Bhagavad Gita Chapter 16

The Bhagavad Gita, the Lord’s song, is a dialogue between Lord Sri Krishna and Pandava Prince Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra.

The sixteenth chapter ‘Daivasur-sampad-vibhaga Yoga’, details the description of two types of personalities: the sattvika – the daivika/ divine; and the rajasika – the asurika i.e. the devilish. Not only the traits of such people and their behaviour are narrated but the Lord clearly states their gati too. This chapter answers the immediate concerns of all seekers as to what qualities to adopt and what qualities to abandon. It mentions the three great vices – kama (desire), krodha (anger) and lobha (greed), as gateways to hell and therefore to be conquered. The Chapter concludes with an advice to follow the rules laid down by the scriptures, for acting under the impulse of desire, one attains neither happiness nor the supreme goal of liberation.

This album contains discourses by Swami Advayananda, recorded in August 2022, during the Vedanta Sadhaka Course held in Adi Sankara Nilayam.