टीका

Commentary

The final verse of Chapter 16 delivers the practical conclusion of the entire discourse on divine and demonic natures. After twenty-three verses of analysis, the prescription is elegantly simple: let scripture be your guide.

Tasmat shastram pramanam te — “therefore, let scripture be your authority.” The word pramana means proof, evidence, the standard by which something is measured. In matters of what should be done (karya) and what should not be done (akarya), scripture provides the reliable framework that personal desire cannot.

Jnatva shastra-vidhanoktam — “having understood what scripture declares.” This is not blind obedience. Krishna says jnatva — having understood, having known. The expectation is that one will study, reflect, and understand the principles behind scriptural injunctions, not merely follow rules mechanically.

Karma kartum iharhasi — “you should perform action in this world.” The Gita does not advocate withdrawal from the world. It advocates engagement with the world, guided by right understanding. The person who knows what scripture teaches and acts accordingly is both effective in the world and progressing spiritually.

This concluding verse ties the chapter together. The divine nature is characterized by alignment with dharma and scriptural guidance. The demonic nature is characterized by the rejection of all authority beyond personal desire. The choice between these two paths is the choice that defines a human life. Krishna has laid out both paths with unflinching clarity — the rest is up to the seeker.

Thus ends Chapter 16 of the Bhagavad Gita, “Daivasura Sampad Vibhaga Yoga” — The Yoga of Distinguishing the Divine and Demonic Natures.