Bhagavad Gita · Chapter 16 · Daivasura Sampad Vibhaga Yoga
Bhagavad Gita 16.7 प्रवृत्तिं च निवृत्तिं च जना न विदुरासुराः
श्लोक 16.7
प्रवृत्तिं च निवृत्तिं च जना न विदुरासुराः ।
न शौचं नापि चाचारो न सत्यं तेषु विद्यते ॥
pravṛttiṃ ca nivṛttiṃ ca janā na vidurāsurāḥ |
na śaucaṃ nāpi cācāro na satyaṃ teṣu vidyate ||
हिन्दी अर्थ
आसुरी स्वभाव वाले लोग यह नहीं जानते कि क्या करना चाहिए और किससे दूर रहना चाहिए। उनमें न पवित्रता होती है, न अच्छा आचरण और न ही सत्य।
Meaning in English
People of demoniac nature do not understand what should be done and what should be avoided. Neither purity, nor good conduct, nor truth is found in them.
Bhagavad Gita 16.7 — word by word
| Word | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| प्रवृत्तिम् च | pravṛttim ca | what is to be done |
| निवृत्तिम् च | nivṛttim ca | and what is to be refrained from |
| जनाः | janāḥ | people |
| न विदुः | na viduḥ | do not know |
| आसुराः | āsurāḥ | of demonic nature |
| न शौचम् | na śaucam | neither purity |
| न अपि च आचारः | na api ca ācāraḥ | nor good conduct |
| न सत्यम् | na satyam | nor truth |
| तेषु | teṣu | in them |
| विद्यते | vidyate | is found |
Explanation
People of demonic nature do not know what should be done and what should be avoided. Neither purity, nor good conduct, nor truthfulness is found in them. Krishna begins his portrait with the root problem: such people have lost the inner compass that tells them when to act and when to hold back, and so outer discipline and honesty also disappear.
Pravṛtti and nivṛtti can mean engagement and withdrawal in general, but Shankara reads them here as the prescribed actions that lead to the good and the forbidden actions that lead to harm. Ignorance of this distinction is the first mark of the āsurī nature, linking back to ajñāna in 16.4. Commentators observe that without this discernment, purity and right conduct cannot take root, because a person who does not accept any limit has no reason to practise them.
भावार्थ
आसुरी स्वभाव वाले लोग यह नहीं जानते कि क्या करना चाहिए और किससे दूर रहना चाहिए। उनमें न पवित्रता होती है, न सदाचार और न ही सत्य। उनके जीवन में कोई मर्यादा या नियम नहीं रहता।
Living it today
Before a decision, ask two questions: what should I do here, and what should I hold back from? Keeping both in view protects your integrity.
Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of Bhagavad Gita 16.7?
People of demonic nature do not know what should be done and what should be avoided. Neither purity, nor good conduct, nor truthfulness is found in them. Krishna begins his portrait with the root problem: such people have lost the inner compass that tells them when to act and when to hold back, and so outer discipline and honesty also disappear.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 16.7?
Sri Krishna speaks this verse, in Chapter 16 (Daivasura Sampad Vibhaga Yoga) of the Bhagavad Gita.
How can I apply Bhagavad Gita 16.7 in daily life?
Before a decision, ask two questions: what should I do here, and what should I hold back from? Keeping both in view protects your integrity.
Reflected on verse 16.7?
Light a diya, add a note, or share this verse.