आढ्योऽभिजनवानस्मि कोऽन्यः''स्ति सदृशो मया।यक्ष्ये दास्यामि मोदिष्य इत्यज्ञानविमोहिताः।।16.15।।
āḍhyo'bhijanavānsmi ko'anya'sti sadṛśo mayā yakṣye dāsyāmi modiśy ityajñānavimohitāḥ
Translation
I am wealthy and of noble birth; who else is like me? I shall perform sacrifices, I shall give gifts, I shall rejoice—these are the deluded notions of those misled by false knowledge.
Word Meanings
आढ्योऽभिजनवानस्मि — I am rich and of noble birth; कोऽन्यः — who else; अस्ति — is; सदृशो — similar; मया — by me; यक्ष्ये — I shall perform sacrifices; दास्यामि — I shall give gifts; मोदिष्य — I shall rejoice; इति — thus; ज्ञानविमोहिताः — deluded by false knowledge
Understanding the Verse
Chapter 16 of the Bhagavad Gita contrasts the divine (daivi) and demoniac (asuri) qualities that govern human conduct. Verse 15 belongs to the section describing the mindset of the demoniac, those bound by ego, materialism, and ignorance. The speaker proudly declares himself "āḍhyo'bhijanavānsmi," meaning "I am rich and of noble birth." This self‑praise reflects the typical demoniac tendency to identify self‑worth with external status, wealth, and lineage, rather than with inner virtues or spiritual progress.
The rhetorical question "ko'anya'sti sadṛśo mayā" – "Who else is like me?" – underscores the arrogance that emerges when one conflates societal rank with moral superiority. In the demoniac worldview, superiority is measured by comparison with others, fostering jealousy and a need to assert dominance. This attitude blinds the individual to the universal truth that all beings are fundamentally equal in their inherent spiritual nature.
The verse continues with a list of planned actions: "yakṣye dāsyāmi modiśy" – "I shall perform sacrifices, I shall give gifts, I shall rejoice." While on the surface these actions appear noble, within the demoniac context they are driven by selfish desire for recognition and pleasure. The sacrifices are not offerings to the Divine, but rituals performed to enhance personal prestige. Likewise, giving gifts is aimed at gaining favor and material return, and rejoicing is rooted in fleeting sensory enjoyment. The underlying motive is self‑glorification, not self‑realization.
Finally, the phrase "ityajñānavimohitāḥ" identifies those who hold such views as "deluded by false knowledge." This is a crucial teaching of the Gita: ignorance (ajñāna) is not merely lack of information, but a distorted perception that elevates the ego and material acquisition over spiritual truth. The demoniac misinterpretation of "knowledge" leads them to justify pride, greed, and hedonism as virtues, thereby perpetuating their bondage to samsara.
In practical terms, this verse serves as a warning to the modern reader. It invites introspection about the motivations behind our actions: Are we performing duties for the sake of egoic validation, or are we offering them as sincere service to the Divine? Recognizing and transcending the demoniac mindset paves the way toward the divine qualities described later in the chapter—humility, compassion, self‑control, and devotion—ultimately leading to liberation.
