Bhagavad Gita 16.21 meaningGates to downfall

In simple wordsSo simple a child gets it

“Three doors lead to misery: lust, anger and greed. Close all three.” — a simple map for a peaceful life.

What it means

“There are three gates to this hell that destroy the self: lust, anger and greed. So let go of all three.”

The original Sanskrit · known as “Trividham Narakasyedam”

त्रिविधं नरकस्येदं द्वारं नाशनमात्मनः । कामः क्रोधस्तथा लोभस्तस्मादेतत्त्रयं त्यजेत् ॥

trividhaṃ narakasyedaṃ dvāraṃ nāśanamātmanaḥ kāmaḥ krodhastathā lobhastasmādetattrayaṃ tyajet

Literal translation

This door of hell, which is the destroyer of the soul, is of three kinds-passion, anger and also greed. Therefore one should forsake these three.

Swami Gambhirananda

हिंदी अनुवाद

काम, क्रोध और लोभ ये आत्मनाश के त्रिविध द्वार हैं, इसलिए इन तीनों को त्याग देना चाहिए।

Swami Tejomayananda

Go deeper

How great teachers across 1,200 years have explained this verse.

Loading commentaries…