Arjuna asked Sri Krishna how many categories of mortals were there?

Sri Krishna replied there are two categories of people in the world, divine and demonical. The divine have been described at length; hear from Me about the demonical. (16:6)

These are two types of nature. The divine represents the final sattwic state, without the combination and permutation (replacement) of rajas and tamas, just pure Sattwa. Demonical means tamasic, without the combination of Sattwa and rajas.

People who are established in Sattwa, attain the highest through their efforts, attitudes, expressions and behaviour in life.

People who are demonical and tamasic by nature, whose perceptions and views are restricted, limited and confined commit various kinds of deeds which can be called sin. Through such sinful acts they regress into the lower, hellish states of existence, where pain and negative qualities govern the mentality of the individual.

The qualities of a Sattwa nature

Fearlessness, purity of heart, steadfastness in jnana and yoga, sattwic charity, sense control, sacrifice, study of the scriptures, tapas and straightforwardness. (16:1)

Ahimsa, truthfulness, absence of anger, renunciation of doership, tranquillity, absence of maliciousness, compassion to all, non-attachment when in contact with sense objects, shame for non-righteous acts restraint from useless actions. (16:2).

Sublime vigour, forgiveness, fortitude, purity, absence of hatred and pride are (the qualities of one born for the divine state. (16:3)

The demonical tamasic nature

Is one of ignorance with no understanding of right activity and restraint. There is neither purity nor right conduct nor truth in them. (16:7)

They say the world is without truth, moral basis and Godless. It is a natural union through lust. (16:8)

Holding this view, these lost souls of little intellect and cruel actions are born like enemies to destroy the world. (16:9)

Possessed by insatiable passion, hypocrisy, pride and arrogance, holding false ideas due to delusion, they act with impure resolve. (16:10)

Lastly the triple gates of hell are destructive to the self, lust, anger and greed; therefore, one should throw off these three. (16:21)

Swami Niranjananda says that now all of us must mark truthfully the tamasic traits that exist in us as part of self-study.

Dear ones only by Swadhyaya (self-study) and being self-truthful can we attempt to change ourselves.

Extracted from Gita Darshan by Swami Niranjananda Saraswati.

Aim Hrim Klim