Gita 16.14
Daivasura Sampad Vibhaga Yoga
असौ मया हतः शत्रुर्हनिष्ये चापरानपि | ईश्वरोऽहमहं भोगी सिद्धोऽहं बलवान्सुखी ||१४||
asau mayā hataḥ śatrur haniṣye cāparān api | īśvaro'ham ahaṁ bhogī siddho'haṁ balavān sukhī ||14||
In essence: The demoniac ego declares: 'I have destroyed enemies, I shall destroy more; I am the lord, the enjoyer, perfect, powerful, and happy.'
A conversation between a seeker and guide to help you feel this verse deeply
Sadhak-Guru Dialogue
Sadhak: "The phrase 'I am the lord' seems extreme. Do people really think this way?"
Guru: "Perhaps not in these exact words, but examine the structure of much human interaction. When someone believes their preferences should govern situations, their comfort should determine others' behavior, their opinions should be final—this is 'īśvaro'ham' in action. The claim to lordship is usually implicit but real."
Sadhak: "What about healthy self-confidence? Isn't it good to feel powerful and happy?"
Guru: "Healthy self-confidence rests in the Self and is therefore unshakeable. The 'confidence' described here rests on external achievements—enemies defeated, power accumulated. This is fragile because it depends on constant proof. True confidence does not need to proclaim 'I am powerful, I am happy.' It simply is. The need to announce suggests doubt."
Sadhak: "But shouldn't we celebrate achievements?"
Guru: "Celebration is one thing; identification is another. Celebrate, then release. The demoniac pattern is to cling—to replay victories, to build identity on trophies. Notice 'mayā hataḥ'—destroyed BY ME. The emphasis on personal agency, on claiming credit, on making the ego the hero of every story—this is the bondage. The wise may achieve but attribute success to grace, circumstance, and the divine, keeping the ego humble."
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🌅 Daily Practice
Observe your first responses to memories of yesterday's 'victories'—small or large. Is there ego-satisfaction? Can you recall a success without the emphasis on 'I did this'? Practice attributing good outcomes to grace rather than personal prowess.
When you feel the impulse to assert control, to be 'lord' of a situation, pause. Ask: 'Can I participate without dominating? Can I contribute without claiming credit?' Notice the difference between engaged action and ego-driven control.
Reflect on the day's assertions of 'I am.' How many were genuine and how many were compensations for insecurity? The less we need to proclaim ourselves, the more we actually are ourselves. Rest in being rather than asserting.