dvau bhūta-sargau loke ’smin daiva āsura eva cha
daivo vistaraśhaḥ prokta āsuraṁ pārtha me śhṛiṇu
dvau — two;
bhūta-sargau — of created living beings;
loke — in the world;
asmin — this;
daivaḥ — divine;
āsuraḥ — demoniac;
eva — certainly;
cha — and;
daivaḥ — the divine;
vistaraśhaḥ — at great length;
proktaḥ — said;
āsuram — the demoniac;
pārtha — Arjun, the son of Pritha;
me — from me;
śhṛiṇu — hear
In this verse, Lord Krishna is talking to Arjuna about how all living beings can be grouped into two main categories: divine beings and demonic beings. To make it simple, the divine beings are those who follow good values and principles, as taught in scriptures or holy texts. They live their lives in an orderly way, doing things that are right and just according to these teachings. For example, they practice honesty, kindness, and respect for others.
On the other hand, demonic beings are those who ignore these teachings and instead act based on their own desires and selfish interests. They might do what they feel like without considering whether it is right or wrong. This often leads to negative behaviors, such as lying, cheating, or harming others. In other words, people with a demonic nature focus more on getting what they want, even if it means breaking rules or hurting other people.
Krishna reassures Arjuna that he possesses divine qualities, meaning he has the potential for good behavior, but now He wants to explain what it means to have a demonic nature. This helps Arjuna understand that it's not just about being good but also about recognizing the qualities that lead people away from goodness.
The distinction between divine and demonic qualities rests heavily on whether someone follows the guidelines of the scriptures or not. Divine beings stick to these guidelines as they believe they lead to a better life and a better world. In contrast, demonic beings choose to live by their whims, often leading them to trouble and suffering.
Krishna also mentions that both divine and demonic natures come from the same source but diverge based on their choices and behaviors. This means everyone has the capacity to choose which path to follow in life: one that leads to a fulfilling and responsible existence or one filled with chaos and harm. This teaches us the importance of being aware of our actions and the mindset we choose to adopt in our lives.