Bhagavad Gita Chapter 16 Verse 4 (16.4)

दम्भो दर्पोऽभिमानश्च क्रोधः पारुष्यमेव च । अज्ञानं चाभिजातस्य पार्थ सम्पदमासुरीम् | | १६-४ | |

dambho darpo’bhimānaśhcha krodhaḥ pāruṣhyameva cha ajñānaṁ chābhijātasya pārtha sampadamāsurīm

Word-by-word guide:

Line 1:

दम्भः (dambhah) — पाखंड(hypocrisy/pretension)
दर्पः (darpah) — घमंड(arrogance/pride)
अभिमानः (abhimanah) — अभिमान(self-conceit/insolence)
च (cha) — और(and)
क्रोधः (krodhah) — क्रोध(anger)
पारुष्यम् (parushyam) — कठोरता(cruelty/harshness)
एव (eva) — ही(indeed)
च (cha) — और(and)

Line 2:

अज्ञनम् (ajnanam) — न ही(ignorance/lack of understanding)
c joined in chābhijātasya
अभिजातस्य (abhijatasya) — जन्मे हुए का(of one born with)
पार्थ (Partha) — हे पार्थ अर्जुन(Arjuna)
सम्पदम् (sampadam) — संपदा(qualities)
आसुरीम् (asurim) — आसुरी(demoniac/godless)

English: Hypocrisy, pride, insolence, cruelty, lack of understanding belong to him who is born of the godless qualities.

💡 Commentary Note

Krishna contrasts these with demoniac qualities: hypocrisy, pride, arrogance, conceit, anger, and harshness. These qualities bind the soul to ignorance.

Learnings from Shloka 4:

Demoniac Qualities:: Hypocrisy and pride create a false self-image that blocks spiritual growth.
Anger and Harshness:: Harsh behavior and irritation are indicators of egoism and lack of self-control.

Gita/Sanskrit Language Quiz

Practice this shloka vocabulary

Match Sanskrit words from shloka 16.4 with their Hindi and English meanings.

Practice vocabulary

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