Two Tendencies Within Us
In the sixteenth chapter of the Bhagavad Gita, titled Daivasura Sampad Vibhaga Yoga, Lord Krishna describes two contrasting sets of qualities that shape human character and destiny:
- Daivi Sampada - the divine wealth of virtues that uplift the soul, lead toward peace, and move one toward liberation.
- Asuri Sampada - the demonic tendencies that bind the soul, cause suffering, and lead away from the higher goal.
Crucially, these are not two kinds of people but two tendencies present within every human heart. The spiritual life is largely about strengthening the divine qualities and gently outgrowing the demonic ones. Krishna gives this teaching not to frighten but to help us understand ourselves honestly, so we can consciously cultivate the noble traits that bring lasting happiness and a life aligned with dharma. It is a mirror for self-reflection, offered with compassion.
The Divine & Demonic Qualities
Daivi Sampada (divine qualities) that Krishna lists include:
- Fearlessness, purity of heart, and steadfastness in knowledge.
- Charity, self-control (dama), sacrifice (yajna), and study of scripture.
- Non-violence (ahimsa), truthfulness, absence of anger, and renunciation.
- Compassion for all beings, gentleness, modesty, and freedom from greed.
- Forgiveness, fortitude, cleanliness, and absence of malice or pride.
Asuri Sampada (demonic tendencies) include:
- Hypocrisy, arrogance, self-conceit, anger, harshness and ignorance.
- Insatiable desire, hypocritical show, and pursuit of pleasure at any cost.
- Endless craving, deceit, and viewing the world as existing only to gratify oneself.
- Pride in wealth and status, and disregard for dharma and the wisdom of the scriptures.
Krishna teaches that the divine qualities lead to freedom and peace, while the demonic ones lead to bondage and sorrow.
Cultivating the Divine Within
The heart of this chapter is practical: to consciously nurture the divine qualities in daily life. Some gentle ways:
- Self-honesty: Reflect kindly on which tendencies are strong in you, without harsh self-judgement, and choose the higher one in each moment.
- Practise one virtue at a time: Pick a divine quality - say, truthfulness, patience or freedom from anger - and gently strengthen it through the day.
- Watch the three gates: Krishna warns that desire, anger and greed are the three gates to suffering; guarding against these weakens the demonic tendencies.
- Keep good company and study: Satsang, scripture and prayer naturally water the divine qualities.
- Act with devotion: Offering actions to the Divine and serving others softens the ego, the root of asuri sampada.
Krishna reassures that no one is beyond hope; with sincere effort and grace, the divine qualities can always be strengthened. This is offered as uplifting Gita wisdom to inspire noble character.
Common Questions From Devotees
What are Daivi and Asuri Sampada in the Gita?+
In chapter 16, Daivi Sampada is the 'divine wealth' of uplifting virtues like fearlessness, compassion, truthfulness and self-control, while Asuri Sampada is the demonic tendencies like arrogance, anger, greed and hypocrisy. They are two tendencies present within every human heart.
Are divine and demonic qualities two kinds of people?+
No. They are not two kinds of people but two tendencies present within every human heart. The spiritual life is largely about strengthening the divine qualities and gently outgrowing the demonic ones. Krishna gives this teaching to help us understand ourselves honestly, not to frighten or divide.
What are the three gates to suffering in this chapter?+
Krishna warns that desire (kama), anger (krodha) and greed (lobha) are the three gates to suffering and self-destruction. Guarding against these three weakens the demonic tendencies and clears the way for the divine qualities to grow, leading toward peace and freedom.
About the author
Anjali Mehta · Editor, M.A. Religious Studies
Anjali is the managing editor for Vandnaa and oversees the festival and vrat coverage. She holds an M.A. in Religious Studies and reviews every published article for accuracy, accessibility, and tradition-fidelity.
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