Bhagavad Gita 16.10

Daivasura Sampad Vibhaga Yoga · English Translation

Filled with insatiable desires, full of hypocrisy, pride and arrogance, holding evil ideas through delusion, they work with impure resolves.

Sanskrit

काममाश्रित्य दुष्पूरं दम्भमानमदान्विताः | मोहाद्गृहीत्वासद्ग्राहान्प्रवर्तन्तेऽशुचिव्रताः ||१६-१०||

Transliteration

kāmamāśritya duṣpūraṃ dambhamānamadānvitāḥ . mohādgṛhītvāsadgrāhānpravartante.aśucivratāḥ ||16-10||

What Does This Verse Mean?

In this verse, Lord Krishna describes the behavior of people driven by demonic qualities who are trapped in endless greed and ego. He explains that when individuals rely solely on insatiable desires while being blind to reality through delusion, they adopt impure standards and evil philosophies as their guide for action. This creates a cycle where pride and hypocrisy replace truth, leading them down a path of self-destruction rather than spiritual growth.

The Teaching Behind It

This teaching belongs primarily to the Sankhya Yoga framework of discriminative knowledge (Viveka), which distinguishes between pure divine consciousness and impure material nature. It develops the concept that uncontrolled senses and the ego-identification with 'I am' create a deluded state where one mistakes temporary gratification for true fulfillment, leading to spiritual blindness.

Word by Word

कामम् desire, आश्रित्य abiding in, दुष्पूरम् insatiable, दम्भमानमदान्विताः full of hypocrisy, pride and,arrogance, मोहात् through delusion, गृहीत्वा having held, असद्ग्राहान् evil ideas, प्रवर्तन्ते they work, अशुचिव्रताः with impure resolves

Classical Commentary

These soulless malevolent persons perform cruel and sinful actions. Their minds are saturated with vanity, conceit and arrogance. They entertain in their minds unholy resolves and unreasonable ideas. They harbour insatiable desires in their hearts. Just as a monkey becomes more and more intoxicated if wine if given to it, so also the older they grow the more and more arrogant and lustful do they become. They cause the ruin and death of those around them. They boast of their own actions and treat others with great contempt. They are very much attached to their bodies. They worship their bodies. Their passion is boundless. They are stupid and obstinate and so they have no firm determination. Desire is insatiable like fire. Enjoyment cannot bring about satisfaction of the desires. The more you enjoy, the stronger does the desire become. After an object is enjoyed, there springs up a desire to continue the enjoyment for ever. You take recourse to all sorts of devices to preserve the objects. Although a man is not righteous he pretends to be a man of righteousness. This is hypocrisy. Although a man is not worthy of being honoured, he claims to be so. This is Mana (pride). There is false dignity. Although a man does not possess great things he superimposes them on himself. This is Mada. These Asuras make impure resolves. I will worship such and such a deity by repeating such and such a Mantra and get hold of such and such a woman. I will repeat such and such a Mantra and kill such and such a man.

Where This Happens

This verse appears in Chapter 16 during the dialogue on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, where Lord Krishna is answering Arjuna's questions about the signs that distinguish divine from demonic natures. Just before this, Krishna has outlined various negative traits like harsh speech and arrogance; here he completes the picture by describing how these internal flaws manifest as a relentless drive for material gain without moral restraint. Arjuna listens with growing clarity, realizing why his enemies in the Kaurava camp are driven to war not by duty but by insatiable hunger for power.

Living It Out Today

Consider a professional who constantly takes credit for others' work and spreads rumors about colleagues to secure their next promotion, believing that 'winning at all costs' is the only way to succeed. This person operates from delusion, thinking short-term gains are true success while ignoring the damage done to trust and integrity within the team. Applying this verse's wisdom means pausing to recognize when ambition has turned into insatiable greed and consciously choosing transparent, ethical actions over manipulative ones.

Explained for Children

Imagine a child who wants more toys than they can ever play with, so much that it makes them lie to get what they want and think their selfish rules are the only right ones. That is how this verse describes people who let greed take over; when we become too focused on our own 'I am better' feelings or lying to hide our mistakes, we lose sight of being good. Krishna teaches us that if we fill our hearts with endless wanting instead of kindness and truth, we will make bad choices just like a child throwing a tantrum.

Daily Reflection

Today, I invite you to examine where your energy is being consumed by endless cravings and the need to project an image of perfection rather than embodying truth. When we let hypocrisy or arrogance guide our actions, we inevitably walk away feeling empty because those paths are built on shifting sands of illusion. Instead, try to anchor yourself in sincerity today; a pure resolve rooted in self-awareness brings a peace that no external validation can ever provide.

A Practice for Today

Sit quietly and observe any urge that arises today, asking yourself if it is driven by an insatiable hunger for more or a desire to appear greater than you are. Notice the subtle fog of delusion that clouds your judgment when pride takes hold, inviting you instead into clarity and humility.

Key Teachings

The Trap of Insatiable Desire
Desire is described as 'duṣpūraṃ' or never-full, acting like a bottomless pit that drains the spirit rather than satisfying it. When one clings to such cravings without restraint, they lose the ability to discern right from wrong.
The Mask of Hypocrisy and Pride
This verse identifies 'dambha' (hypocrisy) and 'māna' (pride) as false masks that hide one's true nature behind a facade of superiority. These traits create an illusion of strength while actually weakening the individual by severing their connection to reality.
Delusion Leading to Impure Action
When delusion grips the mind, it fosters 'asad-grāhān' or attachment to evil ideas and false values. This distorted perspective inevitably leads to actions performed with impure resolves, setting a destructive course for one's life.

Themes

insatiable desireego and pridedelusion and ignoranceethical conductdemonic naturespiritual purity

Related Verses

2.47 3.30 4.18 6.5 18.66

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the specific meaning of 'Asadgrahan' mentioned in this verse?

'Asadgrahan' refers to holding onto false or evil ideas, specifically those that deny spiritual truths and validate selfish behavior as acceptable. It signifies a mindset where one intellectually justifies unethical actions because they are driven by delusion rather than reality.

How does the Gita suggest we deal with 'insatiable desires' (Dushpura)?

The text suggests that insatiable desire is a root cause of suffering and demonic behavior, urging individuals to practice self-restraint and shift focus from material accumulation to spiritual growth. By cultivating contentment and understanding the temporary nature of worldly objects, one can break the cycle of endless craving.

Is this verse only about people who are obviously bad or evil?

No, Krishna points out that these traits often start subtly within everyone as small moments of pride, hypocrisy, or greed. The warning is for anyone to recognize when their own mind begins to prioritize ego and desire over truth and purity.

What is the connection between 'delusion' (Moha) and taking evil ideas?

Delusion acts as a veil that distorts our perception, making us believe that harmful or selfish actions are actually good for us. When we hold onto these false beliefs through delusion, we lose the ability to see the difference between right and wrong, leading to impure resolves.

In Other Languages: Bhagavad Gita 16.10 →