16-1

The Supreme Lord said: Fearlessness, purification of one's existence, cultivation of spiritual knowledge, charity, self-control, sacrifice, study of the Vedas, austerity and simplicity.

Explanation: In this verse, Krishna begins to list the divine qualities that belong to those who walk the path of spiritual development. These qualities are fearlessness, purification of one's existence, cultivation of spiritual knowledge, charity, self-control, sacrifice, study of the Vedas, austerity and simplicity. These qualities help a person to free themselves from the limitations of the material world and approach the Divine.

16-2

Nonviolence, truthfulness, freedom from anger, renunciation, peacefulness, restraint from faultfinding, compassion for all living entities, freedom from covetousness, gentleness, modesty and steady determination.

Explanation: In this verse, Krishna continues to list the divine qualities. These are nonviolence, truthfulness, freedom from anger, renunciation of material attachment, peacefulness, refraining from praising others, compassion for all living beings, freedom from greed, gentleness, modesty or the ability to feel shame for wrong actions, and unwavering determination on the spiritual path.

16-3

Powerfulness, forgiveness, fortitude, purity, freedom from envy and the passion for honor—these transcendental qualities, O son of Bharata, belong to godly men endowed with divine nature.

Explanation: In this verse, Krishna completes the list of divine qualities. These are power, forgiveness, fortitude, purity, freedom from envy and the passion for honor. These transcendental qualities belong to godly beings who are endowed with a divine nature.

16-4

Pride, arrogance, conceit, anger, harshness and ignorance—these qualities, O son of Pritha, belong to those of demoniac nature.

Explanation: In this verse, Krishna begins to describe the demonic qualities that are the opposite of the divine ones. These qualities are pride, arrogance, conceit, anger, harshness and ignorance. They belong to those whose consciousness is dominated by a demonic nature and who are far from spiritual understanding.

16-5

The transcendental qualities are said to lead to liberation, whereas the demonic qualities are for bondage. Do not worry, O son of Pandu, for you are born with transcendental qualities.

Explanation: In this verse, Krishna explains that divine qualities lead to liberation from the suffering and bondage of the material world, while demonic qualities lead to further bondage to matter. Do not worry, O son of Pandu, for you are born with divine qualities, which means he has the potential to achieve spiritual liberation.

16-6

O son of Pritha, there are two kinds of created beings in this world. One is called the divine and the other demonic. I have already told you at length of the divine qualities. Now hear from Me of the demoniac.

Explanation: In this verse, Krishna explains that there are two kinds of created beings in this world - divine and demonic. He has explained the divine qualities in detail and is now preparing to describe the demonic qualities and their impact on human life.

16-7

Those who are demoniac do not know what is to be done and what is not to be done. Neither cleanliness nor proper behavior nor truth is found in them.

Explanation: In this verse, Krishna describes the inability of demonic beings to distinguish right from wrong action. They lack cleanliness, proper behavior, and an understanding of truth. They do not know how to act in accordance with spiritual principles and moral norms.

16-8

They say that this world is unreal, without any basis, that there is no God in control. It is produced of sex desire, and has no cause other than lust.

Explanation: In this verse, Krishna reveals the erroneous beliefs of demonic beings about the structure and meaning of the world. They deny the existence of God, believe that the world is unreal, without foundation, and that its only driving force is lust and sexual desire.

16-9

Following such conclusions, the demoniac, who are lost to themselves and who have no intelligence, engage in horrible, unbeneficial works meant to destroy the world.

Explanation: In this verse, Krishna describes the actions of demonic beings that stem from their false beliefs. They have lost touch with their true nature, act unwisely and engage in evil, destructive actions aimed at destroying the world because they have no intelligence. Their actions are contrary to the harmony of nature and spiritual principles.

16-10

Taking shelter of insatiable lust, pride and false prestige, the demoniac, thus illusioned, are always sworn to unclean work, attracted by the impermanent.

Explanation: In this verse, Krishna explains the motivation behind the actions of demonic beings. They take shelter in insatiable lust, which can never be fully satisfied, and are immersed in pride, arrogance, and false prestige, which leads to illusion and attachment to temporary, false values, and they are committed to performing unclean actions.

16-11

They believe that the satisfaction of the senses until the end of life is the highest necessity of humankind. Therefore, their anxiety is immeasurable. Tied to thousands of desires and immersed in lust and anger, they strive for money by illegal means to satisfy their sensual desires.

Explanation: In this verse, Krishna continues to describe the deluded life perception of demonic beings. They believe that the satisfaction of the senses until the end of life is the highest necessity of humankind, and therefore their anxiety is immeasurable, and, tied to thousands of desires and immersed in lust and anger, they strive for money by illegal means to satisfy their sensual desires.

16-12

Being bound by networks of hundreds of thousands of desires and full of passion and anger, they seek means to obtain money unlawfully in order to satisfy their sensual cravings.

Explanation: In this verse, Krishna continues to describe the actions of demonic beings and their consequences. They are completely entangled in networks of hundreds of thousands of desires that control and guide them, and have become slaves to passion and anger.

16-13

The demoniac person thinks: So much wealth I have today, and I will gain still more, according to my plans. So much is mine now, and this will increase more and more in the future.

Explanation: In this verse, Krishna reveals the way of thinking of a demoniac person. Such a person is obsessed with greed and constantly thinks about how much wealth they possess now and how much more they will acquire in the future according to their plans.

16-14

He is my enemy, and I have killed him, and my other enemies will also be killed. I am the lord and proprietor of everything. I am the enjoyer. I am perfect, powerful and happy.

Explanation: In this verse, Krishna continues to reveal the thinking of a demoniac person, which is full of violence, egoism, and illusions. Such a person considers others to be their enemies and boasts of having conquered or killed them, and falsely considers themselves to be the lord and owner of all things, the supreme enjoyer, who is perfect, powerful, and happy.

16-15

I am the wealthiest man, surrounded by aristocratic relatives. There is no one else so powerful and happy as I am. I will perform sacrifices, I will give some charities, and thus I will rejoice. In this way, such persons are deluded by ignorance.

Explanation: In this verse, Krishna continues to reveal the way of thinking of a demoniac person, which is based on vanity and self-deception. Such a person boasts of their wealth and influential relatives, considering themselves the most powerful and happy, and plans to make sacrifices and give charitable gifts not out of genuine compassion, but to gain pleasure from their apparent nobility and increase their reputation.

16-16

Thus, deluded by many anxieties and trapped in a web of illusion, they become too attached to the enjoyment of the senses and fall down into hell.

Explanation: In this verse, Krishna describes the consequences that arise from demoniac thinking and acting. Such persons, being deluded by many anxieties and trapped in a web of illusion, become too attached to sensual pleasures and fall into hell, which symbolizes spiritual degradation and suffering.

16-17

Self-complacent and always impudent, deluded by wealth and false honor, they sometimes perform sacrifices in name only, without following any rules or regulations.

Explanation: In this verse, Krishna describes the attitude of demoniac people towards spiritual practices. They are self-complacent and impudent, boast of their wealth and imagined honor, and if they perform sacrifices or rituals, they do so only for outward show, without following any rules or spiritual principles.

16-18

Bewildered by false ego, strength, pride, lust, and anger, the demoniacs deride the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is situated in their own bodies and in the bodies of others, and blaspheme against the real religion.

Explanation: In this verse, Krishna reveals the attitude of demoniac people towards God. They are bewildered by false ego, strength, pride, lust, and anger, and deride God, who is situated both in their own bodies and in the bodies of others as the Supreme Soul. They blaspheme against the real religion, denying its principles and opposing spiritual values.

16-19

Those who are envious and mischievous, who are the lowest of mankind, I perpetually cast into the ocean of suffering, into various demoniac species of life.

Explanation: In this verse, Krishna explains the fate that awaits those who are envious, malicious, and act demoniacally. He constantly casts such people, who are the lowest of all, into the ocean of suffering, causing them to be born into various demoniac species of life, where suffering and darkness prevail.

16-20

Attaining repeated birth amongst the demoniac, O son of Kuntī, such persons can never approach Me. Gradually, they sink down to the most abominable type of existence.

Explanation: In this verse, Krishna continues to explain the fate of demonic beings. Attaining repeated birth amongst the demoniac, these persons are unable to approach God and spiritual liberation, and gradually sink down to increasingly lower and more abominable types of existence.

16-21

There are three gates leading to this hell – lust, anger, and greed. Every sensible person must abandon them, as they degrade the soul.

Explanation: In this verse, Krishna names three main obstacles that lead to spiritual degradation and suffering, symbolically calling them "gates to hell." These are lust, anger, and greed, and every sensible person who wants to develop spiritually must abandon these negative qualities.

16-22

A person who has escaped these three gates of hell, O son of Kuntī, performs actions that promote self-realization and thus gradually reaches the highest goal.

Explanation: In this verse, Krishna explains that a person who has been able to free themselves from the influence of lust, anger, and greed can perform actions that promote self-realization. Such a person gradually approaches the highest goal – spiritual liberation and unity with the Divine.

16-23

But one who does not follow the instructions of the scriptures and acts according to their own whims achieves neither perfection, nor happiness, nor the supreme goal.

Explanation: In this verse, Krishna warns that one who does not follow the instructions of the scriptures and spiritual principles, but acts only according to their own whims and desires, will achieve neither spiritual perfection, nor true happiness, nor the supreme goal – liberation. Their life will be full of suffering and disappointment, as it will be based on egoism and ignorance.

16-24

Therefore, it is necessary to understand what duty is and what is not duty, guided by the instructions of the scriptures. Knowing these rules and principles, one must act in a way that allows for gradual improvement.

Explanation: In this verse, Krishna concludes the chapter, emphasizing the importance of scriptures on the spiritual path. A person must be guided by the instructions of the scriptures to understand what their duty is and what is not. Knowing these rules and principles and acting accordingly, a person can gradually improve spiritually.