Chapter 16Verse 21 of 24

Bhagavad Gita 16.21

त्रिविधं नरकस्येदं द्वारं नाशनमात्मनः । कामः क्रोधस्तथा लोभस्तस्मादेतत्त्रयं त्यजेत् ॥

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

Translation

Threefold is this gate of hell, destruction of the self: lust, anger, and greed. Therefore one should forsake these three.

Now the prescription, mercifully short. Three gates of hell, three doors of self-destruction. Kama, krodha, lobha. Lust, anger, greed. Across fourteen verses of asuri portrait, Krishna concentrates the cure into three names. Tasmat etat trayam tyajet: therefore one should forsake these three. The number matters. Three is workable. A seeker can hold three watchers in mind without overwhelm. Notice them as they arise. Decline the next move they recommend. The triplet is also internally linked. Lust unsatisfied turns to anger. Anger satisfied congeals into greed. Greed satisfied returns to lust for more. Break any one of the three and the cycle weakens. Krishna does not ask for elimination. He asks for the choice to step out at any of the three gates.

Reflection

Which of the three, lust or anger or greed, opens most often for you, and how do you spot the door?

Read this verse in its chapter: Chapter Sixteen

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