September 8, 2017: Bhagavadgita defines divine qualities in men

śrīmadbhagavadgītā : daivāsurasampadvibhāgayoga

Bg 16.1-3

śrī-bhagavān uvāca

abhayaṁ sattva-saṁśuddhir jñāna-yoga-vyavasthitiḥ

dānaṁ damaś ca yajñaś ca svādhyāyas tapa ārjavam

ahiṁsā satyam akrodhas tyāgaḥ śāntir apaiśunam

dayā bhūteṣv aloluptvaṁ mārdavaṁ hrīr acāpalam

tejaḥ kṣamā dhṛtiḥ śaucam adroho nāti-mānitā

bhavanti sampadaṁ daivīm abhijātasya bhārata

śrīmadbhagavadgītā : daivāsurasampadvibhāgayoga

Re-ordered words with word-by-word meaning

śrī-bhagavān uvāca - The Lord (Krishna) said

bhārata - Oh Arjuna,

abhijātasya daivīm bhavanti sampadaṁ  - For the one born of divine tendencies, these will be the attributes (riches of tendencies):

abhayaṁ - fearlessness, sattva-saṁśuddhiḥ - purity of nature (uncorrupted), jñāna-yoga-vyavasthitiḥ - being established in the yoga of knowledge/wisdom,

dānaṁ damaḥ ca yajñaḥ - generosity, self-control and an attitude of making all work worshipful,

ca svādhyāyaḥ tapaḥ - and a process of self-study, and austerity,

ārjavam ahiṁsā satyam - an earnestness of learning, non-violence, and truthfulness,

akrodhaḥ tyāgaḥ śāntiḥ apaiśunam - freedom from hate, self-abnegation, peacefulness, and not carrying tales/gossip/speaking ill about others,

dayā bhūteṣu - compassion for all creatures,

aloluptvaṁ mārdavaṁ - no wantonness (in sense pleasures), a tenderness/sensitivity to everything,

hrīḥ - a sense of modesty,

acāpalam - no indulgences/weaknesses for sense pleasures,

tejaḥ kṣamā dhṛtiḥ - a radiance of self-clarity, forgiveness, and forbearance/fortitude against troubles,

 śaucam adrohaḥ nāti-mānitā - an overall cleanliness, nonbetrayal of friends, and not too much self-pride=self-aggrandisement.

As Krishna brings the teaching of Bhagavadgita towards its conclusion, he illustrates many qualities that an honest seeker should cultivate. These qualities lead one towards liberation and are described as such as "divine tendencies".

The list is rather comprehensive, and is entirely behavioural. Hence if someone wants to know if he has divine tendencies, he can use this template and study himself.

Krishna goes on to enumerate next the demonic tendencies. He humours Arjuna, who looks worried and caught in self-examination, that Arjuna need not be worried, for he is full of divine tendencies!😃😃😃

All the Bhagavadgita and Swami Chinmayananda's commentary are covered in http://geetamusings.blogspot.in

(Photo taken on 6th main, 6:49 AM, 4-4-2006).