798
Bhagayad-jitā  As It Is
[Ch 16]
attempt. There may be failure in some attempt, but one should not be sorry for that; he should make progress with patience and determination. The word  tejah  used here is meant for the  kṣatriyas . The  kṣatriyas  should always be very strong to be able to give protection to the weak. They should not pose themselves as nonviolent. If violence is required, they must exhibit it.
Saucam  means cleanliness, not only in mind and body but in one's dealings also. It is especially meant for the mercantile people, who should not deal in the black market.  Nātimānitā , not expecting honor, applies to the  śūdras , the worker class, which are considered, according to Vedic injunctions, to be the lowest of the four classes. They should not be puffed up with unnecessary prestige or honor and should remain in their own status. It is the duty of the  śūdras  to offer respect to the higher class for the upkeep of the social order.
All these sixteen qualifications mentioned are transcendental qualities. They should be cultivated according to the different statuses of the social order. The purport is that even though material conditions are miserable, if these qualities are developed by practice, by all classes of men, then gradually it is possible to rise to the highest platform of transcendental realization.
TEXT 4
दम्भो दर्पोऽभिमानश्च क्रोधः पारुष्यमेव च । अज्ञानं चाभिजातस्य पार्थ संपदमासुरीम् ॥ ४ ॥
dambho darpo 'bhimānaś ca krodhaḥ pāruṣyam eva ca ajñānaṁ cābhijātasya pārtha sampadam āsurīm
dambhaḥ —pride;  darpaḥ —arrogance;  abhimānaḥ —conceit;  ca —and;  krodaḥ —anger;  pāruṣyam —harshness;  eva —certainly;  ca —and;  ajñānam —ignorance;  ca —and;  abhijātasya —one who is born;  pārtha —O son of Pṛthā;  sampadam —nature;  āsurīm —demoniac.
TRANSLATION
Arrogance, pride, anger, conceit, harshness and ignorance—these qualities belong to those of demonic nature, O son of Pṛthā.