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प्रवृत्तिं च निवृत्तिं च जना न विदुरासुराः।न शौचं नापि चाचारो न सत्यं तेषु विद्यते।।16.7।।

pravṛittiṁ cha nivṛittiṁ cha janā na vidur āsurāḥ na śhauchaṁ nāpi chāchāro na satyaṁ teṣhu vidyate

Sanskrit Chant Recitation
Chapter 16, Verse 7
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Scripture Translation Room

Sanskrit to English Translation

Translator:
The demoniacal do not know what to do and what to refrain from; they have neither purity, nor right conduct, nor truth.

A Reading - Rantideb

Why: demonic people do not know what to do and what to avoid, neither purity, good conduct, nor truth is found in them, naming confusion about basic right and wrong as the actual defining feature of this pattern, rather than simple bad luck or circumstance.

In life: someone caught in a genuinely harmful pattern often isn't confused about facts, they're confused, or willfully unclear, about basic distinctions between right and harmful conduct that would otherwise guide their choices.

Teaching: if you're trying to help someone stuck in a harmful pattern, check whether the actual problem is a genuine confusion about basic right and wrong, rather than assuming they simply need more information or better circumstances.

pravṛittimproper actions
chaand
nivṛittimimproper actions
chaand
janāḥpersons
nanot
viduḥcomprehend
āsurāḥthose possessing demoniac nature
naneither
śhauchampurity
nanor
apieven
chaand
āchāraḥconduct
nanor
satyamtruthfulness
teṣhuin them
vidyateexist

Deep Classical Commentary (Bhashya)

Author:
16.7 प्रवृत्तिम् action? च and? निवृत्तिम् inaction? च and? जनाः men? न not? विदुः know? आसुराः the demoniac? न not? शौचम् purity? न not? अपि also? च and? आचारः (right) conduct? न not? सत्यम् truth? तेषु in them? विद्यते is.Commentary The demoniacal do not understand the nature of action and inaction (right abstinence). The idea of a Self apart from the body? doing nothing (actionless) but imply watching the play of the Gunas is something incomprehensible to them. They have no consideration for the interest of others. They work for the sake of their bodies or sensual enjoyment. They are greedy? selfish and cruel. Therefore? they have neither good conduct nor good behaviour. They are untruthful? unjust and impure. They do not know what actions they should do in order to attain the goal of life or end of human existence? nor from what actions they should refrain to ward off,evil.Those who are endowed with demoniacal alities are sunk in the mire of ignorance. They are totally ignorant of what is prescribed or what is prohibited action. They have not the least idea of what purity or cleanliness is. Their actions are crooked. They know neither right Pravritti nor right Nivritti. They have no idea of virtue or vice or of scriptural injunctions or prohibitions. They will never speak loving words. They are hypocrites and liars.