Bhagavad Gita BG 16.5
Chapter 16, Verse 5 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
दैवी सम्पद्विमोक्षाय निबन्धायासुरी मता । मा शुचः सम्पदं दैवीं अभिजातोऽसि पाण्डव ॥
daivi sampad vimokshaya nibandhayasuri mata ma shucah sampadam daivim abhijato 'si pandava
Meaning
The divine estate leads to liberation; the demonic leads to bondage. Grieve not, O Pandava — you are born to the divine estate.
Understanding
The telos (final purpose) of each estate: daivi sampat vimokshaya (the divine qualities are for vimoksha — liberation, complete release). Nibandhaya 'suri mata (the demonic is considered to be for bondage — nibandha = tying, binding). The divine qualities are not just morally good — they are the inner conditions that open the path to liberation. The demonic qualities bind. Then the crucial shift: ma shucah (do not grieve, do not sorrow — ma is prohibitive). Sampadam daivim abhijato 'si pandava (O Pandava, you are born to the divine estate — abhijata = born to, by natural birth). This is the direct reassurance: after describing both estates, Krishna immediately assures Arjuna that his anxiety about failing his duty does not mark him as demonic. He is born to the divine estate — his very confusion and concern are evidence of his divine nature.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| विमोक्षाय | vimokshaya | for liberation, toward complete release (vimoksha = thorough liberation) |
| निबन्धाय | nibandhaya | for bondage, toward binding (nibandha = tying, fastening) |
| मा शुचः | ma shucah | do not grieve, do not sorrow (ma = prohibitive particle) |
| अभिजातः | abhijatah | born to, naturally born with (by natural endowment) |
| दैवी | daivī | divine |
| सम्पत् | sampat | wealth, quality |
| विमोक्षाय | vimokṣāya | for liberation |
| निबन्धाय | nibandhāya | for bondage |
| आसुरी | āsurī | demoniac |
| मता | matā | is considered |
| मा | mā śucaḥ | do not grieve |
| सम्पदम् | sampādam | the wealth |
| दैवीम् | daivīm | divine |
| अभिजातः | abhijāto asi | you are born |
| पाण्डव | pāṇḍava | O son of Pandu |
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