Bhagavad Gita · 16.21

Chapter 16, Verse 21

Daivasura Sampad Vibhaga Yoga — Sanskrit shloka, transliteration, word meanings, English translation, and commentary.

Original Sanskrit verse

त्रिविधं नरकस्येदं द्वारं नाशनमात्मनः।कामः क्रोधस्तथा लोभस्तस्मादेतत्त्रयं त्यजेत्।।16.21।।

Transliteration

tri-vidhaṁ narakasyedaṁ dvāraṁ nāśhanam ātmanaḥ kāmaḥ krodhas tathā lobhas tasmād etat trayaṁ tyajet

Word meanings

tri-vidham—three types of; narakasya—to the hell; idam—this; dvāram—gates; nāśhanam—destruction; ātmanaḥ—self; kāmaḥ—lust; krodhaḥ—anger; tathā—and; lobhaḥ—greed; tasmāt—therefore; etat—these; trayam—three; tyajet—should abandon

English translation

There are three gates to this hell, destructive of the self: lust, anger, and greed; therefore, one should abandon these three.

— Swami Sivananda

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Commentary

Lust; anger and greed; -- these highway robbers will cause a man to fall into the dark abyss of hell; misery or grief. These are the three fountainheads of misery. These three constitute the gateway leading to the lowest of hells. These are the enemies of peace; devotion and knowledge. When these evil modifications of the mind arise in it; man loses his balance or poise and discrimination and commits various evil actions. Lust; anger and greed denote selfblindness and ignorance; for there are no Vasanas; wants; anger; or greed in Brahman or the pure immortal Self. Narakasya dvaram The gate to hell The gate leading to hell. The self is destroyed by merely entering at the gate; i.e.; it is not fit to do any right exertion to attain the goal of life. As this gate causes selfdestruction; let everyone renounce these three. (Cf. III.47)In the next verse the man who has abandoned these three evils is highyl eulogised.

Commentary by Swami Sivananda

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