Yoga through Discerning the Divine and Demoniac Natures
Verse 16.2
अहिंसा सत्यमक्रोधस्त्यागः शान्तिरपैशुनम्।दया भूतेष्वलोलुप्त्वं मार्दवं ह्रीरचापलम्।।16.2।।
ahinsā satyam akrodhas tyāgaḥ śhāntir apaiśhunam dayā bhūteṣhv aloluptvaṁ mārdavaṁ hrīr achāpalam
Word Meanings
ahinsā—non-violence; satyam—truthfulness; akrodhaḥ—absence of anger; tyāgaḥ—renunciation; śhāntiḥ—peacefulness; apaiśhunam—restraint from fault-finding; dayā—compassion; bhūteṣhu—toward all living beings; aloluptvam—absence of covetousness; mārdavam—gentleness; hrīḥ—modesty; achāpalam—lack of fickleness;
Translation · English
Harmlessness, truth, absence of anger, renunciation, peacefulness, absence of crookedness, compassion for beings, non-covetousness, gentleness, modesty, and absence of fickleness.
Deep Meaning · English
In this verse, Lord Krishna delineates the daivi sampad, or the divine treasures of the soul, which serve as the essential foundation for spiritual evolution. These virtues are not mere social etiquettes or moral imperatives; they are the external reflections of an internal state of purity. When a seeker cultivates non-violence, truthfulness, and compassion, they are actively dismantling the egoic constructs that veil the Atman. By mastering anger and restlessness, the mind becomes a mirror capable of reflecting the Divine nature that resides within. This path requires a profound 'tyaga' or renunciation—not of the world, but of the false identifications that keep one tethered to the lower, demonic tendencies of greed and pride. As Krishna guides Arjuna on the battlefield, he emphasizes that victory is not merely about physical triumph, but about the inner alignment of the soul with these transcendent qualities. These virtues are the stabilizing forces that allow the consciousness to transcend the duality of the gunas, enabling one to act in the world while remaining firmly anchored in the stillness of the Self. Ultimately, these divine qualities signify the birth of the soul's innate wisdom, ripening the practitioner for the ultimate surrender to the Lord.
These divine qualities are the essential 'sattvic' preparations that purify the heart, transforming the human instrument into a transparent vessel for divine consciousness.
Connected Verses
Discusses the discipline of speech, reflecting the truthfulness and peacefulness mentioned in this verse as essential for internal clarity.
Expands on the nature of knowledge by listing humility and absence of pride as requirements for true realization.
Lists similar divine attributes like friendliness and compassion as the signs of a devotee who is dear to the Lord.
Addresses the state of being free from anger and fear, highlighting the mental equanimity that supports these divine virtues.
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