Chapter 16 Shloka 18

अहंकारं बलं दर्पं कामं क्रोधं च संश्रिताः।

मामात्मपरदेहेषु प्रद्विषन्तोऽभ्यसूयकाः।।१८।।

The Lord says:

With the attributes of ego, strength, arrogance,

desire and anger as their mainstay, these

highly critical persons spurn Me, who dwells

in the bodies of all beings as also in their own body.

Chapter 16 Shloka 18

अहंकारं बलं दर्पं कामं क्रोधं च संश्रिताः।

मामात्मपरदेहेषु प्रद्विषन्तोऽभ्यसूयकाः।।१८।।

My little one, the Lord is explaining the demonic qualities in great detail because such qualities are predominant these days. These qualities form the foundation of ignorance and cause the downfall of man. They become hindrances in the path of the spiritual aspirant and the man of virtue. Little one, actually these very tendencies are formidable enemies of the sadhu. It is to protect and save the sadhus from these very tendencies that the Lord takes birth time and again. For a true sadhu does not fear external tyranny but is agonised if he sees these demonic tendencies growing within himself.

Explaining these qualities in detail to Arjuna, the Lord says:

With the attributes of ego, strength, arrogance, desire and anger as their mainstay, these highly critical persons spurn Me, who dwells in the bodies of all beings as also in their own body.

Little one, describing the demonic tendencies the Lord says that such people are full of ego.

Ahamkaar (See also Chp.7, shloka 4 and Chp.16, shloka 2, 4)

My little aspirant of the Truth! First understand the connotation of Ahamkaar (Aham + kaar).

Aham (अहम्)

1. The device which makes one aware of one’s entity.

2. That which considers the witness and the vision to be one.

3. That which considers intellect and ‘I’ to be the same.

4. That which believes the ‘I’, the body and the mind to be one.

5. Aham is the first individualising awareness of the human being.

6. Aham is also another name for self pride.

7. Aham is the basic embryo of spiritual ignorance.

8. Aham is also the basic seed of moha.

Kaar (कार)

a) That which makes.

b) That which acts.

c) That which creates.

d) That which manifests.

e) That which endeavours.

f) Lord or Master.

g) Power or ability.

Thus, ahamkaar means considering the body to be one’s own, that is, the prevalence of the intellect which identifies with the body. The origin of the body idea is in fact ahamkaar.

The function of aham

1. Those acts which focus on aham constitute ahamkaar.

2. Whatsoever is done for the body is pervaded by ahamkaar.

3. That tendency which considers oneself to be the most important is ahamkaar.

4. The tendency to ruminate and be absorbed within oneself is ahamkaar.

5. That which acts only for one’s selfish benefit is ahamkaar.

6. Selfishness, self praise, self pride – these are all acts of ahamkaar.

7. To do anything for one’s self-establishment is ahamkaar.

8. To boast about one’s physical attributes is ahamkaar.

9. Pride and arrogance are attributes of ahamkaar.

Now understand the manifest form of ahamkaar:

1. Ahamkaar always seeks to suppress the other and establish oneself.

2. Ahamkaar always harms others.

3. Ahamkaar always endeavours to show the other down.

4. Ahamkaar endeavours to establish itself as the most superior.

5. The might of ahamkaar is used for the annihilation of the other.

6. Ahamkaar cannot tolerate being humble. The profusion of demonic qualities are the legacy of ahamkaar.

7. Ahamkaar is the servitor of ‘I’ and ‘mine’.

8. Ahamkaar says, “I shall kill you.”

9. It is ahamkaar which proclaims “I shall torment you.”

10. Ahamkaar says, “I can do everything. I shall take revenge.”

Ahamkaar and the divine qualities are born enemies. They are opposites. Divine Beings are replete with divine qualities and endeavour to establish the other. The demons on the other hand, possess negative qualities and seek to annihilate the other. Divinity humbles itself before the other whereas ahamkaar suppresses and destroys the other.

Little one, to lay claim on another’s possessions is ahamkaar. Thus:

a) The body idea is ahamkaar.

b) The idea of doership is ahamkaar.

c) The idea of enjoyership is ahamkaar.

The fact is, man has not created the body – yet he claims it as his own. Actions are performed by the gunas and not by the individual self. It is gunas that enjoy other gunas. Yet, little one, when the aham is afflicted by attachment to the intellect, ahamkaar develops. Ahamkaar is the expansion of aham, it is the factor which lays claim over the property of another.

When the individual sees for the first time and considers himself to be the seer, aham is born. In other words, when the individual identifies himself with the intellect with the first awakening of consciousness, this is the foundation of ahamkaar.

The expansion of aham from that first stage is spontaneous. This monster in the garb of the ‘I’ then continues to devour the individual from within for his whole lifetime. It reduces the body, which was a gift of divinity, to dust. It claims that it intends to establish the body-self, but in reality it destroys the individual completely.

1. Thus this ‘I’ is its own traitor.

2. This ‘I’ deceives the intellect also in this manner.

3. This ‘I’ is the epitome of deceit.

As it grows, this ‘I’ says to the mind and the intellect:

a) “I am your only well-wisher.

b) It is only I who endeavours for your happiness.

c) It is only I who endeavours for your renown.

d) I am your sole protector.

e) I am the only one who makes all efforts for your establishment.”

The ‘I’ says, “Nobody but I belongs to you in this whole world.”

Little one, this is also the reality.

The ‘I’ receives consciousness from the Atma and becomes live. However, when the ‘I’ begins to identify itself with the body-self, it becomes inert. If it remained a mere witness, it would have been purity itself. However, when the aham identifies itself with the mind, the intellect and the sense organs, then the intellect too is left bereft of its true essence. It is then that demonic tendencies begin to materialise. Then that single inert body begins to consume the entire world. That ‘I’ becomes the demon that devours the mind and the intellect. Thus the demonic qualities begin to grow.

The ‘I’ renders the intellect blind.

1. The aham and the intellect join to augment darkness and ignorance. The intellect that is free of aham is a divine manifestation of the Supreme.

2. Ahamkaar and the mind together give birth to the demon of diabolical traits. The mind devoid of aham is the epitome of love.

Ahamkaar – the manifestation of aham

1. This ignites greed in the individual.

2. It leaves the individual ever unsatiated.

3. It creates countless aberrations in the individual.

4. It creates moha and ignorance in the individual.

5. It generates desire and craving.

6. It causes the individual to suffer distress.

It is the ahamkaar which is the root of all sorrows. Aham causes the individual to become oblivious of his duties. Even if the thought of discharging his duties comes into the mind of the individual, the aham makes sure that all such thoughts are squashed. Demonic beings have an abundance of ahamkaar and pride in their own strength.

He whose strength lies in:

a) wealth, renown, social status or business acumen;

b) possessing an important title or occupying an important post in government;

c) the ability to influence another;

d) the ability to destroy another;

e) the ability to trouble another;

– that egoistic individual is God’s own opponent.

The strength of the powerless

1. They who love, their power lies not in their gross abilities; their strength lies in their wealth of divine qualities.

2. The silent strength of compassion often appears as weakness.

3. The power of forgiveness and mercy presents a picture of inadequacy.

4. The might of endurance appears most ineffective.

5. The power of silence may seem to be feeble.

6. How can anyone understand the innate strength of surrender?

7. How can anyone understand the strength of equanimity?

8. It is difficult to comprehend the strength of endurance.

If you wish to understand this strength, if you wish to comprehend its consequences, then listen further.

1. This power renders the individual Divine.

2. It endows immortality.

3. It endows great devotion.

4. It transforms the individual into the noblest of men.

5. It bestows undiluted bliss.

6. It lends eternal satiation.

7. It ensures the transcendence of the individual from the influence of all attributes.

8. It bestows the state of a sthit pragya.

9. It makes one worthy of worship and the deepest respect.

10. It grants the individual a God-like state, worthy of attainment by all.

Little one, in fact this very strength is the sole support of the world. This power which seems feeble and ineffective, turns the demon into a human being and the human being into a God!

However, those who are proud of their strength, constantly endeavour to obliterate the other. Such people try to subdue and subjugate the other. Those who boast of their might do not know that true strength lies in the Lord Himself. They constantly oppose and reject the Lord.

Look! Try to understand carefully those attributes by which the world recognises the Lord. The proof of His manifestation is His life.

Those who inhere demonic tendencies:

a) are devoid of godly qualities;

b) suppress and crush divinity underfoot;

c) abhor divine qualities;

d) constantly suppress those divine qualities – this exposes their hatred of the Lord;

e) do not recognise their duty.

Where they should discharge their duty, where they should humble themselves, where they should have endured and obeyed the other, there they:

a) ascribe fault;

b) take recourse to anger;

c) take recourse to knowledge and absolve themselves of all blame;

d) take support of false principles and believe themselves to be superior.

1. Duty must first be discharged at home.

2. Duty must first be fulfilled towards one’s near and dear ones.

3. Duty must be discharged towards one’s elders.

4. Duty must be discharged towards one’s children and relations.

Demonic souls first of all:

a) destroy every trace of their own near and dear ones;

b) cause the downfall of their own relations;

c) seek to subjugate their own kith and kin;

d) sever their relationship with their own people.

They eliminate the Lord from their hearts and they do not let His qualities enter their inner core. They so to say, repel the Lord. They also abhor the one who discharges his duties. If somebody else discharges his duties on their behalf, that benevolent being becomes the focus of their ire. He becomes their sworn enemy and they cast aspersions on the motives of these well-wishers.

a) To steal another’s good name and repute.

b) To criticise another.

c) To bring disgrace to another.

d) To attribute one’s own evil to another.

– all these are natural attributes of the demonic being.

Mercy, forgiveness, endurance, sympathy – they are oblivious to these terms. How can such qualities then emerge from their hearts?

These people are verily demons. They cannot be described even as ordinary human beings. They forget humane attributes and cannot tolerate the qualities of divinity either in themselves or in others. Their vision is adept at fault finding. If somebody loves them,

a) they accuse that one of false sentiments;

b) they impute motives of greed and desire;

c) they endeavour to degrade that one.

Such people make every effort to bring about the downfall of the virtuous. The Lord therefore says, “Such people abhor Me. They do not allow Me to dwell in them, and try to destroy those in whom I dwell.”

O mind! This comment of the Lord can be described as His eternal and unending tear. There are none who protect the qualities of divinity in the present day.

1. If you truly believe that only His name is true, then protect the qualities of the Lord.

2. If you take His name, endeavour to become like Him.

3. If you wish to take refuge in Him, then know His qualities to be the most superior and practice them in your life.

4. If the Lord’s devotion is in your heart, then employ His qualities in your life.

5. If you believe that He is the Truth, know that His qualities represent that Truth.

6. If you wish to live for Him, practice love and compassion.

7. If you wish to serve the Lord, serve the ones who love Him.

8. If you appreciate discourses on the Truth, generate attachment to the qualities of the Lord in your heart.

9. If you love the Lord truly, protect the Truth and those who abide by it even at the cost of your life.

What worship can be higher than this? What devotion can be superior to this? Can there be a better way of glorifying the Lord’s Name? The protection of the pilgrim of Truth is the worship of the Lord. Protect the ones who struggle towards the Truth in their ordinary lives.

This is the reason why the Lord Himself takes birth. This is the Lord’s message and also His injunction. So you too must do as the Lord says.