薄伽梵歌 16.18

他們自給自足，被精神和物質的力量所充斥，過度炫耀。如果他們被輕視，他們會非常憤恨。身體對他們來說比一切都重要，他們完全為身體而活。如果有人試圖阻撓他們的計劃或陰謀，他們會對其產生極度的敵意，並對其進行報復，試圖無情地殺死他們。他們心胸極其狹隘。正如夜晚降臨後黑暗似乎更加濃重，同樣地，隨著他們的愚蠢增加，他們的傲慢滋長，他們的我執（Ahamkara）發展，他們的驕傲膨脹，他們的迷惑（Moha）也日益增強。他們使用殘酷的武力來達到自私的目的。他們辱罵和虐待所有真誠、慈善並忠於我的人。我執（Ahamkara）是自我膨脹的原則，是無明的結果或變形。這是一切人性缺陷、反常行為和所有邪惡行為的根源。慾望、憤怒、貪婪、驕傲和虛偽都是我執的伴隨物。這個可怕的敵人很難克服，但透過正當的探究（Vichara）可以將其消滅。這些阿修羅（Asuras）因其深重的無明而極度自我中心，他們對自己所擁有的品質以及他們虛假地強加於自身的品質評價極高。他們認為自己是偉大的人物，因為他們將良好的品質強加於自身，這也增加了他們的我執。他們試圖利用其財富優勢來羞辱他人。他們會賄賂他人作偽證，並做任何事情來達到其自私的目的。力量（Balam）伴隨著慾望和執著。阿修羅利用其身體的力量來羞辱和摧毀他人。如果一個人沒有建立在持戒（Yama，由不傷害、誠實、不偷盜、禁慾和不貪婪組成的五重倫理完美準則）之上，如果他沒有純潔的心，如果他的心被邪惡傾向所充斥或飽和，並且如果他獲得任何形式的力量，他將會濫用或誤用它，並試圖羞辱或虐待他人。如果他具備持戒，他將永遠不會濫用它們，因此他永遠不會墮落。這就是帕坦伽利（Patanjali）大仙說「力量是瑜伽（Yoga）道路上的障礙」的原因。無情地避開它們，朝著目標前進。攀登瑜伽的階梯，直到達到超意識或神意識的最高境界。不要回頭，不要回憶過去。持戒是瑜伽的基礎。在開始專注和冥想之前，先建立在持戒之上。許多修行者之所以墮落，是因為他們一開始沒有練習持戒。他們立即跳到專注和冥想的練習，這是一個嚴重的錯誤。傲慢（Darpa）是指一個人心懷傲慢，變得非常傲慢和不公正，對他人採取專橫跋扈的態度，從不尊重長輩、導師（Gurus）和其他人。這是一種特殊的惡習，其根源在於心靈。當這種邪惡品質顯現時，一個人就會偏離美德之路。憤怒（Krodha）在遇到不愉快的事情或不合意的事情時顯現。這些阿修羅憎恨我，這位作為他們思想和行為的無聲見證者居住在他們自己身體中的主。他們認為我也只是一個人類，因此憎恨我。他們不理解我無所不在和不朽的本性。他們根本不關心了解和遵循我的誡命，或吠陀（Vedas）和《法典》（Smritis）中給出的訓誡。如果有人違反我在經典中給出的誡命，那無疑等同於對我的憎恨行為。這些人非常惡毒，他們心懷惡意或不純潔的動機。他們嫉妒那些有美德並走在正義道路上的人。當他們注意到他人的優點時，他們心中燃燒。這就是嫉妒（Matsarya）的一種形式。如果一個人將邪惡品質強加於一個具有美德的正直之人身上，這就是誹謗（Asuya）。如果他看到一個富有或成功的人時心中燃燒，這就是妒忌（Irshya）。

They are selfsufficient and puffed up with mental and material power. They pose too much. They resent it much if they are belittled. The body is dearer to them than everything else. They live solely for it. If anybody tries to thwart their plans or schemes they become bitterly hostile towards him. They take vengeance on him and try to kill him mercilessly. They are extremely meanminded. Just as darness seems to be denser after night sets in? so also as their,folly increases? their arrogance grows? their egoism develops? their pride swells? and their delusion augments day by day. They use brutal force to gain their selfish ends. They abuse and illtreat all those people who are truthful and charitable? and who are devoted to Me.Ahamkaram Egoism The selfarrogating principle? the effect or modification of ignorance. This is the source of all the defects and perversities in human nature and of all evil actions. Lust? anger? greed? pride and hypocrisy are all attendants of egoism. It is very difficult to overcome this dire enemy? but through Vichara (right eniry) it can be annihilated.These Asuras who are very egoistic on account of their deep ignorance esteem themselves very highly for the alities they possess and for those which they falsely superimpose upon themselves. They think that they are very great persons on account of the good alities which they have superimposed upon themselves and their egoism is increased thery. They try to humiliate others by using their financial supremacy. They will bribe people to give false evidence and do anything to attain their selfish ends.Balam Power accompanied by lust and attachment. The Asuras use their strength of body to humiliate and destroy others. If a man is not established in Yama (the fivefold canon of ethical perfection? consisting of noninjury? truthfulness? nonstealing? celibacy and noncovetousness)? if he has no purity of heart? if his mind is surcharged or saturated with evil tendencies? and if he gets power of any sort? he will misuse or abuse it and try to humiliate or abuse others. Powers or Siddhis are bound to come if one practises concentration of mind. If he is endowed with Yama? he will never misuse them and so he will never have a downfall. That is the reason why Patanjali Maharshi says Powers are obstacles on the path of Yoga. Shun them ruthlessly. March onwards to the goal. Climb the ladder of Yoga till you attain the highest state of superconsciousness or Godconsciousness. Do not look back. Have no memories of the past.Yama is the very foundation of Yoga. Get yourself established in Yama before you take to concentration and meditation. Many aspirants get a downfall because they do not practise Yama to begin with. They jump at once to the practice of concentration and meditation. This is sad mistake.Darpa Haughtiness. A man whose heart is filled with haughtiness becomes very insolent and unjust and assumes an overbearing and domineering attitude towards others he never respects the elders? Gurus and others. This is a peculiar vice that has its seat in the mind. When this evil ality manifests itself? one swerves from the path of virtue.Krodha Anger manifests itself when one gets something unplesant and when he comes across something disagreeable.These Asuras hate Me? the Lord Who dwells in their own bodies as the silent witness of their thoughts and actions. They think that I am also a human being and hate Me. They do not understand My allpervading and imperishable nature. They do not care at all to know and follow. My ?nds or the injunctions given in the Vedas and the Smritis. If anyone violates My ?nds given in the scriptures? it is surely tantamount to an act of hatred towards Me. These people are very malicious. They have evil intentions or impure motives. They are jealous of those persons who are virtuous and who tread the path of righteousness. Their hearts burn when they notice good alities in others. This is Matsarya? a form of jealousy. If a man superimposes evil alities on a virtuous man who is endowed with good alities? this is Asuya. If his heart burns when he sees a wealthy or prosperous man? this is Irshya.