Gita 16.5
Daivasura Sampad Vibhaga Yoga
दैवी सम्पद्विमोक्षाय निबन्धायासुरी मता | मा शुचः सम्पदं दैवीमभिजातोऽसि पाण्डव ||५||
daivī sampad vimokṣāya nibandhāyāsurī matā | mā śucaḥ sampadaṁ daivīm abhijāto'si pāṇḍava ||5||
In essence: Here is the promise that defines your destiny: divine nature leads to freedom, demoniac to bondage—and you, Arjuna, are born to the divine. Grieve not.
A conversation between a seeker and guide to help you feel this verse deeply
Sadhak-Guru Dialogue
Sadhak: "Krishna says Arjuna is born to divine nature. But what about me? I see both tendencies within myself—sometimes divine, sometimes demoniac."
Guru: "The fact that you recognize both and are troubled by the demoniac tendencies is itself a sign of divine nature. The fully demoniac do not question themselves—they are certain of their righteousness even while causing harm."
Sadhak: "But is destiny fixed? If someone is 'born to' a certain nature, can they change?"
Guru: "Birth here means spiritual orientation, not an unchangeable fate. Both natures exist as seeds in every human being. Which grows depends on what you nourish. Awareness of the choice, desire for growth, willingness to practice—these shift the balance. Even someone deeply embedded in demoniac patterns can begin the journey back through sincere effort."
Sadhak: "What does liberation mean practically? And what is this bondage?"
Guru: "Liberation is freedom from the fundamental suffering of ignorance—the confusion that mistakes the ego for the Self, the temporary for the permanent. In that freedom, one experiences peace, fullness, and love regardless of external circumstances. Bondage is the opposite—imprisoned by desires and fears, dragged about by attractions and aversions, suffering inevitably with every change. The divine path leads to one; the demoniac path reinforces the other."
Sadhak: "Then the choice seems obvious. Why would anyone choose bondage?"
Guru: "It is not chosen consciously. The demoniac nature operates through ignorance—it does not see clearly. It mistakes fleeting pleasures for happiness, ego-inflation for fulfillment. By the time the bondage is recognized, patterns are deeply ingrained. This is why Krishna teaches—to illuminate the choice before the consequences become irreversible."
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🌅 Daily Practice
Start each day affirming your divine heritage: 'I am born to the divine nature. The qualities of fearlessness, truthfulness, compassion, and wisdom are natural to my being.' This is not ego-inflation but recognition of potential. Let this affirmation create confidence for the day's challenges.
When facing choices, ask: 'Which response strengthens divine nature? Which feeds demoniac tendencies?' Every interaction, every decision, either reinforces liberation or bondage. This is not about perfection but direction. Even small choices accumulate—a moment of patience over anger, truth over pretense, generosity over grasping. Choose toward freedom.
Review the day's direction: 'Did I move toward liberation or bondage today?' Be honest but not harsh. Remember Krishna's reassurance—if you care about this question, you are fundamentally oriented toward the divine. Rest in that assurance while remaining committed to growth. End with gratitude for the teaching that illuminates the path.