Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya)
भगवद्गीताभाष्यम् (आदि शङ्कराचार्य)
Adi Shankaracharya’s commentary on the Bhagavad Gita, with Sanskrit text and available source translations.
Chapter 16 · 24 shlokas
+ Add ShlokaBhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 16.1
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 16.1 · Chapter 16 · Verse 1
।।16.1।। --,अभयम् अभीरुता। सत्त्वसंशुद्धिः सत्त्वस्य अन्तःकरणस्य संशुद्धिः संव्यवहारेषु परवञ्चनामायानृतादिपरिवर्जनं शुद्धसत्त्वभावेन व्यवहारः इत्यर्थः।।ज्ञानयोगव्यवस्थितिः ज्ञानं शास्त्रतः आचार्यतश्च आत्मादिपदार्थानाम् अवगमः? अवगतानाम् इन्द्रियाद्युपसंहारेण एकाग्रतया स्वात्मसंवेद्यतापादनं योगः? तयोः ज्ञानयोगयोः व्यवस्थितिः व्यवस्थानं तन्निष्ठता। एषा प्रधाना दैवी सात्त्विकी संपत्। यत्र येषाम् अधिकृतानां या प्रकृतिः संभवति? सात्त्विकी सा उच्यते। दानं यथाशक्ति संविभागः अन्नादीनाम्। दमश्च बाह्यकरणानाम् उपशमः अन्तःकरणस्य उपशमं शान्तिं वक्ष्यति। यज्ञश्च श्रौतः अग्निहोत्रादिः। स्मार्तश्च देवयज्ञादिः? स्वाध्यायः ऋग्वेदाद्यध्ययनम् अदृष्टार्थम्। तपः वक्ष्यमाणं शारीरादि। आर्जवम् ऋजुत्वं सर्वदा।।किं च --,
16.1 Abhayam, fearlessness; sattva-samsuddhih, purtiy of the mind (sattva), mentally avoiding fraud, trickery, falsehood, etc. in dealings, i.e., honest behaviour; jnana-yoga-vyavasthitih, persistence in knowledge and yoga-jnana means knowledge of such subjects as the Self, learnt from scriptures and teachers; yoga means making those things that have been learnt matters of one's own personal experience through concentration by means of withdrawl of the organs etc.; persistence, steadfastness, in those two, knowledge and yoga;-this [This-refers to all the three from 'fearlessness' to 'persistence in knowledge and yoga'.] is the principal divine characteristic which is sattvika (born of the sattva ality). That nature which may occur in persons competent in their respective spheres, [Persons treading the path of Jnana-yoga or Karma-yoga have sattvika alities. Some of the alities mentioned in the first three verses occur only in the former, whereas the others are found in both or only in the latter.-Tr.]-that is said to be their sattvika attribute. Danam, charity, distribution of food etc. according to one's ability; and damah, control of the external organs-the control of the internal organ, santih, will be referred to later; yajnah, sacrifices-Agnihotra etc. sanctioned by the Vedas, and sacrifices in honour of gods and others [Others: Those in honour of the manes, humans and other beings. Brahma-yajna, the fifth sacrifice, is referred to separately by svadhyaya.] sanctioned by the Smrtis: svadhyayah, study of the Rg-veda etc. for unseen results; tapah, austerity, those concerning the body, etc., which will be stated (17.14-16); arjavam, rectitude, straigthforwardness at all times-. Further,
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 16.2
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 16.2 · Chapter 16 · Verse 2
।।16.2।। --,अहिंसा अहिंसनं प्राणिनां पीडावर्जनम्। सत्यम् अप्रियानृतवर्जितं यथाभूतार्थवचनम्। अक्रोधः परैः आक्रुष्टस्य अभिहतस्य वा प्राप्तस्य क्रोधस्य उपशमनम्। त्यागः संन्यासः? पूर्वं दानस्य उक्तत्वात्। शान्तिः अन्तःकरणस्य उपशमः। अपैशुनं अपिशुनता परस्मै पररन्ध्रप्रकटीकरणं पैशुनम्? तदभावः अपैशुनम्। दया कृपा भूतेषु दुःखितेषु। अलोलुप्त्वम् इन्द्रियाणां विषयसंनिधौ अविक्रिया। मार्दवं मृदुता अक्रौर्यम्। ह्रीः लज्जा। अचापलम् असति प्रयोजने वाक्पाणिपादादीनाम् अव्यापारयितृत्वम्।।किं च --,
16.2 Ahimsa, non-injury, abstaining from giving pain to creatures; satyam, truthfulness, speaking of things as they are, without unpleasantness and prevarication; akrodhah, absence of anger, control of anger that might result when offened or assulatd by others; tyagah, renunciation, monasticism-for, charity has been mentioned earlier; santih, control of the internal organ; apaisunam, absence of vilification-paisunam means backbiting; its absence is apaisunam; daya, kindness; bhutesu, to creatures in distress; aloluptvam, non-conveteousness, absence of excitement of the organs in the presence of objects; mardavam, gentleness, absence of hard-heartedness; hrih, modesty;; acapalam, freedom from restlessness, absence of unnecessary use of organs such as speech, hands and feet-. Besides,
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 16.3
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 16.3 · Chapter 16 · Verse 3
।।16.3।। --,तेजः प्रागल्भ्यं न त्वग्गता दीप्तिः। क्षमा आक्रुष्टस्य ताडितस्य वा अन्तर्विक्रियानुत्पत्तिः? उत्पन्नायां विक्रियायाम् उपशमन् अक्रोधः इति अवोचाम। इत्थं क्षमायाः अक्रोधस्य च विशेषः। धृतिः देहेन्द्रियेषु अवसादं प्राप्तेषु तस्य प्रतिषेधकः अन्तःकरणवृत्तिविशेषः? येन उत्तम्भितानि करणानि देहश्च न अवसीदन्ति। शौचं द्विविधं मृज्जलकृतं बाह्यम् आभ्यन्तरं च मनोबुद्ध्योः नैर्मल्यं मायारागादिकालुष्याभावः एवं द्विविधं शौचम्। अद्रोहः परजिघांसाभावः अहिंसनम्। नातिमानिता अत्यर्थं मानः अतिमानः? सः यस्य विद्यते सः अतिमानी? तद्भावः अतिमानिता? तदभावः नातिमानिता आत्मनः पूज्यतातिशयभावनाभाव इत्यर्थः। भवन्ति अभयादीनि एतदन्तानि संपदं अभिजातस्य। किं विशिष्टां संपदम् दैवीं देवानां या संपत् ताम् अभिलक्ष्य जातस्य देवविभूत्यर्हस्य भाविकल्याणस्य इत्यर्थः? हे भारत।।अथ इदानीं आसुरी संपत् उच्यते --,
16.3 Tajah, vigour, not the brightness of the skin; ksama, forgiveness, absence of internal perturbation when offened or assulated-absence of anger has been explained by us as the calming down of a perturbed mind; thus, forgiveness and absence of anger are distinguished; dhrtih, fortitude, a particular function of the mind which removes the tedium of the body and organs when they become exhausted, and being rejuvenated by which the body and organs do not feel any fatigue; saucam, purity-is of two kinds: external, with the help of earth and water; and internal, the cleanliness of mind and intellect, the absence of such impurities as trickery, attachment, etc.; purity of these two kinds; adrohah, freedom from malice, absence of the desire to injure others, absence of hatred; na-atimanita, absence of haughtiness-too much self-esteem (mana) is atimanah; one having that is atimani; its abstract form is atimanita; absence of that, na-atimanita, i.e., absence of the feeling of one's being too honourable. These (alities) beginning with fearlessness and ending with this, O scion of the Bharata dynasty, bhavanti, are; (the alities) abhijatasya, of one destined to have;-what kind of nature?-the daivim, divine; sampadam, nature-of one destined to have divine attributes, of one who is worthy of the excellence of the gods, i.e., of one who would be illustrations in future. Thereafter, the demoniacal nature is now being stated:
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 16.4
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 16.4 · Chapter 16 · Verse 4
।।16.4।। --,दम्भः धर्मध्वजित्वम्। दर्पः विद्याधनस्वजनादिनिमित्तः उत्सेकः। अतिमानः पूर्वोक्तः। क्रोधश्च। पारुष्यमेव च परुषवचनम् -- यथा काणम् चक्षुष्मान् विरूपम् रूपवान् हीनाभिजनम् उत्तमाभिजनः इत्यादि। अज्ञानं च अविवेकज्ञानं कर्तव्याकर्तव्यादिविषयमिथ्याप्रत्ययः। अभिजातस्य पार्थ। किम् अभिजातस्येति? आह -- संपदम् आसुरीम् असुराणां संपत् आसुरी ताम् अभिजातस्य इत्यर्थः।।अनयोः संपदोः कार्यम् उच्यते --,
16.4 O son of Prtha, dambhah, religious ostentation; darpah, pride arising from wealth, relatives, etc.; atimanah, haughtiness, as explained earlier; and krodhah, anger; eva ca, as also; parusyam, redeness, using unkind words, e.g. to speak of a blind person as having eyes, an ugly person as handsome, a lowly born man as born of aristocracy, and so on; and ajnanam, ignorance, non-discriminating knowledge, false conception regarding what ought to be and ought not to be done; are (the attributes) abhijatasya, of one destined to have;-destined for what? in answer the Lord says-asurim, demoniacal; sampadam, nature. The conseences of these natures are being stated:
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 16.5
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 16.5 · Chapter 16 · Verse 5
।।16.5।। --,दैवी संपत् या? सा विमोक्षाय संसारबन्धनात्। निबन्धाय नियतः बन्धः निबन्धः तदर्थम् आसुरी संपत् मता अभिप्रेता। तथा,राक्षसी च। तत्र एवम् उक्ते सति अर्जुनस्य अन्तर्गतं भावम् किम् अहम् आसुरसंपद्युक्तः किं वा दैवसंपद्युक्तः इत्येवम् आलोचनारूपम् आलक्ष्य आह भगवान् -- मा शुचः शोकं मा कार्षीः। संपदं दैवीम् अभिजातः असि अभिलक्ष्य जातोऽसि? भाविकल्याणः त्वम् असि इत्यर्थः? हे पाण्डव।।
16.5 That which is daivi, divine; sampad, nature; is vimoksaya, for Liberation from the bondage of the world. The asuri, demoniacal nature; mata, is considered to be; nibandhaya, for inevitable bondage. So also is the fiendish nature. Now, when such a statement was made, the Lord, noticing Arjuna having this kind of inner cogitation-'Am I endowed with the demoniacal nature, or am I endowed with the divine nature?'-, says: ma, do not; sacah, grieve, O son of Pandu! Asi, you are; abhijatah, destined to have, born with the good fortune of having; daivim, the divine; sampadam, nature; i.e., you are destined for an illustrious future.
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 16.6
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 16.6 · Chapter 16 · Verse 6
।।16.6।। -- द्वौ द्विसंख्याकौ भूतसर्गौ भूतानां मनुष्याणां सर्गौ सृष्टी भूतसर्गौ सृज्येतेति सर्गौ भूतान्येव सृज्यमानानि दैवासुरसंपद्द्वययुक्तानि इति द्वौ भूतसर्गौ इति उच्येते? द्वया ह वै प्राजापत्या देवाश्चासुराश्च (बृह0 उ0 1।3।1) इति श्रुतेः। लोके अस्मिन्? संसारे इत्यर्थः? सर्वेषां द्वैविध्योपपत्तेः। कौ तौ भूतसर्गौ इति? उच्येते -- प्रकृतावेव दैव आसुर एव च। उक्तयोरेव पुनः अनुवादे प्रयोजनम् आह -- दैवः भूतसर्गः अभयं सत्त्वसंशुद्धिः (गीता 16।1) इत्यादिना विस्तरशः विस्तरप्रकारैः प्रोक्तः कथितः? न तु आसुरः विस्तरशः अतः तत्परिवर्जनार्थम् आसुरं पार्थ? मे मम वचनात् उच्यमानं विस्तरशः श्रृणु अवधारय।।आ अध्यायपरिसमाप्तेः आसुरी संपत् प्राणिविशेषणत्वेन प्रदर्श्यते? प्रत्यक्षीकरणेन च शक्यते तस्याः परिवर्जनं कर्तुमिति --,
16.6 Dvau, two, in number; are the (kinds of) bhuta-sargau, creation of beings, of men. Sarga is derived from srj in the sense of that which is created. The persons themselves, who are created with the natures of gods and demons, are being spoken of as 'two creations of beings', which accords with the Upanisadic text, 'There were two classes of Prajapati's sons, the gods and the demons' (Br. 1.3.1). For, asmin, in this; loke, world, all (persons) can rationally be divided into two classes. Which are those two creations of beings? The answer is, the two are the daiva, divine; eva ca, and; the asura, the demoniacal which are being discussed. The Lord speaks of the need of restating the two that have been already referred to: Daivah, the divine creation of beings; proktah, has been spoken of; vistarasah, elaborately-in, 'Fearlessness, purity of mind,' etc. (1-3). But the demoniacal has not been spoken of in extenso. Hence, O son of Prtha, srnu, hear of, understand; the asuram, demoniacal; me, from Me, from My speech which is being uttered in detail, so that this may be avoided. Upto the end of the chapter the demoniacal nature is being presented as the alities of creatures; for, when this is directly perceived, it becomes possible to eschew it:
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 16.7
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 16.7 · Chapter 16 · Verse 7
।।16.7।। --,प्रवृत्तिं च प्रवर्तनं यस्मिन् पुरुषार्थसाधने कर्तव्ये प्रवृत्तिः ताम्? निवृत्तिं च एतद्विपरीतां यस्मात् अनर्थहेतोः निवर्तितव्यं सा निवृत्तिः तां च? जनाः आसुराः न विदुः न जानन्ति। न केवलं प्रवृत्तिनिवृत्ती एव ते न विदुः? न शौचं नापि च आचारः न सत्यं तेषु विद्यते अशौचाः अनाचाराः मायाविनः अनृतवादिनो हि आसुराः।।किं च --,
16.7 Na, niether; do the asurah, demoniacal; janah, persons; viduh, understand; pravritim, what is to be done with regard to that which is a means to the human ends; and nivirttim, what is not to be done, the opposite of that (former) and from which source of evil one should desist. Nor only do they not know what is to be done and what is not to be done, na, nor; does saucam, purity; na api, or even; acarah, good conduct; or satyam, truthfulness; vidyate, exist; tesu, in them. The demons are verily bereft of purity and good conduct; they are deceitful and given to speaking lies. Further,
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 16.8
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 16.8 · Chapter 16 · Verse 8
।।16.8।। --,असत्यं यथा वयम् अनृतप्रायाः तथा इदं जगत् सर्वम् असत्यम्? अप्रतिष्ठं च न अस्य धर्माधर्मौ प्रतिष्ठा अतः अप्रतिष्ठं च? इति ते आसुराः जनाः जगत् आहुः? अनीश्वरम् न च धर्माधर्मसव्यपेक्षकः अस्य शासिता ईश्वरः विद्यते इति अतः अनीश्वरं जगत् आहुः। किं च? अपरस्परसंभूतं कामप्रयुक्तयोः स्त्रीपुरुषयोः अन्योन्यसंयोगात् जगत् सर्वं संभूतम्। किमन्यत् कामहैतुकं कामहेतुकमेव कामहैतुकम्। किमन्यत् जगतः कारणम् न किञ्चित् अदृष्टं धर्माधर्मादि कारणान्तरं विद्यते जगतः काम एव प्राणिनां कारणम् इति लोकायतिकदृष्टिः इयम्।।
16.8 Te, they, the domoniacal persons; ahuh, say; that the jagat, world; is asatyam, unreal-as we ourselves are prone to falsehood, so is this whole world unreal; apratistham, it has no basis, it does not have righteousness and unrighteousness as its basis; it is anisvaram, without a God-nor is there a God who rules this (world) according to rigtheousness and unrighteousness (of beings). Hence they say that the world is godless. Moreover, it is aparaspara-sambhutam, born of mutual union. The whole world is born of the union of the male and female impelled by passion. (That union is) kama-haitukam, brought about by passion. Kama-haitukam and kama-hetukam are the same. Kim anyat, what other (cause can there be)? There exists to other unseen cause such as righteousness, unrigtheousness, etc. Certainly, the passion of living beings is the cause of the world. This is the view of the materialists.
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 16.9
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 16.9 · Chapter 16 · Verse 9
।।16.9।। --,एतां दृष्टिम् अवष्टभ्य आश्रित्य नष्टात्मानः नष्टस्वभावाः विभ्रष्टपरलोकसाधनाः अल्पबुद्धयः विषयविषया अल्पैव बुद्धिः येषां ते अल्पबुद्धयः प्रभवन्ति उद्भवन्ति उग्रकर्माणः क्रूरकर्माणः हिंसात्मकाः। क्षयाय जगतः प्रभवन्ति इति संबन्धः।।जगतः अहिताः? शत्रवः इत्यर्थः।।ते च --,
16.9 Avastabhya, holding on to; etam, this; drstim, view; (these people) who are nasta-atmanah, of depraved character, who have deviated from the disciplines leading to the other world; alpa-budhayah, of poor intellect, whose intellect is indeed limited, engrossed with material things; ugra-kamanah, given to fearful actions-who are cruel by nature; and ahitah, harmful; i.e. inimical to the world; prabhavanti, wax strong; ksayaya, for the ruin; jagatah, of the world. This is the construction.
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 16.10
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 16.10 · Chapter 16 · Verse 10
।।16.10।। --,कामम् इच्छाविशेषम् आश्रित्य अवष्टभ्य दुष्पूरम् अशक्यपूरणं दम्भमानमदान्विताः दम्भश्च मानश्च मदश्च दम्भमानमदाः तैः अन्विताः दम्भमानमदान्विताः मोहात् अविवेकतः गृहीत्वा उपादाय असद्ग्राहान् अशुभनिश्चयान् प्रवर्तन्ते लोके अशुचिव्रताः अशुचीनि व्रतानि येषां ते अशुचिव्रताः।।किं च --,
16.10 And asirtya, giving themselves upto; duspuram, insatiable; kamam, passion-a kind of desire; dambha-mana-mada-anvitah, filled with vanity, pride and arrogance; grhitva, adopting; asad-grahan, bad objectives, evil intentions; mohat, due to delusion, owing to non-discrimination; and asuci-vratah, having impure resolves; they pravartante, engage in actions in the world. Further,
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 16.11
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 16.11 · Chapter 16 · Verse 11
।।16.11।। --,चिन्ताम् अपरिमेयां च? न परिमातुं शक्यते यस्याः चिन्तायाः इयत्ता सा अपरिमेया? ताम् अपरिमेयाम्? प्रलयान्तां मरणान्ताम् उपाश्रिताः? सदा चिन्तापराः इत्यर्थः। कामोपभोगपरमाः? काम्यन्ते इति कामाः विषयाः शब्दादयः तदुपभोगपरमाः अयमेव परमः पुरुषार्थः यः कामोपभोगः इत्येवं निश्चितात्मानः? एतावत् इति निश्चिताः।।
16.11 Upasritah, beset with; aparimeyam, innumerable; cintam, cares-worries that defy estimation of their limits!, i.e., constantly burdened with cares; pralayantam, which end (only) with death; kama-upabhoga-paramah, holding that the enjoyment of desirable objects is the highest goal-kama is derived in the sense of 'that which is desired for', viz sound etc.; considered their enjoyment to be the highest; having their minds convinced thus that this alone, viz the enjoyment of desirable objects, is the highest human goal; niscitah, feeling sure; iti, that; etavat, this is all-
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 16.12
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 16.12 · Chapter 16 · Verse 12
।।16.12।। --,आशापाशशतैः आशा एव पाशाः तच्छतैः बद्धाः नियन्त्रिताः सन्तः सर्वतः आकृष्यमाणाः? कामक्रोधपरायणाः कामक्रोधौ परम्,अयनम् आश्रयः येषां ते कामक्रोधपरायणाः? ईहन्ते चेष्टन्ते कामभोगार्थं कामभोगप्रयोजनाय न धर्मार्थम्? अन्यायेन परस्वापहरणादिना इत्यर्थः किम् अर्थसंचयान् अर्थप्रचयान्।।ईदृशश्च तेषाम् अभिप्रायः --,
16.12 Baddhah, bound, being impelled, being lured from all sides; asa-pasa-sataih, by hundreds of shackles in the from of hope-the hopes themselves are the shackles; by hundreds of these; kama-krodha-parayanah, giving themselves wholly to passion and anger, having passion and anger as their highest resort; ihante, they endeavour; artha-sancayan, to amass wealth; anyayena, through foul means, i.e. by stealing others' wealth, etc.; kama-bhoga-artham, for the enjoyment of desirable objects-in order to enjoy desirable objects, not for righteous acts. Their intentions, too, are of this kind:
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 16.13
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 16.13 · Chapter 16 · Verse 13
।।16.13।। --,इदं द्रव्यं अद्य इदानीं मया लब्धम्। इदं च अन्यत् प्राप्स्ये मनोरथं मनस्तुष्टिकरम्। इदं च अस्ति इदमपि मे भविष्यति आगामिनि संवत्सरे पुनः धनं तेन अहं धनी विख्यातः भविष्यामि इति।।
16.13 Idam, this thing; labham, has been gained; maya, by me; adya, today; prapsye, I shall acire; idam, this other; manoratham, desired object which is delectable to the mind. And idam, this; asti, is in hand; punah, again; idam, this; dhanam, wealth; api, also; bhavisyati, will come; me, to me, in the next year. Thery I shall become rich and famous.
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 16.14
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 16.14 · Chapter 16 · Verse 14
।।16.14।। --,असौ देवदत्तनामा मया हतः दुर्जयः शत्रुः। हनिष्ये च अपरान् अन्यान् वराकान् अपि। किम् एते करिष्यन्ति तपस्विनः सर्वथापि नास्ति मत्तुल्यः। कथम् ईश्वरः अहम्? अहं भोगी। सर्वप्रकारेण च सिद्धः अहं संपन्नः पुत्रैः नप्तृभिः? न केवलं मानुषः? बलवान् सुखी च अहमेव अन्ये तु भूमिभारायावितीर्णाः।।
16.14 Asau, that; unconerable satruh, enemy, named Devadatta; hatah, has been killed; naya, by me; and hanisye, I shall kill; aparan, the other wretched ones. What will these pitiable persons do? There is none eal to me at all. Aham, I; am the isvarah, lord; I am the bhogi, enjoyer; and I am siddhah, well-established in every respect-I am blessed with sons, and grandsons born of sons and daughters. Not only am I a man, but I am also balavan, mighty; and I myself am sukhi, happpy; others are born to be but a burden to the earth!
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 16.15
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 16.15 · Chapter 16 · Verse 15
।।16.15।। --,आढ्यः धनेन? अभिजनवान् सप्तपुरुषं श्रोत्रियत्वादिसंपन्नः -- तेनापि न मम तुल्यः अस्ति कश्चित्। कः अन्यः अस्ति सदृशः तुल्यः मया किं च? यक्ष्ये यागेनापि अन्यान् अभिभविष्यामि? दास्यामि नटादिभ्यः? मोदिष्ये हर्षं च अतिशयं प्राप्स्यामि? इति एवम् अज्ञानविमोहिताः अज्ञानेन विमोहिताः विविधम् अविवेकभावम् आपन्नाः।।
16.15 Adhyah, I am rich in wealth; abhi-janavan, high-born in respect of my lineage; my seven generations are endowed with Vedic learnig etc. From that point of view also there is none eal to me. Kah anyah, who else; asti, is there; sadrsah, similar; maya, to me? Besides, yaksye, I shall perform sacrifices; in respect of sacrifices also I shall defeat others. Dasyami, I shall give-to actors and others; modisye, I shall rejoice, and I shall derive intense joy. Iti, thus; are they ajnana-vimohitah, diversely deluded by non-discrimination, subject to various indiscrimination.
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 16.16
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 16.16 · Chapter 16 · Verse 16
।।16.16।। --,अनेकचित्तविभ्रान्ताः उक्तप्रकारैः अनेकैः चित्तैः विविधं भ्रान्ताः अनेकचित्तविभ्रान्ताः? मोहजालसमावृताः मोहः अविवेकः अज्ञानं तदेव जालमिव आवरणात्मकत्वात्? तेन समावृताः। प्रसक्ताः कामभोगेषु तत्रैव निषण्णाः सन्तः तेन उपचितकल्मषाः पतन्ति नरके अशुचौ वैतरण्यादौ।।
16.16 Aneka-citta-vibhrantah, bewildered by numerous thoughts, confounded variously by thoughts of the kind stated above; moha-jala-samavrtah, caught in the net of delusion-moha is non-discrimination, lack of understanding; that itself is like a net because of its nature of covering; enshrouded by that; prasaktah, engrossed; kama-bhogesu, in the enjoyment of desirable objects, being immersed in that itself; they patanti, fall, owing to the sins accumulated thery; asucau, into a foul; narake, hell, such as Vaitarani. [Vaitarani: It is the most terrible place of punishment; a river filled with all kinds of filth-blood, hair, bones etc., and running with great impetuosity, hot and fetid. The other hells are Tamisra, Andhatamisra, Raurava, Kumbhipaka, and so on.]
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 16.17
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 16.17 · Chapter 16 · Verse 17
।।16.17।। --,आत्मसंभाविताः सर्वगुणविशिष्टतया आत्मनैव संभाविताः आत्मसंभाविताः? न साधुभिः। स्तब्धाः अप्रणतात्मानः। धनमानमदान्विताः धननिमित्तः मानः मदश्च? ताभ्यां धनमानमदाभ्याम् अन्विताः। यजन्ते नामयज्ञैः नाममात्रैः यज्ञैः ते दम्भेन धर्मध्वजितया अविधिपूर्वकं विधिविहिताङ्गेतिकर्तव्यतारहितम्।।
16.17 Atma-sambhavitah, self-conceited, considering themselves by themselves to be possessed of good alities-not considered to be so by holy men; stabdhah, haughty, having minds that are not humble; dhana-mana-mada-anvitah, filled with (anvita) the pride (mana) and intoxication (mada) of wealth (dhana); te, they; yajnate, perform sacrifices; namayajnaih, which are so in name only; dambhena, with ostentation, with religious hypocricy; avidhi-purvakam, regardless of the injunctions-without subsidiary rites and proper methods of performance as enjoined.
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 16.18
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 16.18 · Chapter 16 · Verse 18
।।16.18।। --,अहंकारं अहंकरणम् अहंकारः? विद्यमानैः अविद्यमानैश्च गुणैः आत्मनि अध्यारोपितैः विशिष्टमात्मानमहम् इति मन्यते? सः अहंकारः अविद्याख्यः कष्टतमः? सर्वदोषाणां मूलं सर्वानर्थप्रवृत्तीनां च? तम्। तथा बलं पराभिभवनिमित्तं कामरागान्वितम्। दर्पं दर्पो नाम यस्य उद्भवे धर्मम् अतिक्रामति सः अयम् अन्तःकरणाश्रयः दोषविशेषः। कामं स्त्र्यादिविषयम्। क्रोधम् अनिष्टविषयम्। एतान् अन्यांश्च महतो दोषान् संश्रिताः। किं च ते माम् ईश्वरम् आत्मपरदेहेषु स्वदेहे परदेहेषु च तद्बुद्धिकर्मसाक्षिभूतं मां प्रद्विषन्तः? मच्छासनातिवर्तित्वं प्रद्वेषः? तं कुर्वन्तः अभ्यसूयकाः सन्मार्गस्थानां गुणेषु असहमानाः।।
16.18 Ahankaram, egotism-that which considers the Self to which have been imputed actual and imaginary alities as 'I am this', which is called ignorance and is most painful, and is the source of all ills as also of all evil deeds; so also balam, power, which seeds to defear others and is associated with passion and desire; darpam, arrogance, a particular defect abiding in the mind, on the upsurge of which one transgresses righteousness; kamam, passion with regard to women and others; krodham, anger at things tha are undesirable;-samsritah, resorting to these and other great evils; and further, pradvisantah, hating; mam, Me, God-transgression of My ?nds is hatred (towards Me); indulging in that, atma-para-dehesu, in their own and others' bodies as the witness of their intellects and actions; (they become) abhyasuyakah, envious by nature, intolerant of the alities of those who tread the right path.
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 16.19
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 16.19 · Chapter 16 · Verse 19
।।16.19।। --,तान् अहं सन्मार्गप्रतिपक्षभूतान् साधुद्वेषिणः द्विषतश्च मां क्रूरान् संसारेषु एव अनेकनरकसंसरणमार्गेषु नराधमान् अधर्मदोषवत्त्वात् क्षिपामि प्रक्षिपामि अजस्रं संततम् अशुभान् अशुभकर्मकारिणः आसुरीष्वेव क्रूरकर्मप्रायासु व्याघ्रसिंहादियोनिषु क्षिपामि इत्यनेन संबन्धः।।
16.19 Because of their defect of unrighteousness, aham, I; ksipami, cast, hurl; ajasram, for ever; all tan, those; who are dvisatah, hateful of Me; kruran, cruel; and asubhan, who are evil doers; samsaresu, in the worlds-who are on the paths leading to hell; who are the nara-adhaman, vilest of human beings, who are opposed to the right path, who are hostile to the pious people; eva, verily; asurisu, into the demoniacal; yonisu, classes-tigers, loins, etc., which are full of evil deeds. The verb cast is to be connected with 'into the classes'.
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 16.20
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 16.20 · Chapter 16 · Verse 20
।।16.20।। --,आसुरीं योनिम् आपन्नाः प्रतिपन्नाः मूढाः अविवेकिनः जन्मनि जन्मनि प्रतिजन्म तमोबहुलास्वेव योनिषु जायमानाः अधो गच्छन्तो मूढाः माम् ईश्वरम् अप्राप्य अनासाद्य एव हे कौन्तेय? ततः तस्मादपि यान्ति अधमां गतिं निकृष्टतमां गतिम्। माम् अप्राप्यैव इति न मत्प्राप्तौ काचिदपि आशङ्का अस्ति? अतः मच्छिष्टसाधुमार्गम् अप्राप्य इत्यर्थः।।सर्वस्या आसुर्याः संपदः संक्षेपः अयम् उच्यते? यस्मिन् त्रिविधे सर्वः आसुरीसंपद्भेदः अनन्तोऽपि अन्तर्भवति। यत्परिहारेण परिहृतश्च भवति? यत् मूलं सर्वस्य अनर्थस्य? तत् एतत् उच्यते --,
16.20 Apannah, being born, having acired; (births) asurim, among the demoniacal; yonim, species; janmani janmani, in births after births; the mudhah, fools, non-discriminating ones; being born in every birth into species in which tamas prevails, and going downwards, aprapya eva, without ever reaching, approaching; mam, Me, who am God; O son of Kunti, yanti, they attain; gatim, conditions; tatah adhamam, lower even than that. Since there is not the least possibility of attaining Me, what is implied by saying, 'without ever reachin Me', is, 'by not attaining the virtuous path enjoined by Me.' This is being stated as a summary of all the demoniacal alities. The triplet-under which are comprehended all the different demoniacal alities though they are infinite in number, (and) by the avoidance of which (three) they (all the demaniacal alities) become rejected, and which is the root of all evils- is being stated:
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 16.21
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 16.21 · Chapter 16 · Verse 21
।।16.21।। --,त्रिविधं त्रिप्रकारं नरकस्य प्राप्तौ इदं द्वारं नाशनम् आत्मनः? यत् द्वारं प्रविशन्नेव नश्यति आत्मा कस्मैचित् पुरुषार्थाय योग्यो न भवति इत्येतत्? अतः उच्यते द्वारं नाशनमात्मनः इति। किं तत् कामः क्रोधः तथा लोभः। तस्मात् एतत् त्रयं त्यजेत्। यतः एतत् द्वारं नाशनम् आत्मनः तस्मात् कामादित्रयमेतत् त्यजेत्।।त्यागस्तुतिरियम् --,
16.21 Idam, this; dvaram, door; narakasya, of hell-for entering it; which is the nasanam, destroyer; atmanah, of the soul; is trividham of three kinds. It is that by the mere entry into which the soul perishes, i.e., it ceases to be fit for attaining any human goal. hence it is said that it is the door which is the destroyer of the soul. Which is that? Kamah, passion; krodhah, anger; and also lobhah, greed. Tasmat, therefore; tyajet, one shoud forsake; etat trayam, these three. Since this door is the destroyer of the soul, therefore one should renounce this group of three-passion etc. This is a eulogy of renunciation.
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 16.22
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 16.22 · Chapter 16 · Verse 22
।।16.22।। --,एतैः विमुक्तः कौन्तेय तमोद्वारैः तमसः नरकस्य दुःखमोहात्मकस्य द्वाराणि कामादयः तैः? एतैः त्रिभिः विमुक्तः नरः आचरति अनुतिष्ठति। किम् आत्मनः श्रेयः। यत्प्रतिबद्धः पूर्वं न आचचार? तदपगमात् आचरति। ततः तदाचरणात् याति परां गतिं मोक्षमपि इति।।सर्वस्य एतस्य आसुरीसंपत्परिवर्जनस्य श्रेयआचरणस्य च शास्त्रं कारणम्। शास्त्रप्रमाणात् उभयं शक्यं कर्तुम्? न अन्यथा। अतः --,
16.22 O son of Kunti, narah, a person; who is vimuktah, free; etaih, from these; tribhih, three; tamo-dvaraih, doors to darkness, i.e., passion etc. which are doors to the darkness of hell consisting of sorrow and delusion; freed from three three which are such, acarati, strives for;-for what?-sreyah, the good; atmanah, of the soul: darred by which (doors) he could not strive earlier, and on the dispelling of which he strives. Tatah, thery, as a result of that striving; yati, he attains; the param, suprme; gatim, Goal, i.e. Liberation, as well. [Not only does he attain Liberation by renouncing the demoniacal alities, but he also secures happiness in this world.] The scripture is instrumental in this complete renunciation of the demoniacal alities and striving for what is good. Both can be undertaken on the authority of the scriptures, not otherwise. Hence,
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 16.23
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 16.23 · Chapter 16 · Verse 23
।।16.23।। --,यः शास्त्रविधिं शास्त्रं वेदः तस्य विधिं कर्तव्याकर्तव्यज्ञानकारणं विधिप्रतिषेधाख्यम् उत्सृज्य त्यक्त्वा वर्तते कामकारतः कामप्रयुक्तः सन्? न सः सिद्धिं पुरुषार्थयोग्यताम् अवाप्नोति? न अपि अस्मिन् लोके सुखं न अपि परां प्रकृष्टां गतिं स्वर्गं मोक्षं वा।।
16.23 Utsrjiya, ignoring, setting aside; sastra-vidhim, the precept of the scriptures, which is th source of the knoweldge of what is duty and what is not-called injunction and prohibition; yah, he who; vartate, acts; kama-karatah, under the impulsion of passion; sah, he; na, does not; avapnoti, attain; siddhim, perfection, fitness for Liberation; nor even sukham, happiness in this world; nor even the param, supreme best; gatim, Goal-heaven or Liberation.
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 16.24
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 16.24 · Chapter 16 · Verse 24
।।16.24।। --,तस्मात् शास्त्रं प्रमाणं ज्ञानसाधनं ते तव कार्याकार्यव्यवस्थितौ कर्तव्याकर्तव्यव्यवस्थायाम्। अतः ज्ञात्वा बुद्ध्वा शास्त्रविधानोक्तं विधिः विधानं शास्त्रेण विधानं शास्त्रविधानम् कुर्यात्? न कुर्यात् इत्येवंलक्षणम्? तेन उक्तं स्वकर्म यत् तत् कर्तुम् इह अर्हसि? इह इति कर्माधिकारभूमिप्रदर्शनार्थम् इति।।इति श्रीमत्परमहंसपरिव्राजकाचार्यस्य श्रीगोविन्दभगवत्पूज्यपादशिष्यस्य,श्रीमच्छंकरभगवतः कृतौ श्रीमद्भगवद्गीताभाष्ये षोडशोऽध्यायः।।
16.24 Tasmat, therefore; sastram, the scripure; is te, your; pramanam, authority, the means of knowledge; karya-akarya-vyavasthitau, as regards the determination of what is to be done and what is not to be done. Therefore, jnatva, after understanding; that which is your own karma, duty; sastra-vidhana-uktam, as presented by scriptural injunction-vidhana is the same as vidhi, precept, in the form, 'you should do', 'you should not do'; as presented by that; arhasi, you ought; kartum, to perform; it iha, here. 'Here' is used for pointing out the sphere in which one is intitled to perform his duties. F:gitadataR.K.GitaCHAPTER16.doc Page 1 of 1