Bhagavad Gita 16.18 — Egotism, Power and Anger: Hating the Divine Within All Bodies
अहङ्कारं बलं दर्पं कामं क्रोधं च संश्रिताः ।
मामात्मपरदेहेषु प्रद्विषन्तोऽभ्यसूयकाः ॥ १६.१८ ॥
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Given to egotism, power, arrogance, desire and anger, these malicious people hate Me, who dwell in their own bodies and in the bodies of others.
Transliteration (IAST)
Word Separation
The Sanskrit verse is separated into individual words (Padched) for easier study.
Word Meanings
| Line 1 | |
|---|---|
| Sanskrit Word | Meaning |
| ahaṅkāram | egotism, false sense of self |
| balam | power, brute strength |
| darpam | arrogance |
| kāmam | desire, lust |
| krodham | anger |
| cha | and |
| saṁśhritāḥ | having taken shelter of |
| Line 2 | |
|---|---|
| Sanskrit Word | Meaning |
| mām | Me, the Supreme Lord |
| ātma-para-deheṣhu | in their own bodies and in the bodies of others |
| pradviṣhantaḥ | hating, despising |
| abhyasūyakāḥ | malicious, faultfinding |
| Line 1 | Line 2 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sanskrit Word | Meaning | Sanskrit Word | Meaning |
| ahaṅkāram | egotism, false sense of self | mām | Me, the Supreme Lord |
| balam | power, brute strength | ātma-para-deheṣhu | in their own bodies and in the bodies of others |
| darpam | arrogance | pradviṣhantaḥ | hating, despising |
| kāmam | desire, lust | abhyasūyakāḥ | malicious, faultfinding |
| krodham | anger | ||
| cha | and | ||
| saṁśhritāḥ | having taken shelter of | ||
Detailed Meaning
Introduction
Lord Krishna now names the five forces on which the demoniac person relies: ego, power, arrogance, desire, and anger. The result is a tragic reversal. Such people come to hate and criticize the Lord Himself, who dwells within their own bodies and within the bodies of others.
Essence
Hating the Divine Within
Ahaṅkāram, balam, darpam, kāmam, krodham (ego, power, arrogance, desire, anger): These five are the pillars of the demoniac outlook. Ego creates the sense of separate self; power gives it the means to dominate; arrogance makes it blind to correction; desire fuels its pursuits; anger defends it when frustrated. They support and strengthen one another.
Saṁśritāḥ (taking shelter in): The word saṁśrita means taking refuge. The devotee takes refuge in God; these people take refuge in their own ego and appetite. The difference of refuge is the difference between the two paths.
Mām ātma-para-deheṣu (Me, residing in their own and others' bodies): This is a profound statement of Vedāntic vision. Lord Krishna says that He dwells in every being as the indwelling Self (Paramātmā). Harming another, then, is not merely violating a rule; it is disrespecting the Divine presence within that person.
Pradviṣantaḥ (hating) and abhyasūyakāḥ (finding fault): When people live against the conscience and the moral order, the inner voice of the Self becomes unbearable. They try to silence it by denying, mocking, or resenting it. They also grow envious of the goodness in others.
This verse invites a deeper understanding of how we treat people. If the Divine is present in every being, then contempt, cruelty, and exploitation are ultimately acts against the Divine itself, and against our own deeper nature.
Message for Everyday Life (Seeing the Sacred in Everyone)
Dignity in every person: We often treat people according to their usefulness, status, or how they treat us. The Gita offers a higher standard: respect every person as carrying the same inner Self.
Practical approach: When you feel resentment toward someone, pause and remember that the same consciousness lives in them as in you. This does not remove the need for boundaries, but it softens hatred and opens the possibility of understanding.
Hating the Divine Within
Ahaṅkāram, balam, darpam, kāmam, krodham (ego, power, arrogance, desire, anger): These five are the pillars of the demoniac outlook. Ego creates the sense of separate self; power gives it the means to dominate; arrogance makes it blind to correction; desire fuels its pursuits; anger defends it when frustrated. They support and strengthen one another.
Saṁśritāḥ (taking shelter in): The word saṁśrita means taking refuge. The devotee takes refuge in God; these people take refuge in their own ego and appetite. The difference of refuge is the difference between the two paths.
Mām ātma-para-deheṣu (Me, residing in their own and others' bodies): This is a profound statement of Vedāntic vision. Lord Krishna says that He dwells in every being as the indwelling Self (Paramātmā). Harming another, then, is not merely violating a rule; it is disrespecting the Divine presence within that person.
Pradviṣantaḥ (hating) and abhyasūyakāḥ (finding fault): When people live against the conscience and the moral order, the inner voice of the Self becomes unbearable. They try to silence it by denying, mocking, or resenting it. They also grow envious of the goodness in others.
This verse invites a deeper understanding of how we treat people. If the Divine is present in every being, then contempt, cruelty, and exploitation are ultimately acts against the Divine itself, and against our own deeper nature.
Message for Everyday Life (Seeing the Sacred in Everyone)
Dignity in every person: We often treat people according to their usefulness, status, or how they treat us. The Gita offers a higher standard: respect every person as carrying the same inner Self.
Practical approach: When you feel resentment toward someone, pause and remember that the same consciousness lives in them as in you. This does not remove the need for boundaries, but it softens hatred and opens the possibility of understanding.
Next Topic
Lord Krishna has said that such people hate the Divine present in themselves and in others. What follows from this deep opposition to the Lord's own presence? In the next verse, He describes the consequence: such cruel haters are repeatedly born into demoniac wombs in the cycles of worldly existence.
Hidden Messages In This Shloka
Reflect on this verse from different perspectives and see which deeper message opens up for you.
Wisdom Nuggets
The same light shines in every face.
Hating others injures your own heart first.
Ego divides; love unites.
Envy poisons the one who feeds it.
See the sacred in everyone you meet.
Strength without kindness is a danger.
Peace begins by ending hostility within.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is 'ahaṅkāra' (egotism)?
What does 'ātma-para-deha' (in their own and others' bodies) mean?
Why does the verse say they hate the Lord?
What does 'abhyasūyaka' (malicious) mean?
What does this verse teach about relating to others?
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