Gita 16.24
Daivasura Sampad Vibhaga Yoga
तस्माच्छास्त्रं प्रमाणं ते कार्याकार्यव्यवस्थितौ | ज्ञात्वा शास्त्रविधानोक्तं कर्म कर्तुमिहार्हसि ||२४||
tasmāc chāstraṁ pramāṇaṁ te kāryākārya-vyavasthitau | jñātvā śāstra-vidhānoktaṁ karma kartum ihārhasi ||24||
In essence: Therefore, let scripture be your authority in determining what should and should not be done. Understanding the scriptural injunctions, perform action accordingly in this world.
A conversation between a seeker and guide to help you feel this verse deeply
Sadhak-Guru Dialogue
Sadhak: "Making scripture the authority sounds like giving up personal responsibility. Isn't each person ultimately responsible for their choices?"
Guru: "You remain responsible for your choices—including the choice of what to use as your guide. Using scripture as pramāṇa is itself a choice, a responsible one based on recognizing the limits of personal ignorance. It's like choosing to consult a map rather than wandering randomly. The map doesn't remove your responsibility; it informs your responsibility. You still must walk the path."
Sadhak: "How do I apply this practically? There's no scriptural verse for every situation."
Guru: "Scripture provides principles, not micro-instructions. Study the Gita's teachings on duty, non-attachment, devotion, discrimination—these are applicable everywhere. When specific guidance is needed, the tradition also includes seeking counsel from teachers, considering consequences, examining motivations. Scripture is the framework within which intelligence operates, not a substitute for intelligence."
Sadhak: "This is the chapter's conclusion. What is the essence to carry forward?"
Guru: "Divine and demoniac natures exist in potential within everyone. The divine leads to liberation, the demoniac to bondage. Lust, anger, and greed are the gates to hell—avoid them. Scripture, not personal whim, is the guide for right action. These are the pillars. If you remember nothing else from Chapter 16, remember: cultivate daivī sampat, abandon āsurī sampat, close the three gates, follow dharma as revealed in scripture. This is the path to the supreme goal."
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🌅 Daily Practice
Commit to a regular study of wisdom literature—whatever tradition resonates. Even ten minutes of reading the Gita with reflection serves as 'jñātvā' (knowing) what scripture declares. Knowledge precedes application.
When facing ethical uncertainty—'kārya or akārya?'—consciously invoke scriptural principles. Ask: 'What does the Gita say about this kind of situation? What would Krishna advise Arjuna?' This trains the mind to use scripture as pramāṇa.
Reflect on the day's decisions. Were they guided by desire (kāma-kāra) or dharma (śāstra-pramāṇa)? Where could scriptural guidance have helped? This is not about guilt but about refining the habit of consulting wisdom. Over time, the reflex develops to check with dharma before acting.