Quiz · 16.1–16.6
Two endowments
Cover the answer. Read the Devanagari of the verse before you open it.
1
In 16.5, what case are vimokṣāya (विमोक्षाय) and nibandhāya (निबन्धाय), and what question does that case answer?
Answer
Dative singular. It answers "for what." The divine endowment is for release. The demonic endowment is for bondage. The ending --āya (आय) is the "for."
2
abhijātaḥ (अभिजातः) stands in front of asi (असि) in 16.5. What is recited, and which sandhi makes it?
Answer
abhijāto 'si (अभिजातोऽसि). अः + अ aḥ + a becomes o (ओ), and the a (अ) of asi (असि) is dropped. The dropped a (अ) is the avagraha. It is not a sound.
3
What does 16.5 say, in one sentence?
Answer
The divine endowment is held to be for release and the demonic for bondage, so do not grieve, Pāṇḍava (पाण्डव): you are born to the divine endowment.
4
Where do 16.1–16.6 sit in the talk between Arjuna and Kṛṣṇa (कृष्ण)?
Answer
Kṛṣṇa (कृष्ण) is speaking, and Arjuna has not answered. The divine endowment is the list from 16.1 through 16.3: fearlessness, purity of being, standing firm in the yoga of knowledge, and the qualities that follow. The demonic endowment is the opposite list in 16.4, hypocrisy, arrogance, self-conceit, anger, harshness, and ignorance. He tells Arjuna not to grieve, because Arjuna is born to the divine one. Two creations of beings are in this world; the divine has been spoken, and he is to hear the demonic.
5
Say the first quarter of 16.1 back. Which word fails the sitting if it comes out wrong?
Answer
abhayaṃ sattvasaṃśuddhir jñānayogavyavasthitiḥ (अभयं सत्त्वसंशुद्धिर् ज्ञानयोगव्यवस्थितिः). If abhayam (अभयम्) comes out as fear, or if jñāna-yoga-vyavasthitiḥ (ज्ञान-योग-व्यवस्थितिः) comes out as a doctrine instead of a standing firm, stay here.