Bhagavad Gita 16.6
Spoken by Krishna · Verse 6 of 24
द्वौ भूतसर्गौ लोके ऽस्मिन् दैव आसुर एव च । दैवो विस्तरशः प्रोक्तो आसुरं पार्थ मे शृणु ॥
dvau bhūta-sargau loke 'smin daiva āsura eva ca | daivo vistaraśaḥ prokto āsuraṃ pārtha me śṛṇu ||
Two kinds of beings exist — daiva and āsura. The divine has been described; now hear the āsura from Me, O Arjuna.
Word by word (3)
- dvau bhūta-sargau loke 'smin
- — two (dvau) creations/types (sargau) of beings (bhūta) in this world (loke asmin) — the binary ontology of character
- daiva āsura eva ca
- — the divine (daiva) and the āsura (demoniac) — the chapter's organizing duality
- daivo vistaraśaḥ prokto āsuraṃ pārtha me śṛṇu
- — the divine has been proclaimed at length (vistaraśaḥ proktaḥ); now hear (śṛṇu) the āsura from Me (me), O Pārtha — transition pivot
In this world there are two types of created beings: the divine and the demoniac. The divine has been described at length. Now hear from Me, O Arjuna, about the demoniac.
A modern analogy
A doctor first describes health in detail — normal blood pressure, proper functioning of organs, balanced nutrition — because health is complex and positive. Then describes disease more briefly — because disease is always a narrowing of the healthy template. Similarly, daivī-sampad required 26 qualities; āsurī-sampad needed only 6 root qualities.
Public-domain translations (4) compare all →
There are two creations of beings in this world, the divine and the demoniac. The divine has been described at length; hear from Me, O Partha, of the demoniac. [1]
There are two types of beings in this world, the divine and the Asurika. The divine have been described at length; hear from Me, O Partha, of the Asurika. [4]
There are two kinds of created beings in this world, the divine and the demoniacal. The divine has been described at length; hear from me, O Arjuna, about the demoniacal. [9]
There are two kinds of created beings in this world, the god-like and the demoniac. The god-like have been described at length. Hear now, from me, O son of Pritha, about the demoniac. [13]
This verse speaks to
Where this thread continues
For the protection of the good, destruction of wickedness, establishment of dharma — I come, age after age.
Approach the teacher with prostration, inquiry, and service. The knowers of truth will instruct you in jñāna.
O Pārtha — no destruction for that one, neither here nor hereafter. For never does any doer of good come to an evil end.
Even if the most sinful worships Me with undivided devotion — he must be deemed righteous, for he has rightly resolved.
The final daivī qualities: tejas, kṣamā, dhṛti, śauca, adroha, nātimānitā — belonging to one born to divine nature.
The sound of righteous forces pierces the hearts of those who know they are on the wrong side.
Verse 6 of 24 · back to Chapter 16