विवेचन सारांश

Divine qualities lead us to Paramātmā while demoniac qualities push us to hell

 In this sloka Sri Krishna Paramātmā outlines the six qualities of the demonic nature (asuri sampada) as a contrast to the divine qualities described in earlier slokas.

• Dambhah: Hypocrisy, putting on a show of what one doesn’t own. For example showing off a yellow metal chain as Gold to others.
• Darpah: Arrogance, undue pride stemming from misconceptions about wealth, power, or birth. eg:- showing off an expensive shirt before others.
• Abhimanah: Self-conceit, inflated ego based on material possessions, education, or social status. Superior feeling over others which arises due to hypocrisy and arrogance.
• Parusyam : Harshness, cruelty, and a lack of compassion over trivial things.
• Krodhah: Anger, uncontrolled rage often fueled by frustration and desires. Shouting on every one for simple reasons.
• Ajnanam: Ignorance, the absence of spiritual knowledge and the inability to distinguish between right and wrong.

These six qualities are asuri gunas that impede one's spiritual progress and lead down to a destructive path.

Bhagavān gives a significant insight into the path of liberation. The saintly qualities are believed to be for liberation, and demoniac attributes for bondage.

HE assures Arjuna that he need not worry since he is born with divine qualities. By saying so, Bhagavān tries to boost the morale of Arjuna who was depressed. The sloka assures Arjuna that his inherent nature aligns with the path of liberation. Recognizing our inherent qualities can dispel anxieties and guide us on the right path.

A question arises as to why one should aspire for liberation? Normally, humans do not do anything without a goal. For example, a student studies in order to get a job, which will get him money with which he can enjoy materialistic things. The enjoyment of materialistic things brings him happiness. Thus, Happiness is the ultimate goal for a human being. But the happiness attained from materialistic things is not permanent. 

Bhagavān says that the ultimate goal should be liberation. Unless a child is told about the benefits of adopting good principles, he will not move into that path. Similarly Bhagavān is explaining to his dearest disciple Arjuna, about the divine and demonical qualities and why one should inculcate only divine qualities to obtain liberation which gives the ultimate happiness.

This sloka introduces the concept of two fundamental natures within living beings. 

•  harmful or unethical actions without considering the consequences.
•  disregarding spiritual practices and teachings that promote inner peace and self-understanding.
• becoming excessively attached to material possessions and worldly pursuits, losing sight of their true nature.
• Bad conduct, no purity, lack of truthfulness and doing things which shouldn’t be done or not doing things that should be done.

One should engage in the world with a sense of responsibility and awareness, while also nurturing the inner spiritual growth through contemplation, meditation, and ethical conduct.

No one is totally free from the demoniacal qualities. One becomes Asuri at those moments when good conduct is not followed, even if it is for a short period of an hour or a day or a week. If we watch our thought process we can  clearly demarcate between Asuri and Daivi qualities. We should always check ourselves regarding presence of these qualities and try to increase the divine qualities and reduce the demoniac qualities. We are supposed to only check ourselves not others.

Paramātmā describes the core beliefs of those with a demoniac nature (asuri sampada) regarding the creation of the world and the divine. Those with a demoniac nature believe that the world is unreal (asatyam) with no foundation (apratishtham). They also believe it is not created or controlled by God (anisvaram) and arises solely from the lust (kama) driven union of the sexes (aparasparasambhootam).

• Materialistic view: They reject the concept of a higher reality or spiritual dimension. They see the world only in material terms, focusing on physical experiences and desires.
• Denial of God: They don't acknowledge the existence of a divine force or creator. They do not believe in the Satchidananda  Roopa and refuse to accept the Satyam jnanam, anantam and nityam concept of the supreme.
• Reductionist view of creation: They believe the world is simply a product of random interactions between physical elements, with sexual desire as the sole driving force.

Krishna Paramātmā also describes the nature of the people with demoniac attributes as cruel, ruthless engaging in barbaric activities without any remorse or repentance (Paschathaap).They take pride in doing such acts and their perspective is limited and distorted, failing to recognize the true nature of reality and the importance of spiritual understanding.

The demoniac people believe in unreal/ godless world/ without foundation and are atheistic in nature. They are killing their own souls and have inferior intellect. So, they commit sins by being cruel and only can lead to the destruction of the world. They cannot do anything for the welfare of the world but only cause harm to the world.

Sri Krishna Paramātmā  explains about the remaining asura attributes. Demonical people possess the following qualities:

• Chintamaparimeyan: Innumerable anxieties that arise due to unlimited desires. These anxieties are not just temporary, but are also deep.
• Pralayantamupasritah: These innumerable anxieties end only by the arrival of death.
• Kamopabhogaparama: Develop great interest in the pursuit of material possessions and sensual gratification.
• Mistaken about true happiness: They believe that fulfilling desires and accumulating wealth is the ultimate purpose of life and the only path to happiness.

These people cannot understand the difference between the temporary pleasures of the material world and the lasting peace found on the spiritual path. They are trapped in a cycle of desire and dissatisfaction, mistaking fleeting pleasures for true happiness. For obtaining these pleasures they follow unlawful and immoral means accumulating more sin.

Paramātmā  emphasizes the negative consequences of an unrestrained desire for material things. The asuri attributes portray a life filled with anxiety, anger, and ultimately suffering.

Demonical persons are consumed by ego, materialism, and a sense of entitlement. They are blind to their own shortcomings and believe their wealth and power are the keys to happiness.

• Idam adya maya labdham: They are obsessed with material possessions and focus on what they have gained today. 
• Imam prapsye manoratham:  They are fixated on acquiring more.
• Idamastidamapi me: They believe that they are solely responsible for their achievements ("maya") due to ignorance and have an inflated sense of self-importance.
• idam asti idam api me bhavishyati punar dhanam: Their primary concern is accumulating wealth. They are convinced that their wealth will continue to grow and bring them happiness.

• Asau maya hataḥ shatruḥ: arrogant, violent and kills all enemies.
• Hanishye chaparan api: boast about past victories and threaten to destroy anyone who opposes them. For eg:- Hiranyakashipu, Kamsa, Hiranyaksha, Ravana 
• Ishvaro hamam : Deluded about their own power, they believe they are God-like and the source of all their achievements and happiness.
• Aham bhogi : (Self-absorbed) They see themselves as the ultimate "enjoyer" and believe they have achieved perfection (siddhaḥ). They are convinced of their own strength (balavan) and believe they deserve happiness (sukhi).

These demoniac people cannot see the truth as they are tied by the ropes of desires.

The demonical people think that doing yajna and tapas is also to gain name & fame for themselves. 

Adhyah: rich & wealthy
Abhijanasmi: having a very big family
Konosti sadruso maya: Who else is similar to me?

These attributes come under tamasic gunas. They are deluded by ignorance and are enveloped in the illusion that they are super human and demi gods. All these characters  bring them more closer to down fall and trap them in the web of desires leading to life- death cycles.

Krishna Paramātmā  describes these people have many unenthical and immoral desires (aneka chitta vibranta) and are over powered by the delusion (moha maya). They continue to live in this illusion leading to more anxiety and ignorance.

Paramātmā also talks about the consequences for such deluded illusions who are caught in the web of attachments and enjoying the sensual pleasures through immoral and unlawful means. HE says the demoniacal people fall into the impure hell for several lives, without coming out of the hell as there will be no one to save them.

The demonical people indulge in self gratification, self appraisal and are boasting always about the amount of wealth amassed by them.

Atma Sambhavitah: Self centred and Self conceit 
Dhana mana madaanvitah: addicted to wealth, arrogant and self boasting.
yajante namayajnaste : perform the sacrifices just for the sake of name and fame
Dambhena viddhipurvakam: showing off on performing puja or yajna which is not told in the scriptures.
Viddhi : told in the Sashtra.
Avidhhi: not told in the scriptures.

They do yajna or austerities only for getting name and fame. They do not believe in the vedic scriptures or puranas but only pretend as if they follow all of them.

If we take the example of the NGOs, only 10% of them actually work for the poor and needy people. All others maintain files and obtain grants and funds from the Government or from the general public. Geeta pariwar is one of those few organisations that truly work for the benefit of the society. It runs with the help of Volunteers where no compulsory donations are asked. Donations are accepted purely on voluntary basis with no compulsion what so ever. Such pure organisations only can inspire large number of people.

These people with demonical attributes are immersed in arrogance (ahankaram), egoism (darpam), conceit, publicity, anger (krodham), lust (kamam). They don’t believe in God .They cannot see god either in themselves or others (mamatma paradehesu). So, they don’t respect any human being. They are insulting God by hating other people. But they don’t realize this. 

Bhagavān says in the 15th chapter,

sarvasya chāhaṃ hṛdi sanniviṣṭō mattaḥ smṛtirjñānamapōhanaṃ cha.
vēdaiścha sarvairahamēva vēdyō vēdāntakṛdvēdavidēva chāham II

Bhagavān is present in every one. 

If we hate some one we are hating the Bhagavān HIMSELF.

They are in such a delusion that we cannot show them the right path. We cannot convince them that the path they are treading is wrong one because they will never agree to that. Instead they will insist that the path that they are following is the correct one.

Sri Krishna tells Arjuna that the stupid soul will fall into the cycle of life & death and never reach HIM until the person develops the divine qualities.

Asurim Yoni apanna :The demonical stupid souls take life in demoniac wombs, again & again 

Such demonical creatures who take birth again and again will never attain god .They sink to the lower strata of existence. They themselves are responsible for their “gati”, and cannot blame anyone but themselves. All human beings should try to improve the divine attributes and try to reduce the demonical qualities so that the suffering caused due to rebirth is reduced.

Krishna Paramātmā lists the three main gates to hell:

• 1.   Desire / Kama
• 2.   Anger / Krodh
• 3.   Greed / Lobh

Bhagavān also tells us to avoid these three hells by following the Śāstras. Every person should be alert and correct himself as and when these demonic traits arise and improve the divine traits. Divine traits lead to noble behavior, and getting liberated from these negative traits. One will attain the supreme lord.

The divine traits can be imbibed by following the principles of dharma, bhakti, jnana, karma etc. as described by the Paramātmā in the Gītā. If we pray to the Paramātmā, HE will bless us with the divine traits which will again help us in attaining supreme reality. This Sādhanā has to be followed continuously without any break till we leave our external body.

Bhagavān reiterates in this sloka that those individuals who do not believe and practice the holy scriptures like Vedas, Puranas and teachings of the forefathers and continuously indulge in the sensory pleasures will never get peace, happiness and perfection in life. Discarding the injunctions and following their own will & intellect  will not help in attaining happiness/perfection or reaching the supreme goal.

For example, some people prefr to deviate from the sastras by feeding the poor instead of the Brahmān who performs certain austeries on their behalf. We should follow the scriptures and feed the Brahmān along with the poor people.

Therefore, these scriptures have to be followed by the sadhakas to walk on the right spiritual path. When one becomes adapt in following them, the he realizes the importance of them in one’s life. One should follow the Śāstra Vidhana and the Vidhi karmas, and avoid the Nishidha karmas.

Opinions of different people /sadhus/sanyasis etc on a particular problem, will confuse us .So it is better to trust the authenticated proof given by the Bhagavān to try to solve the problems faced in this material world. Bhagavad Gītā is a validated and authenticated proof given by the Bhagavān.

The overall message is that demoniac nature leads to unhappiness, delusion, and a fall from grace. Hence we should cultivate the divine traits to lead a peaceful, happy and purposeful life.

Question and Answer Session:

TanushreeJi:

Q: How to follow Akrodha? How should we react if some one addresses in a wrong way?

A: The best way is to ignore the harsh words of some one. Try to ignore the remarks. Count from 1-10 so that anger subsides. We should also suggest our children to do the same. If two children are fighting we should not take sides and ignore their faults. Their fight should not affect our relation with the other child's parents.