Gita 16.3
Daivasura Sampad Vibhaga Yoga
तेजः क्षमा धृतिः शौचमद्रोहो नातिमानिता | भवन्ति सम्पदं दैवीमभिजातस्य भारत ||३||
tejaḥ kṣamā dhṛtiḥ śaucam adroho nātimānitā | bhavanti sampadaṁ daivīm abhijātasya bhārata ||3||
In essence: The divine heritage culminates in radiant vigor balanced by forgiveness, fortitude without pride—the complete portrait of one destined for liberation.
A conversation between a seeker and guide to help you feel this verse deeply
Sadhak-Guru Dialogue
Sadhak: "Twenty-six qualities! This seems overwhelming. Do I need to cultivate all of them separately?"
Guru: "Consider a mango tree. Does it grow sweetness separately from color, separately from fragrance, separately from softness? Or do all these qualities emerge together as the fruit ripens?"
Sadhak: "They emerge together naturally as the fruit matures."
Guru: "Just so. These twenty-six qualities are not separate projects but facets of one spiritual maturity. As your understanding deepens and your ego loosens its grip, they emerge naturally. Krishna lists them so you recognize them, not so you manufacture them piece by piece."
Sadhak: "But some seem almost contradictory. How can one have vigor (tejas) and also humility (nātimānitā)? Or forgiveness (kṣamā) and fortitude (dhṛti)?"
Guru: "Ah, you have touched something important. The ego creates these false oppositions. It thinks vigor means arrogance and humility means weakness. It thinks forgiveness means surrender and fortitude means resistance. Divine nature transcends these dualities. True vigor shines brightest without pride, because pride is actually a sign of weakness. True forgiveness requires more strength than resentment. The qualities support each other."
Sadhak: "What does it mean to be 'born to divine nature'? Is this determined by birth?"
Guru: "Not physical birth but spiritual orientation. Everyone has both divine and demoniac tendencies. The question is: which are you nurturing? Which are you identifying with? Krishna is telling Arjuna—and you—that these qualities indicate alignment with your true nature. You are not becoming something foreign; you are uncovering what you already are."
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🌅 Daily Practice
Contemplate the twenty-six qualities as a holistic picture. Rather than feeling overwhelmed, ask: 'What is the essence of divine nature?' The answer is fullness—inner completeness that naturally overflows as these qualities. Start your day connecting to that sense of completeness, even momentarily. All qualities flow from that recognition.
Choose one quality from the list to consciously emphasize today—perhaps kṣamā (forgiveness) or adroha (non-malice). When situations arise that test this quality, recognize them as opportunities rather than obstacles. Notice how practicing one quality tends to strengthen others—forgiveness naturally leads to peace, which supports non-violence, which enhances truthfulness. They are interconnected.
Review the day and ask: 'In what ways did I express divine nature today?' Celebrate even small instances. Also ask: 'Where did I act from fear, anger, or pride?' These are not failures but feedback—indicators of where further growth is possible. End by affirming your divine inheritance: 'These qualities are not foreign to me; they are my true nature awaiting fuller expression.'