तानहं द्विषतः क्रूरान्संसारेषु नराधमान्।क्षिपाम्यजस्रमशुभानासुरीष्वेव योनिषु।।16.19।।
tān ahaṁ dviṣataḥ krūrān saṁsāreṣu nara‑ādhamān kṣipāmi ajasram aśubhān āsurīṣu eva yoniṣu
Translation
I cast those envious, cruel, basest of mankind perpetually into the inauspicious demoniac wombs of material existence.
Word Meanings
tān — those; ahaṁ — I; dviṣataḥ — envious; krūrān — cruel; saṁsāreṣu — in the material worlds; nara‑ādhamān — the lowest of mankind; kṣipāmi — I cast; ajasram — eternally; aśubhān — inauspicious; āsurīṣu — demoniac; eva — certainly; yoniṣu — into wombs.
Understanding the Verse
In this powerful declaration of Chapter 16, Verse 19, Lord Krishna addresses the fate of those who are attached to the demonic (āsuric) qualities. The verse begins with “tān ahaṁ” – ‘I, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, myself…’, emphasizing that the action described is not a mere cosmic rule but a direct, purposeful act of the Divine.
The adjectives that follow – “dviṣataḥ” (envious), “krūrān” (cruel), “nara‑ādhamān” (the lowest of mankind) – enumerate the threefold demonic traits that dominate a person’s mind when they are completely detached from dharma. Envy fuels a relentless desire to diminish others; cruelty erodes compassion, leading to actions that cause suffering; and being the ‘lowest of mankind’ signifies a state of moral degeneration where even basic human decency is abandoned.
Krishna then uses the verb “kṣipāmi” – ‘I cast’ – to convey the decisive, uncompromising nature of this divine judgment. It is not a passive letting‑go; it is an active expulsion from the realm of dharmic life into the “yoniṣu” (wombs). In Vedic cosmology, the womb is the source of birth and rebirth. By stating that these beings are thrown into “āsurīṣu yoniṣu” – the wombs of the demonic – Krishna indicates that their future incarnations will be bound to the realm of illusion, ignorance, and suffering, perpetuating their cycle of samsara in the most adverse conditions.
The term “ajasmram” (eternally) underscores the continuity of this condition. The demoniac womb is not a fleeting misfortune; it is a persistent state that reinforces the very qualities that caused the fall. This creates a self‑sustaining loop where envious and cruel actions lead to further births in demonic circumstances, which in turn nurture the same tendencies.
From a practical perspective, the verse serves as a stark warning for seekers of spiritual truth. It urges a conscious renunciation of these three vices, as they are not merely personality flaws but gateways to a profoundly adverse destiny. The text encourages cultivation of sattvic qualities—contentment, compassion, humility—to avoid the karmic trajectory described.
Moreover, the verse reflects a broader theological principle in the Gita: the Divine is the ultimate arbiter of cosmic order. While human free will drives actions, the outcome of those actions is governed by the Supreme’s decree. Krishna’s promise to “cast” serves both as a deterrent and a reassurance that righteousness is protected and that the demonic path inevitably leads to suffering.
In contemporary life, the symbolism of ‘womb’ can be interpreted as the environments we create for ourselves—families, communities, and societies. If we nurture envious and cruel tendencies, we foster environments where suffering thrives. Conversely, embodying dharmic virtues creates nurturing wombs that promote spiritual growth and harmony. Thus, this verse not only describes a metaphysical fate but also offers a profound ethical guide for personal and collective evolution.
