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Bhagwad Gita (English) | Chapter 16 | Verse 19

Chapter 16, Verse 19

The Divine and Demoniac Natures

Those who are envious and mischievous, who are the lowest among men, are cast by Me into the ocean of material existence, into various demoniac species of life.


Verse

तानहं द्विषतः क्रूरान्संसारेषु नराधमान्।क्षिपाम्यजस्रमशुभानासुरीष्वेव योनिषु।।16.19।।


tān ahaṁ dviṣhataḥ krūrān sansāreṣhu narādhamān
kṣhipāmy ajasram aśhubhān āsurīṣhv eva yoniṣhu

Meaning of each word

tān — these;
aham —
I;
dviṣhataḥ —
hateful;
krūrān —
cruel;
sansāreṣhu —
in the material world;
nara-adhamān —
the vile and vicious of humankind;
kṣhipāmi —
I hurl;
ajasram —
again and again;
aśhubhān —
inauspicious;
āsurīṣhu —
demoniac;
eva —
indeed;
yoniṣhu —
in to the wombs;

Interpretation

In this verse, the Lord is saying that there are certain types of people who are envious and cause trouble for others. They are considered the lowest among humans, meaning they act in selfish and harmful ways rather than being kind or responsible. Because of their negative qualities, the supreme power decides what kind of life they will have next.

Think of it like this: when someone behaves badly, they create a cycle of their own actions. If someone is always envious or causes problems, they won’t be rewarded with a good life after their current one. Instead, they will be reborn into less favorable situations where their negative traits will continue to thrive.

For example, just as actions have consequences in daily life—like how being careless with your tasks at work can lead to the loss of a job—here, the teaching is that how you live your life affects what happens to you after death. So, those who are seen as 'demoniac' or full of bad qualities will find themselves returning in forms that are similar to the negative aspects they embodied. This can include being born into lives that are filled with struggle, conflict, or a lack of kindness and love.

The Supreme Power, often referred to in this verse as God or the Lord, has control over where each soul goes next, and it's not random. Every type of life we see around us—be it human, animal, or even insects—exists because of this divine plan. Those with 'demoniac' qualities, such as being filled with lust and hatred, will continue to be born into similarly difficult situations. It's a reminder of how important it is to pursue a life of goodness, kindness, and control over our desires in order to elevate our existence rather than degrade it.

Overall, this verse warns us that our actions and character significantly influence not just our current lives, but also what we will experience in the next. It highlights the need for self-awareness and moral living so we can avoid falling into lower states of existence.


Other Verses of Chapter 16
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