Yoga through Discerning the Divine and Demoniac Natures
Verse 16.3
तेजः क्षमा धृतिः शौचमद्रोहो नातिमानिता। भवन्ति सम्पदं दैवीमभिजातस्य भारत।।16.3।।
tejaḥ kṣhamā dhṛitiḥ śhaucham adroho nāti-mānitā bhavanti sampadaṁ daivīm abhijātasya bhārata
Word Meanings
tejaḥ—vigor; kṣhamā—forgiveness; dhṛitiḥ—fortitude; śhaucham—cleanliness; adrohaḥ—bearing enmity toward none; na—not; ati-mānitā—absence of vanity; bhavanti—are; sampadam—qualities; daivīm—godly; abhijātasya—of those endowed with; bhārata—scion of Bharat
Translation · English
Vigor, forgiveness, fortitude, purity, absence of hatred, absence of pride—these belong to one born for a divine state, O Arjuna.
Deep Meaning · English
In this verse, Krishna catalogues the 'Daivi Sampad' or divine treasures that adorn the soul born into a state of spiritual illumination. This is not merely a checklist of ethical virtues; it is an ontological description of one who has attuned their consciousness to the Sattvic nature. The inclusion of 'tejas' (spiritual radiance) alongside 'kshama' (forgiveness) demonstrates a sophisticated balance—the strength to stand for truth combined with the profound inner stillness to release resentment. It suggests that true power is not found in dominating the external world, but in the internal fortitude that remains unperturbed by the provocations of the ego. Furthermore, by explicitly mentioning 'adroha' (absence of malice) and 'nati-manita' (absence of arrogance), Krishna highlights the dissolution of the 'I-me-mine' construct. When the soul recognizes the unity of the Divine in all beings, the impulse to inflict harm withers, and the need for self-aggrandizement vanishes. These qualities serve as a diagnostic tool for Arjuna—and the seeker—to identify whether their current life orientation is moving toward the Divine (liberation) or the Demoniac (bondage). It is a call to nurture the garden of the heart, ensuring the soil is prepared for the seed of transcendental knowledge to germinate.
Divine nature is not an achievement of external action, but the natural radiance that manifests when the ego ceases its resistance to the underlying truth of unity.
Connected Verses
Provides the foundational context for these virtues as the necessary conditions for attaining spiritual liberation.
Lists similar virtues such as humility and non-violence as essential components of true knowledge.
Emphasizes the state of a devotee who is friendly and compassionate toward all beings, echoing the quality of adroha.
Describes the sage of steady wisdom who is free from fear, anger, and attachment, mirroring the internal balance of tejas and kshama.
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