Bhagavad Gita 16.5
Spoken by Krishna · Verse 5 of 24
दैवी सम्पद् विमोक्षाय निबन्धायासुरी मता । मा शुचः सम्पदं दैवीम् अभिजातो ऽसि पाण्डव ॥
daivī sampad vimokṣāya nibandhāyāsurī matā | mā śucaḥ sampadaṃ daivīm abhijāto 'si pāṇḍava ||
Daivī wealth leads to liberation, āsurī to bondage. Do not grieve, Arjuna — you are born to the divine endowment.
Word by word (3)
- daivī sampad vimokṣāya nibandhāyāsurī matā
- — divine wealth/endowment (daivī sampad) is deemed (matā) for liberation (vimokṣāya); the āsurī (demonic) for bondage (nibandhāya) — the soteriological stakes of the two paths
- mā śucaḥ
- — do not grieve (mā śucaḥ) — a gentle pastoral reassurance; Arjuna's existential anxiety about his own nature is anticipated and addressed
- sampadaṃ daivīm abhijāto 'si pāṇḍava
- — you are born (abhijātaḥ asi) to the divine endowment (sampadaṃ daivīm), O Pāṇḍava — direct personal assurance from Krishna to Arjuna's specific situation
The divine endowment is deemed to lead to liberation; the demonic to bondage. Grieve not, O Arjuna — you are born to the divine nature.
A modern analogy
A seed doesn't need to be told it will become a tree — it simply needs the right conditions. Krishna is telling Arjuna: 'You already have the seed of the divine; stop worrying about whether you have it, and just grow.' The reassurance 'mā śucaḥ' transforms an abstract taxonomy (daivī vs. āsurī) into personal pastoral care.
Public-domain translations (4) compare all →
The divine nature is deemed for liberation, the demoniac for bondage. Grieve not, O Pandava; thou art born for a divine lot. [1]
The divine state is deemed to make for liberation, the Asurika for bondage; grieve not, O Pandava, thou art born for a divine state. [4]
Divine nature is deemed to lead to liberation, demonic to bondage. Grieve not, O son of Pandu; thou art born to a divine nature. [9]
The godlike nature has been deemed to be for liberation, the demoniac nature for bondage. Grieve not, O Pandava; thou hast been born with a divine nature. [13]
This verse speaks to
Where this thread continues
Daivī wealth begins: abhaya, sattva-śuddhi, jñāna-yoga, dāna, dama, yajña, svādhyāya, tapa, ārjava.
No effort on this path is ever wasted — even a little progress protects you from great fear.
Unmoved in sorrow, ungreedy in joy, free from passion, fear, and anger — that is the steady sage.
Many, freed from attachment, fear, and anger, purified by knowledge-austerity — have attained My being.
With senses, mind and buddhi controlled, free of desire, fear and anger — the liberation-oriented muni is ever-free.
Be not afraid; let fear depart and your heart be glad — behold again THIS form of Mine, the familiar one!
Verse 5 of 24 · back to Chapter 16