारः ācāraḥ | good conduct |
| न na | not |
| सत्यम् satyam | truth |
| तेषु teṣu | in them |
| विद्यते vidyate | is found |
Word-wise Chanting
- pra–vṛt–tiṃ ca ni–vṛt–tiṃ ca 8 syllables pra-vrit-tim cha ni-vrit-tim cha
- ja–nā na vi–du–rā–su–rāḥ | 8 syllables ja-naa na vi-du-raa-su-raah
- na śau–caṃ nā–pi cā–cā–ro 8 syllables na shau-cham naa-pi chaa-chaa-ro
- na sat–yaṃ te–ṣu vid–ya–te || 16-7 8 syllables na sat-yam te-shu vid-ya-te
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 7
Context
Krishna begins describing the demonic nature (16.6–16.20).
Meaning
Those of demonic nature lack the basic sense of pravṛtti and nivṛtti, what to pursue and what to avoid. As a result, śauca, purity; ācāra, right conduct; and satya, truthfulness, are missing from their lives.
Without a moral compass, life becomes driven by impulse. Ethical discernment is the foundation of spiritual growth.
In Practice
Before acting today, pause and ask: should this be done or avoided?
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.