इति गुह्यतमं शास्त्रमिदमुक्तं मयाऽनघ।एतद्बुद्ध्वा बुद्धिमान्स्यात्कृतकृत्यश्च भारत।।15.20।।
Thus, this most secret teaching has been declared by Me, O sinless one. Understanding this, a person becomes wise and accomplished in all duties, O Bhārata.
श्री भगवानुवाच अभयं सत्त्वसंशुद्धिः ज्ञानयोगव्यवस्थितिः। दानं दमश्च यज्ञश्च स्वाध्यायस्तप आर्जवम्।।16.1।।
The Blessed Lord said: Fearlessness, purity of mind, steadfastness in knowledge and yoga, generosity, self-control, sacrifice, study of the scriptures, austerity, and straightforwardness—
अहिंसा सत्यमक्रोधस्त्यागः शान्तिरपैशुनम्।दया भूतेष्वलोलुप्त्वं मार्दवं ह्रीरचापलम्।।16.2।।
Nonviolence, truthfulness, absence of anger, renunciation, tranquility, aversion to fault-finding, compassion for beings, absence of greed, gentleness, modesty, and lack of fickleness—
तेजः क्षमा धृतिः शौचमद्रोहो नातिमानिता। भवन्ति सम्पदं दैवीमभिजातस्य भारत।।16.3।।
Vigor, forgiveness, fortitude, purity, absence of malice, and lack of excessive pride—these are the qualities of one born to a divine nature, O Bhārata.
दम्भो दर्पोऽभिमानश्च क्रोधः पारुष्यमेव च।अज्ञानं चाभिजातस्य पार्थ सम्पदमासुरीम्।।16.4।।
Hypocrisy, arrogance, self-conceit, anger, harshness, and ignorance—these, O Pārtha, are the qualities of one born to a demonic nature.
दैवी सम्पद्विमोक्षाय निबन्धायासुरी मता।मा शुचः सम्पदं दैवीमभिजातोऽसि पाण्डव।।16.5।।
The divine qualities lead to liberation, the demonic to bondage. Do not grieve, O Pāṇḍava, for you are born with divine qualities.
द्वौ भूतसर्गौ लोकेऽस्मिन् दैव आसुर एव च।दैवो विस्तरशः प्रोक्त आसुरं पार्थ मे श्रृणु।।16.6।।
In this world, there are two kinds of beings created: the divine and the demonic. The divine has been described at length; now hear from me, O Partha, about the demonic.
प्रवृत्तिं च निवृत्तिं च जना न विदुरासुराः।न शौचं नापि चाचारो न सत्यं तेषु विद्यते।।16.7।।
The demonic people do not know the way of action or renunciation; in them is found neither purity, nor proper conduct, nor truth.
असत्यमप्रतिष्ठं ते जगदाहुरनीश्वरम्।अपरस्परसम्भूतं किमन्यत्कामहैतुकम्।।16.8।।
They say that the world is without truth, without foundation, without a Lord; it arises from mutual union alone, and nothing else, its cause being desire.
एतां दृष्टिमवष्टभ्य नष्टात्मानोऽल्पबुद्धयः।प्रभवन्त्युग्रकर्माणः क्षयाय जगतोऽहिताः।।16.9।।
Clinging to this view, ruined in self and of little understanding, these fierce doers of cruel deeds arise for the destruction of the world, to its harm.
काममाश्रित्य दुष्पूरं दम्भमानमदान्विताः।मोहाद्गृहीत्वासद्ग्राहान्प्रवर्तन्तेऽशुचिव्रताः।।16.10।।
Relying on insatiable desire, filled with hypocrisy, pride, and arrogance, deluded, holding false views, they act with impure vows.
चिन्तामपरिमेयां च प्रलयान्तामुपाश्रिताः।कामोपभोगपरमा एतावदिति निश्िचताः।।16.11।।
Taking refuge in immeasurable anxieties that end only with death, devoted to the enjoyment of desires, they are convinced that this is all there is.
आशापाशशतैर्बद्धाः कामक्रोधपरायणाः।ईहन्ते कामभोगार्थमन्यायेनार्थसञ्चयान्।।16.12।।
Bound by hundreds of cords of hope, given over to desire and anger, they strive to accumulate wealth by unjust means for the sake of enjoyment.
इदमद्य मया लब्धमिमं प्राप्स्ये मनोरथम्।इदमस्तीदमपि मे भविष्यति पुनर्धनम्।।16.13।।
Today I have gained this; I will obtain that wish; this is mine, and this wealth will be mine again.
असौ मया हतः शत्रुर्हनिष्ये चापरानपि।ईश्वरोऽहमहं भोगी सिद्धोऽहं बलवान्सुखी।।16.14।।
That enemy has been slain by me, and others I will kill as well; I am the Lord, I am the enjoyer, I am accomplished, strong, and happy.
आढ्योऽभिजनवानस्मि कोऽन्योऽस्ति सदृशो मया।यक्ष्ये दास्यामि मोदिष्य इत्यज्ञानविमोहिताः।।16.15।।
I am wealthy and high-born; who else is equal to me? I will sacrifice, give, and rejoice—thus deluded by ignorance, distracted by many thoughts, enveloped in the net of delusion, attached to the enjoyment of desires, they fall into impure hell.
अनेकचित्तविभ्रान्ता मोहजालसमावृताः।प्रसक्ताः कामभोगेषु पतन्ति नरकेऽशुचौ।।16.16।।
Distracted by many conflicting thoughts, enveloped in the net of delusion, attached to the enjoyment of desires, they fall into impure hell.
आत्मसम्भाविताः स्तब्धा धनमानमदान्विताः।यजन्ते नामयज्ञैस्ते दम्भेनाविधिपूर्वकम्।।16.17।।
Self-glorifying, stubborn, filled with pride and intoxication of wealth, they perform sacrifices in name only, with hypocrisy, contrary to prescribed rules.
अहङ्कारं बलं दर्पं कामं क्रोधं च संश्रिताः।मामात्मपरदेहेषु प्रद्विषन्तोऽभ्यसूयकाः।।16.18।।
Taking refuge in ego, strength, arrogance, desire, and anger, hating Me in their own and others' bodies, they are envious.
तानहं द्विषतः क्रूरान्संसारेषु नराधमान्।क्षिपाम्यजस्रमशुभानासुरीष्वेव योनिषु।।16.19।।
Those hateful, cruel, lowest among men, I constantly cast into evil births in demonic wombs within the cycle of existence.
असुरीं योनिमापन्ना मूढा जन्मनि जन्मनि।मामप्राप्यैव कौन्तेय ततो यान्त्यधमां गतिम्।।16.20।।
Entering demonic wombs, deluded birth after birth, failing to reach Me, O son of Kunti, they go to the lowest state.
त्रिविधं नरकस्येदं द्वारं नाशनमात्मनः।कामः क्रोधस्तथा लोभस्तस्मादेतत्त्रयं त्यजेत्।।16.21।।
Three gates lead to hell, destructive of the self: desire, anger, and greed. Therefore, one should abandon this triple set.
एतैर्विमुक्तः कौन्तेय तमोद्वारैस्त्रिभिर्नरः।आचरत्यात्मनः श्रेयस्ततो याति परां गतिम्।।16.22।।
Freed from these three gates of darkness, O son of Kunti, a person acts for his own welfare and then attains the highest path.
यः शास्त्रविधिमुत्सृज्य वर्तते कामकारतः।न स सिद्धिमवाप्नोति न सुखं न परां गतिम्।।16.23।।
He who, abandoning the injunctions of scripture, acts according to his own desires, does not attain perfection, happiness, or the supreme path.
तस्माच्छास्त्रं प्रमाणं ते कार्याकार्यव्यवस्थितौ।ज्ञात्वा शास्त्रविधानोक्तं कर्म कर्तुमिहार्हसि।।16.24।।
Therefore, scripture is your authority in determining what is to be done and what is not to be done. Knowing the injunctions of scripture, you ought to perform action here.
अर्जुन उवाचये शास्त्रविधिमुत्सृज्य यजन्ते श्रद्धयाऽन्विताः।तेषां निष्ठा तु का कृष्ण सत्त्वमाहो रजस्तमः।।17.1।।
Arjuna said: Those who, endowed with faith, perform worship disregarding the injunctions of scripture—what is their condition, O Krishna? Is it sattva, rajas, or tamas?
श्री भगवानुवाचत्रिविधा भवति श्रद्धा देहिनां सा स्वभावजा।सात्त्विकी राजसी चैव तामसी चेति तां श्रृणु।।17.2।।
The Blessed Lord said: Faith is of three kinds, arising from the nature of embodied beings: sattvic, rajasic, and tamasic. Hear about it.
सत्त्वानुरूपा सर्वस्य श्रद्धा भवति भारत।श्रद्धामयोऽयं पुरुषो यो यच्छ्रद्धः स एव सः।।17.3।।
The faith of every person conforms to their nature, O Bharata. One is made of faith; as is one's faith, so indeed is one.
यजन्ते सात्त्विका देवान्यक्षरक्षांसि राजसाः।प्रेतान्भूतगणांश्चान्ये यजन्ते तामसा जनाः।।17.4।।
The sattvic worship the gods; the rajasic worship yakshas and rakshasas; and the others, the tamasic people, worship spirits and hosts of ghosts.
अशास्त्रविहितं घोरं तप्यन्ते ये तपो जनाः।दम्भाहङ्कारसंयुक्ताः कामरागबलान्विताः।।17.5।।
Those people who, not following scriptural ordinance, perform severe austerities, filled with hypocrisy and ego, driven by desire and attachment—