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Bhagavad Gita 16.21

Chapter 16, Verse 21

Part of 16: Daivāsura Sampad Vibhāg Yogदैवासुरसम्पद्विभागयोग

त्रिविधं नरकस्येदं द्वारं नाशनमात्मनः।कामः क्रोधस्तथा लोभस्तस्मादेतत्त्रयं त्यजेत्॥

Transliteration

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

Meaning

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

Word-by-word meaning
tri-vidhamthree types ofnarakasyato the hellidamthisdvāramgatesnāśhanamdestructionātmanaḥselfkāmaḥlustkrodhaḥangertathāandlobhaḥgreedtasmātthereforeetatthesetrayamthreetyajetshould abandon
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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the meaning of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 16, Verse 21?
There are three gates to this hell, destructive of the self: lust, anger, and greed; therefore, one should abandon these three.
Which chapter and verse of the Bhagavad Gita is this?
This is verse 21 of Chapter 16 (Daivāsura Sampad Vibhāg Yog — Yoga through Discerning the Divine and Demoniac Natures) of the Bhagavad Gita, a scripture of 18 chapters and 700 verses spoken by Lord Krishna to Arjuna.