Bhagavad GitaBhagavad Gita 16.21
Chapter 16, verse 21: the Sanskrit, the Roman letters, the meaning and what it is used for.
त्रिविधं नरकस्येदं द्वारं नाशनमात्मनः
कामः क्रोधस्तथा लोभस्तस्मादेतत्त्रयं त्यजेत्
trividhaṃ narakasyedaṃ dvāraṃ nāśanamātmanaḥ
kāmaḥ krodhastathā lobhastasmādetattrayaṃ tyajet
Meaning
Threefold is this gate of hell, destructive of the self: desire, anger and greed. Therefore one should give up these three.
Explanation
The same three, kama, krodha and lobha, are named in other places. The verse is plain: these are the forces which most reliably ruin people. It does not say that wanting or caring is wrong; it speaks of the three in their excess.
Where it fits
This is verse 21 of 24 in chapter 16, "Divine and demonic qualities" (Daivasura Sampad Vibhaga Yoga). previous verse (16.20) · next verse (16.22)
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Related verses
- Bhagavad Gita 2.62
- Bhagavad Gita 2.63
- Bhagavad Gita 4.18
- Bhagavad Gita 6.5
- Bhagavad Gita 6.6
- Bhagavad Gita 6.17
Questions people ask
What does Bhagavad Gita 16.21 mean?
Threefold is this gate of hell, destructive of the self: desire, anger and greed. Therefore one should give up these three.
Where is this verse?
It is verse 21 of chapter 16 (Divine and demonic qualities), which has 24 verses.
Meanings and explanations are our own wording, not an authorised translation. Readers of the Gita follow different traditions and teachers; please ask yours about what you read here.