|| 16.5 ||
दैवी सम्पद्विमोक्षाय निबन्धायासुरी मता। मा शुचः सम्पदं दैवीमभिजातोऽसि पाण्डव।।
daivī sampad vimokṣāya nibandhāyāsurī matā mā śucaḥ sampadaṁ daivīm abhijāto ’si pāṇḍava
Word by Word
daivī (divine) sampat (qualities) vimokṣāya (for liberation) nibandhāya (for bondage) āsurī (demoniac) matā (are considered) mā (do not) śucaḥ (worry) sampadam (qualities) daivīm (divine) abhijātaḥ (born of) asi (you are) pāṇḍava (O son of Pāṇḍu).
Translation
The transcendental qualities are conducive to liberation, whereas the demoniac qualities make for bondage. Do not worry, O son of Pāṇḍu, for you are born with the divine qualities.
Meaning
Kṛṣṇa gives the ultimate result of these two paths: divine qualities lead to liberation (‘Vimokṣāya’), while demoniac qualities lead to deeper bondage (‘Nibandhāya’). He then reassures Arjuna: “Do not worry, you are born with divine qualities.” This is meant to comfort Arjuna, who feared that being a warrior might make him demoniac.
This verse clarifies that our destination is determined by our character. We are not trapped by our past; we can choose which nature to feed. If we cultivate humility and nonviolence, the doors of the universe open for us. If we feed pride and anger, the prison walls of material life get thicker.
By telling Arjuna not to grieve, Kṛṣṇa emphasizes that fighting for the sake of Dharma is a divine act, not an expression of demoniac anger. It is the ‘intent’ and the ‘character’ behind the action that matter most. We should always check whether our habits are setting us free or tying us down.