Bhagavad Gita 16.4

Daivasura Sampad Vibhaga Yoga · English Translation

Hypocrisy, arrogance and self-conceit, anger and also harshness and ignorance, belong to one who is born for a demoniacal state, O Partha (Arjuna).

Sanskrit

दम्भो दर्पोऽभिमानश्च क्रोधः पारुष्यमेव च | अज्ञानं चाभिजातस्य पार्थ सम्पदमासुरीम् ||१६-४||

Transliteration

dambho darpo.abhimānaśca krodhaḥ pāruṣyameva ca . ajñānaṃ cābhijātasya pārtha sampadamāsurīm ||16-4||

What Does This Verse Mean?

In this verse, Lord Krishna speaks to Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, detailing six specific traits that define a 'demoniac' nature rather than a divine one. He identifies hypocrisy, arrogance, self-conceit, anger, harshness toward others, and ignorance as the core characteristics of those who have lost their moral compass. The teaching emphasizes that these behaviors are not just bad habits but fundamental markers of a consciousness oriented away from truth and harmony.

The Teaching Behind It

This verse belongs to the Sankhya and Vedanta frameworks within the Gita, which analyze human nature through the lens of the three Gunas (modes of material nature), specifically focusing on Tamas (ignorance) mixed with Rajas (passion). It develops the concept that true knowledge involves recognizing these internal blockages as obstacles to self-realization rather than just external behaviors. By identifying and eliminating these six specific vices, one moves from an Asura state toward Satvic purity.

Word by Word

दम्भः hypocrisy, दर्पः arrogance, अभिमानः selfconceit, च and, क्रोधः wrath, पारुष्यम् harshness, एव even, च and, अज्ञानम् ignorance, च and, अभिजातस्य to the one born for, पार्थ O Partha, सम्पदम् state?,आसुरीम् demoniacal

Classical Commentary

Dambha Hypocrisy. To pretend to be what one is not, to pretend to be religious and pious. It consists of bragging of ones own greatness. Religious hypocrisy is the worst form of hypocrisy. Hypocrisy is a mixture of deceit and falsehood. Those who boast about their own merits will get demerit only. Darpa Arrogance. Pride of learning, wealth, high connection, etc. An arrogant man cannot endure to see his fellowmen happy. He is more and more enraged at the fortune of his fellowmen in the matter of learning, happiness and prosperity. Parushyam (in speech) To speak of the blind as having lotuslike eyes, of the ugly as beautiful, of a man of low birth as one of high birth and so on, usually with an ulterior, selfish or evil motive. Ajnanam Ignorance, misconception of ones duties. An ignorant man is blind as to what should be done and what should not be done. There is absence of discrimination. Just as a child will put anything it gets in its hands into its mouth, whether it is clean or dirty, so also is the condition of the ignorant man who is not able to discriminate between the Real and the unreal, the good and the evil, virtue and vice. He is on the path of destruction. He does not know the road that leads to Moskha or liberation. He is drowned in the ocean of this worldly existence. These are the six demonical alities. These evil alities constitute the satanic or demonical wealth. They are obstacles on the path of liberation. By addressing Arjuna as Partha? Lord Krishna implies that Arjuna has no demonical alities in him as he is born in a noble family and is the son of Pritha. People of Asuric nature have no faith. They dispute every doctrine. They deny the existence of God. They deny the cycle of the worldprocess, the Vedas and the laws of ethics. Sensual indulgence is their goal. They rob people and take away their neighbours wives. They kill people ruthlessly. They do not believe in reincarnation and in the other world. They have no idea of right conduct, purity and selfrestraint. Asuras are those persons who have waged war and who still wage war with the gods in heaven. Those who are endowed with Asuric tendencies or evil alities are Asuras or demons. They exist in abundance in this iron age. Kamsa was an Asura. Hiranyakasipu was an Asura. Even a man of university alitifactions and titles is a veritable Asura if he is endowed with evil tendencies or Asubha Vasanas. Esoterically, the war between the Asuras and the gods is the internal fight that is ever going on between the pure and the impure tendencies in man, between Sattva and RajasTamas.

Where This Happens

This verse occurs during the Bhagavad Gita on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, where Prince Arjuna has just fallen into a state of deep confusion and despair about fighting his own relatives. Krishna is responding to this paralysis by beginning to categorize human nature into two paths: divine qualities that lead to liberation and demoniac qualities that lead to bondage. By listing these six negative traits here in Chapter 16, verse 4, he sets the stage for explaining why Arjuna's current state of anger disguised as pity is actually a symptom of ignorance.

Living It Out Today

Consider a workplace scenario where an employee blames their team for a project failure while secretly taking credit for small wins; this combines hypocrisy and arrogance. If that same person then reacts with harsh criticism when the team questions them, they are exhibiting anger and pāruṣya (harshness) driven by ignorance of how collaboration actually works. Recognizing these traits in oneself allows a leader to pause before reacting defensively, shifting from a 'demoniac' spiral of blame to constructive problem-solving.

Explained for Children

Imagine you see someone at school who only pretends to be nice when they want something, gets angry easily if things don't go their way, or hurts others' feelings with mean words. That is what Krishna calls having 'demoniac' qualities inside them—like a storm cloud that brings darkness instead of sunshine. If we act out of pride, lie about being good, or get too mad to think clearly, it's like letting those dark clouds fill our hearts. The lesson is to choose kindness and honesty so our inner world stays bright and happy.

Daily Reflection

Today, I invite you to gently examine where arrogance or harshness might have crept into your interactions, not to judge yourself but to see them clearly as barriers to peace. When we realize that anger and hypocrisy often stem from a deep sense of insecurity rather than strength, the urge to defend our ego begins to soften. By acknowledging these traits with compassion instead of shame, you open space for humility to take root in your heart.

A Practice for Today

Sit quietly and notice where you are trying to perform righteousness rather than embody it; observe the subtle urge to appear superior as a mask for inner insecurity. Invite your mind to drop this heavy armor of pretense, replacing the need to be seen with the simple truth of being.

Key Teachings

The Mask of Hypocrisy
Dambha (hypocrisy) represents the gap between one's inner reality and outer performance, creating a false self that demands constant validation. This duality exhausts the spirit because it requires perpetual energy to maintain an illusion rather than resting in authentic being.
The Fragility of Ego
Darpa (arrogance) and Abhimana (self-conceit) are defenses that arise when the ego feels threatened, leading to harshness and anger toward others. These qualities isolate the individual by projecting an image of invincibility while hiding a deep-seated fear of inadequacy.
The Darkness of Ignorance
Ajnana (ignorance) is not merely lack of information but a fundamental blindness to one's true divine nature, which fuels all the other demonic traits. Without this inner light, actions become driven by impulse and delusion rather than wisdom or compassion.

Themes

Self-ConceitAnger ManagementMoral IntegrityIgnorance vs KnowledgeHuman NatureEthical Living

Related Verses

16.3 17.28 18.40 18.59 18.61

Read This Next

2.47 — To balance the external focus on status with the instruction to perform duty without attachment to results.
3.30 — To learn how surrendering all actions and their fruits dissolves the ego that breeds hypocrisy and anger.
12.15 — To discover the qualities of a divine devotee who is free from envy, arrogance, and harshness.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does 'pāruṣyam' specifically mean in this verse?

'Pāruṣyam' translates to harshness or cruelty, referring not just to physical violence but also to severe verbal abuse and a lack of compassion toward others. In the context of demoniac nature, it describes an attitude where one treats people with indifference or malice, viewing them as objects rather than souls.

How does hypocrisy (dambha) differ from arrogance (darpa)?

Hypocrisy is the act of pretending to have virtues that one does not actually possess, often for social approval or gain. Arrogance, however, is an inflated sense of self-importance where a person believes they are superior to others regardless of their actual conduct; one is about deception while the other is about false pride.

Why does Krishna group ignorance with these emotional traits?

Yes, the Gita teaches that these qualities are not permanent labels but states of consciousness that can be transformed through self-awareness and spiritual practice. By consciously recognizing these faults in oneself and engaging in devotion (bhakti) and right action (karma yoga), one can gradually replace demoniac tendencies with divine virtues.

In Other Languages: Bhagavad Gita 16.4 →