‘Deva’ and ‘Asura’ ---- Meaning

Br.up.1.3.1.S.B—devaas’cha asuras’cha------------------- atyanta-yatna-saadhyaa hi sa.

The devas and the asuras are the organs of speech, etc, of Prajaapati himself. They become devas when they shine under the influence of thoughts and actions as laid down in the scriptures, while those very organs become asuras when they are under the influence of natural thoughts and actions, based only on perception and inference and directed merely towards visible, material ends. They are called asuras because they delight only in their own senses, or because they are other than gods (or suras). The devas are fewer in number than the asuras, because, as we know, the organs have a stronger tendency towards thoughts and actions that are natural than towards those that are prescribed by the scriptures, for the former lead to visible, material ends. The tendency to adhere to the prescriptions of the scriptures is rare, because it is attainable only by great and sincere effort.   

Ch.up.1.2.1.S.B--- devaaH diivyateH dyotanaarthasya--- indriyavr.ttayaH eva.

The word ‘deva’ is derived from the root ‘div’ in the sense of shining. (This root has many meanings). It therefore means the functions of the organs when they are illumined by the scriptures. The asuras are the natural, unillumined (ignorant) activities of the organs, opposed to the devas, because of being engrossed in the enjoyment of sense-objects. From time immemorial a war, as it were, has been going on in the minds of all individual beings, between the gods and the demons, with each side intent on defeating the other.

iis’aavaasya up. 4. S.B—dyotanaat devaaH ---

Here the word ‘devaaH’ means the organs of knowledge such as the eyes.

Br. up. 5.2.3.S.B---  athavaa na devaa asuraa vaa------------ kruuraaH cha dr.s’yante.

Or, there are no gods or asuras other than men. Those among men who are lacking in self-control, but are otherwise endowed with many good qualities, are the gods. Those who are particularly greedy are men, while those who are cruel and given to injuring others are the asuras. So members of the same species, man, are given the titles of god, man and demon according to the predominance of the three gunas in them. The instructions given by Prajapati in this section are therefore meant for all men.   

   To Contents