Geetai - Adhyay 16

Chapter - XVI: The conflict between Divine and Demon.

Fifteenth chapter completes the purpose of Gita i.e., how to come out of human weaknesses, establish firm support by worshiping ashtadeva or Purushottama and that by offering ever changing ever new modes of worship. However, before the sun rises, light starts spreading, similarly a little before the seeker starts on the path the dawn of good qualities starts shining.

This chapter describes the qualities needed to be perfected in the life of accomplished seeker and also describes the darkness with which seeker has to fight before getting established. In essence it describes the conflict between the divine and the demonic qualities. Kurukshetra is both outside us and within us. When we observe it carefully, it is the battle raging within that we see assuming shape in the world without. To speak the truth, the battle is only within ourselves.

As there are good qualities on one side and bad qualities on the other, both the armies are well arranged. Commander of good qualities is 'abhaya' or fearlessness. Fearlessness has been given first place in a long list of twenty-six qualities. This is not an accident. In a atmosphere charged with fear, good qualities cannot grow. While in front fearlessness stands alert, humility guards the rear. This is an excellent arrangement. If we have first twenty five qualities mentioned in this chapter but no humility, 'ahamkar' or Ego principle will attack the army from the back and destroy it. In the absence of humility, there is no knowing when victory will turn into defeat, other qualities between fearlessness and humility are compassion, tenderness, forgiveness, serenity, patience, non- violence, loyalty etc.

On the other side, there is an army of ignorance, vanity, power and wealth. Under the effect of these negative qualities, one says that 'I am the only person fit to hold all the wealth of the world. The whole world should come under my control'. Desire, anger and greed are the sources from where negative qualities multiply. Way out is the control of the senses. This is the path laid down by 'Shashtras'. 'Shashtras' are made up of the experience of the saints gained through their efforts. Hence to overcome negativities, 'Self-control' as advised by 'Shashtras' is inevitable.

Waging this incessant war between divine and demonic qualities, there may be temporary defeats in the battle but in the end, war is won by the divine qualities. Hence doing good to the world is to show the man-kind the pure and beautiful path of virtue. Thus demonstrating victory of divine over the evil forces.

गीताई - अध्याय १६

श्री भगवान् म्हणाले

निर्भयत्व मनःशुद्धि योग-ज्ञानी सुनिश्चय ।
यज्ञ निग्रह दातृत्व स्वाध्याय ऋजुता तप ॥ १ ॥

अहिंसा शांति अक्रोध त्याग सौजन्य सत्यता ।
अ-लुब्धता दया भूती मर्यादा स्थैर्य मार्दव ॥ २ ॥

पवित्रता क्षमा तेज धैर्य अद्रोह नम्रता ।
हे त्याचे गुण जो आला दैवी संपत्ति घेउनी ॥ ३ ॥

दंभ मीपण अज्ञान क्रोध दर्प कठोरता ।
लाभती गुण हे त्यास ज्याची संपत्ति आसुरी ॥ ४ ॥

सुटका करिते दैवी आसुरी बंध घालिते ।
भिऊ नको चि आलास दैवी संपत्ति जोडुनी ॥ ५ ॥

[५०]

भूत-सृष्टि जगी दोन दैवी आणिक आसुरी ।
विस्तारे वर्णिली दैवी आसुरी ऐक सांगतो ॥ ६ ॥

कृत्याकृत्य कसे काय नेणती आसुरी जन ।
न स्वच्छता न आचार जाणती ते न सत्य हि ॥ ७ ॥

म्हणती लटिके विश्व निराधार निरीश्वर ।
काम-मूलक हे सारे कोठले सह-कार्य ते ॥ ८ ॥

स्वीकारूनि अशी दृष्टि नष्टात्मे ज्ञान-हीन ते ।
जगताच्या क्षयासाठी निघाले रिपु हिंसक ॥ ९ ॥

काम दुर्भर सेवूनि मानी दांभिक माजले ।
दुराग्रह-बळे मूढ करिती पाप निश्चये ॥ १० ॥

अपार धरिती चिंता जी मेल्या हि सरे चि ना ।
गढले काम-भोगात जणू सर्वस्व मानुनी ॥ ११ ॥

आशेचे लेइले फांस काम-क्रोधांत तत्पर ।
भोगासाठी अधर्माने इच्छिती धन-संचय ॥ १२ ॥

हे आज लाभले आता तो जोडीन मनोरथ ।
हे आहे ते हि होईल माझे चि सगळे धन ॥ १३ ॥

मी मारिला चि तो शत्रु मारीन दुसरे हि जे ।
मी स्वामी आणि मी भोक्ता सुखी मी सिद्ध मी बळी ॥ १४ ॥

कुलीन मी चि संपन्न माझी जोडी कुठे असे ।
यज्ञ-दान-विलासी मी जल्पती अज्ञ मोहित ॥ १५ ॥

भ्रमले चित्त भेदूनि मोह-जालांत गुंतले ।
पडती विषयासक्त नरकांत अमंगळ ॥ १६ ॥

स्वयं-पूजित गर्विष्ठ धने माने मदांध ते ।
नावाचे करिती यज्ञ दंभाने अव्यवस्थित ॥ १७ ॥

अहंकारे बळे दर्पे काम-क्रोधे भरूनिया ।
माझा स्व-पर-देहांत करिती द्वेष मत्सरी ॥ १८ ॥

द्वेषी क्रूर असे पापी संसारी हीन जे जन ।
त्यांस मी टकितो नित्य तशा योनीत आसुरी ॥ १९ ॥

जोडूनि आसुरी योनि जन्मजन्मांतरी मग ।
माते न मिळता जाती उत्तरोत्तर खालती ॥ २० ॥

[५१]

काम क्रोध तसा लोभ आत्म-नाशास कारण ।
तीन ही नरक-द्वारे टाळावी चि म्हणूनिया ॥ २१ ॥

तमाची ही तिन्ही द्वारे टाळूनि सुटला मग ।
कल्याण-मार्ग सेवूनि पावे उत्तम तो गति ॥ २२ ॥

जो शास्त्र-मार्ग सोडूनि करितो स्वैर वर्तन ।
न सिद्धि लाभते त्यास न वा सुख न सद्-गति ॥ २३ ॥

म्हणूनि आदरी शास्त्र कार्याकार्य कळावया ।
शास्त्राचे वाक्य जाणूनि इथे तू कर्म आचरी ॥ २४ ॥

अध्याय सोळावा संपूर्ण