Yoga through Discerning the Divine and Demoniac Natures
Verse 16.3
तेजः क्षमा धृतिः शौचमद्रोहो नातिमानिता। भवन्ति सम्पदं दैवीमभिजातस्य भारत।।16.3।।
tejaḥ kṣhamā dhṛitiḥ śhaucham adroho nāti-mānitā bhavanti sampadaṁ daivīm abhijātasya bhārata
Word Meanings
tejaḥ—vigor; kṣhamā—forgiveness; dhṛitiḥ—fortitude; śhaucham—cleanliness; adrohaḥ—bearing enmity toward none; na—not; ati-mānitā—absence of vanity; bhavanti—are; sampadam—qualities; daivīm—godly; abhijātasya—of those endowed with; bhārata—scion of Bharat
Translation · English
Vigor, forgiveness, fortitude, purity, absence of hatred, absence of pride—these belong to one born for a divine state, O Arjuna.
Deep Meaning · English
In this verse, Lord Krishna delineates the foundational architecture of the divine disposition (daivi sampad). This is not merely a list of ethical behaviors, but an external manifestation of an internal purification process. 'Tejas' (vigor) refers to the spiritual radiance born of self-mastery, rather than aggressive power. 'Kshama' (forgiveness) is presented not as a passive weakness, but as the active strength of one who has transcended the ego's demand for retribution. These virtues act as the 'subtle armor' for the soul, protecting it from the turbulent waves of the three gunas. As Krishna addresses Arjuna as 'Bharata,' he reminds him of his noble heritage, signaling that spiritual nobility is the true inheritance of every soul. By cultivating these traits—cleanliness (shaucam) of both inner motive and outer conduct, and the absence of vanity (nati-manita)—the seeker clears the debris of past conditionings. This creates a fertile ground for the Divine to reveal itself. The verse suggests that liberation is not a distant destination achieved through external ritual, but a transformation of one's character into a vessel that is naturally harmonious with the cosmic order.
Spiritual liberation is the outward blossom of a heart that has replaced the ego's demand for status with the quiet strength of divine virtues.
Connected Verses
Provides the broader context for these virtues as the necessary conditions for reaching the supreme state.
Equates humility and absence of vanity with the nature of true knowledge, echoing the qualities of the divine disposition.
Lists similar virtues such as non-enmity and compassion, highlighting the marks of one truly dear to the Lord.
Describes the person of steady wisdom (sthitaprajna) who remains undisturbed in adversity, reflecting the fortitude mentioned here.
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