Chapter XVII
Divine and Demonical Properties
This chapter discusses the divine and the devilish properties with their fruits. It also describes the symptoms of a man possessed of devilish properties and their damnation and it also instructs about the renounce conduct opposed to the scriptures and exhortation to follow scriptures. Absolute fearlessness, perfect purity of mind, constant fixity in Yoga of meditation for the sake of Self-realisation, and even so charity in its Sattvika form, control of senses, worship of God, and other deities as well as one elders including the performance of Agnihotra ( pouring offerings in sacred fire and other sacred deities, study and teachings of Vedas as other sacred books as well as the chants of Almighty’s names and praises, suffering hardship =s for the discharge of one’s sacred obligations of mind as well as of body and senses. Non-violence in thought, word and deed, truthfulness and geniality of speech, absence of anger,even of provocation, disclaiming doer ship in respect of actions, quietude or composure of mind, abstaining from malicious gossip, compassion towards all creatures, absence of attachment, to the objects of senses even during their contact with the senses, mildness, a sense of shame in transgressing against the scriptures or usage, and abstaining from frivolities, pursuits, sublimity, forbearance, fortitude, external purity, bearing enmity to none and absence of self esteem- these are the marks of him who is born with the divine gifts. Hypocrisy, arrogance and pride, anger, sternness and ignorance too are the marks of a person born with demoniacal properties. The divine gift has been recognized as conducive to liberation and are demonic gifts as conducive to bondage. Grieve not Arjuna because you are born with divine gifts. There are only two types of men in this world- the one possessing a divine nature and the other possessing a demonic disposition of those- the type possessing a divine nature has been dealt with at length, now hear in detail about the type of demonic disposition. Men possessing demonic disposition do not know What is right activity and what is right abstinence from activity ? Hence they possess neither purity (external or internal) nor good conduct nor even truthfulness. Men possessing demonic nature say this world is without any foundation, absolutely unreal and godless, brought forth by mutual union of the male and female and hence conceived in lust. Clinging to this false view these slow witted men of a vile disposition and terrible deed, these enemies of mankind, prove equal only to the destruction of the universe. Cherishing insatiable desires and embracing false doctrines through ignorance, these men of impure conduct move in His world, full of hypocrisy, pride and ignorance. Giving themselves up to innumerable cares ending only with death , they remain devoted to the enjoyment of sensuous pleasures and are positive in the belief that this is the highest limit of joy. Held in bondage by hundreds of ties of expectation and wholly themselves up to lust and anger, they strive to amass by unfair means hoard of money and other objects for the enjoyment of the sensuous pleasures. They say to themselves that this had been secured by him that day and then he should realise that ambition, so much wealth was already with him and yet again shall be his. That enemy had been killed by him and he would kill those others also, he is the lord of all, knower of all, the enjoyer of all power, he is endowed with all supernatural powers and is happy and mighty. He is wealthy and owns a large family and who else can be like him. He would sacrifice to gods, give alms and would make merry. Thus blinded by ignorance, enveloped in the mesh of delusion and addicted to the enjoyment of sensuous pleasures, their mind is bewildered by numerous thoughts, the men of demoniac disposition fall into the fullest hell. Intoxicated by wealth and honour, these self conceited and haughty men worship God through nominal sacrifices for ostentation without following the sacred rituals. Given over to egotism, brute force,arrogance, lust and anger and calumniating others, they hate God (the inner controller of all) dwelling in their own bodies as well as in those of others. These haters, sinful, cruel and the vilest among men God cast again and again into demoniacal wombs in this world. Failing to reach God these stupid souls are born life after life demonic wombs and then verily sink down to a still lower plane. Desire, greed and anger -this triple gate of hell brings about the ruination of the soul. So one should avoid all these three. Free from these three gates of hell, man works his own salvation and thereby attains the supreme goal that is God. Having cast aside the injunctions of the scripture , he who acts in a arbitrary way according to his own sweet will neither attains perfection nor the supreme goal nor even happiness. Therefore scriptures alone is your guide in determining what should be done and what should not be done. Knowing this Arjuna you should perform only such actions as is ordained by the Scriptures.
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