The Path of Distinction between Divine and Ungodly Natures

In Chapter 15, Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa declared that cutting down the Aśvattha tree (which symbolizes the material world) with the weapon of detachment is a mark of the divine nature. Divine nature means complete surrender to God. This implies that those who don’t seek refuge in Him are of the materialistic, or ungodly, nature. Now, in Chapter 16, Śrī Kṛṣṇa describes the divine and ungodly natures more elaborately. There are twenty-four verses in this chapter, all spoken by Śrī Kṛṣṇa.
Kṛṣṇa first lists the qualities that constitute the divine nature (1–3) and then speaks of those belonging to the asuric, or materialistic, nature (4). The divine nature leads to liberation, whereas the ungodly nature results in bondage (5). There are two types of people in this world: the divine and the ungodly (6).
Kṛṣṇa enumerates the qualities and behavior belonging to those of the ungodly nature (7–18). Such envious and cruel persons are cast down into hell (19). There are three gates to hell, namely, lust, anger, and greed. One who is free from these three vices endeavors for the supreme welfare of the self and also achieves it (21–22). Kṛṣṇa then speaks about the importance of the revealed scripture, or śāstra. Those who do not have faith in śāstra are doomed to suffer. Thus, in the final verse, He recommends that one should know and follow śāstra (23–24).

All Verses

  1. Verse 1-3Śrī Bhagavān said: Fearlessness, purity of heart, perseverance in the methods of cultivation of immediate insight ( jñāna), charity, control of the external senses, sacrifice ( yajña), study of the Vedas, austerity, straightforwardness, non-violence, truthfulness, absence of anger, detachment, composure of mind, freedom from the tendency to malign others, compassion toward all living beings, absence of greed, soft-heartedness, modesty, steadiness, vigor, tolerance, fortitude, cleanliness, freedom from enmity, and the absence of excessive self-esteem — O descendant of Bharata, all these qualities arise to one who is born of the divine disposition.
  2. Verse 4Ostentation, arrogance, self-conceit, anger, rudeness, and ignorance — O Arjuna, all these arise to one who is born of the ungodly disposition.
  3. Verse 5It has been ascertained that the divine disposition leads to liberation, whereas the ungodly disposition results in bondage. Do not grieve, O son of Pāṇḍu, for you are born of the divine disposition.
  4. Verse 6O son of Pṛthā, there are two types of beings who take birth in this world — the divine and the ungodly. The divine nature has been elaborately explained; now hear from Me of the ungodly nature.
  5. Verse 7People of ungodly nature do not know what is appropriate action and what is to be avoided. Thus, in them there exists neither purity, nor virtuous conduct, nor truthfulness.
  6. Verse 8They claim that this world is unreal, that it is without any foundation, without any God, that it is brought forth perpetually [by mutual union] and, what’s more, that it is conceived only out of lust.
  7. Verse 9Upholding this view, such hostile individuals, who are bereft of self-awareness, of paltry discrimination, and performers of cruel deeds, take birth solely for the destruction of the world.
  8. Verse 10Taking refuge of insatiable desires and being possessed of hypocrisy, pride, and arrogance, such people of impure vows engage in action having adopted false doctrines out of delusion.
  9. Verse 11Falling prey to immeasurable worries that persist until death, they are convinced of the idea that the enjoyment of sense pleasures is the ultimate aim.
  10. Verse 12Being bound by the shackles of hundreds of false hopes, and fully engrossed in lust and anger, they strive to hoard wealth by illegal means in order to obtain sensual pleasures.
  11. Verse 13Those of ungodly disposition think as follows: “I have secured this much today, and I shall fulfill this heart longing. This wealth is mine, and this other wealth shall also be mine.”
  12. Verse 14“I have killed that enemy and I shall kill the others also. I am the controller, I am the enjoyer, I am perfect, powerful, and happy.”
  13. Verse 15Deluded by ignorance, they think as follows: “I am rich and of noble birth. Who else is there equal to me? I will perform yajñas, donate charity, and rejoice.”
  14. Verse 16Being confused by excessive mentation, caught in the net of delusion, and addicted to the enjoyment of sensual pleasures, they fall into a vicious hell.
  15. Verse 17Self-conceited, arrogant, and intoxicated by wealth, honor, and pride, they perform yajña in name only, just for show without adhering to any prescribed process.
  16. Verse 18Resorting exclusively to egotism, strength, insolence, lust, and anger, the ungodly, who are indignant even toward the virtues of the saintly, despise Me, who am situated in their own bodies and those of others.
  17. Verse 19I perpetually hurl these vicious, cruel, inauspicious, and most degraded among men into demonic species only, to revolve in the cycle of birth and death.
  18. Verse 20O son of Kuntī, attaining repeated birth in demonic species, such fools certainly do not attain Me and sink down instead to still lower birth.
  19. Verse 21Desire, anger, and greed — this is the threefold gate to hell that brings ruination to the self. Therefore, these three should be shunned.
  20. Verse 22O son of Kuntī, a person freed from the influence of these three gates to darkness acts for the welfare of the self and thus attains the supreme goal.
  21. Verse 23One who casts aside the ordinances of scriptures and who acts instead under the impulse of material desire, attains neither perfection, nor contentment, nor the supreme goal.
  22. Verse 24Therefore, scriptural revelation is the means of authentic knowing available to you in ascertaining what is to be done and what is to be avoided. You should act in this world only on acquaintance with action as described according to the prescriptions of scripture.