By: Rajendra Kapil

In this world, we find two types of human beings. The first are those we call good or virtuous—people who embody purity, honesty, and moral discipline. Such individuals are respected as noble and righteous.
The second group consists of those with harmful tendencies—people driven by arrogance, deceit, anger, and greed. It becomes their nature to lie, criticize others, and remain immersed in their own ego. For the sake of wealth or selfish motives, harming someone feels insignificant to them. They burst into anger over trivial matters and consider it their natural right. These lustful, angry, greedy, and ego-driven people hesitate little in harming others.

Noble souls usually find it difficult to coexist with such individuals. Even within their own families, such people behave with pride, arrogance, and selfishness. They do nothing unless there is personal gain.

द्वौ भूतसर्गौ लोकऽस्मिन् दैव आसुर एव च ।
दैवो विस्तरशः प्रोक्त आसुरं पार्थ मे श्रृणु ॥ (6)

dvau bhūta-sargau lokasmin daiva āsura eva ca |
daivo vistarashaḥ prokta āsuraṁ pārtha me śṛṇu || (6)

Translation:
Lord Krishna explains to Arjuna that two types of beings exist in this world—those with divine qualities and those filled with demoniac tendencies. He describes in detail the characteristics of both.

Characteristics of a Person with Divine Qualities

अभयं सत्त्वसंशुद्धिर्ज्ञानयोगव्यवस्थितिः ।
दानं दमश्च यज्ञश्च स्वाध्यायस्तप आर्जवम्‌ ॥ (1) 

abhayaṁ sattva-saṁśuddhir jñāna-yoga-vyavasthitiḥ |
dānaṁ damaś ca yajñaś ca svādhyāyas tapa ārjavam || (1)

Meaning:
The Supreme Lord says: O Arjuna, fearlessness arising from faith in God, purity of heart, steadfastness in the path of knowledge, generosity, control of the senses, dedication to righteous actions, self-study and introspection, spiritual discipline, and honesty—these are the qualities of a person endowed with divine nature.

Such yogis radiate brilliance. They embody forgiveness, patience, and both inner and outer purity. They honor their elders and behave with humility. Their minds and intellects remain pure and straightforward. They are honest and untouched by deceit. Always ready to serve others, they live disciplined lives—waking early, maintaining physical cleanliness, engaging in prayer and meditation, and abstaining from harmful habits and addictions.

They stay away from excessive desires for wealth, sensual pleasures, and material indulgences. Always eager to uplift society, they devote their time to charity, service, and helping those in need.

Characteristics of a Person with Demoniac Qualities

काममाश्रित्य दुष्पूरं दम्भमानमदान्विताः ।
मोहाद्‍गृहीत्वासद्ग्राहान् प्रवर्तन्तेऽशुचिव्रताः ॥ (10)

kāmam āśritya duṣpūraṁ dambha-māna-madānvitāḥ |
mohād gṛhītvā sad-grāhān pravartante ’śuci-vratāḥ || (10)

Meaning:
People with demoniac tendencies remain controlled by insatiable desires, intoxicated by false prestige, ego, and delusion. Falsely believing in material objects as the ultimate goal, they engage in impure actions.

Such individuals resemble the “asuras” described in scriptures. They indulge in all sorts of food without restraint. Meat and alcohol become integral to their lifestyle. Laziness, uncleanliness, and arrogance define their behavior.

Tulsidas beautifully notes in the Ramcharitmanas:
“Sahaj pāpa priya tāmasa dehā, jathā ulūka hi tam par nehā”
Just as an owl naturally loves darkness, these people naturally gravitate toward sin and ignorance.

They pretend to be something they are not—speaking one thing and doing another. They lack faith in God and often consider themselves superior. For greed or selfish motives, harming others poses no hesitation. They enjoy belittling others and causing sorrow. Such people remain trapped in worldly bondage, cycling through lower births because of their attachment to lust and indulgence.

आढयोऽभिजनवानस्मि कोऽन्योऽस्ति सदृशो मया ।
यक्ष्ये दास्यामि मोदिष्य इत्यज्ञानविमोहिताः ॥ (15)

āḍhyo ’bhijanavān asmi ko ’nyo ’sti sadṛśo mayā |
yakṣye dāsyāmi modiṣya ity ajñāna-vimohitāḥ || (15)

Meaning:
A person of demoniac nature thinks: “I am wealthy, I come from a high family, who can be equal to me? I will perform rituals, give charity, and enjoy life.” In this way, deluded by ignorance, they remain lost in ego.

अनेकचित्तविभ्रान्ता मोहजालसमावृताः ।
प्रसक्ताः कामभोगेषु पतन्ति नरकेऽशुचौ ॥ (16)

aneka-citta-vibhrāntā moha-jāla-samāvṛtāḥ |
prasaktāḥ kāma-bhogeṣu patanti narake ’śucau || (16)

Meaning:
Confused by countless anxieties, entangled in delusion, and obsessed with sensual pleasures, such people fall into a miserable and impure state.

These verses explain how pride, ego, wealth, and social status trap people in illusions. Such individuals become harmful to society while remaining blind to their own downfall. Through these descriptions, the Lord warns all of us to stay away from such traits and such people to preserve peace and harmony in life.

A Warning to the Virtuous

त्रिविधं नरकस्येदं द्वारं नाशनमात्मनः ।
कामः क्रोधस्तथा लोभस्तस्मादेतत्त्रयं त्यजेत्‌ ॥ (21)

trividhaṁ narakasyedaṁ dvāraṁ nāśanam ātmanaḥ |
kāmaḥ krodhas tathā lobhas tasmād etat trayaṁ tyajet || (21)

Meaning:
O Arjuna! Lust, anger, and greed—these three gates lead a soul toward destruction and downfall. One must abandon them completely.

Here, the Lord warns us that these three—lust, anger, and greed—are the doors to hell. Lust leads to greed; greed grows from desire; and when greed is unfulfilled, anger arises. Anger destroys peace and harmony, turning life into a living hell.

Thus, we must strive to free ourselves entirely from these three destructive tendencies.

This chapter gives us awakening knowledge about the divine and demoniac traits within human nature. It teaches which qualities uplift us and which drag us down; how to strengthen divine virtues and protect ourselves from destructive traits.

Let us all sincerely try to walk the path shown by the Lord and move toward a righteous, peaceful, and purposeful life.