Chapter 16, Verse 21
त्रिविधं नरकस्येदं द्वारं नाशनमात्मनः | कामः क्रोधस्तथा लोभस्तस्मादेतत्त्रयं त्यजेत् ||१६-२१||
trividhaṃ narakasyedaṃ dvāraṃ nāśanamātmanaḥ . kāmaḥ krodhastathā lobhastasmādetattrayaṃ tyajet ||16-21||
Meaning
16.21 Triple is the gate of this hell, destructive of the self lust, anger and greed; therefore one should abandon these three.
Word-by-Word Meaning
Explanation & Commentary
After the long exposition of the demoniac nature, Krishna distills its entire anatomy into three roots: kama (lust), krodha (anger), and lobha (greed). These are the trividha dvaram, the triple gate of hell — the three doorways through which all self-destruction enters. To understand them is to hold the master key to the whole chapter.
The phrase nashanam atmanah, 'destructive of the self,' is crucial. These three do not merely cause outer harm; they corrode the soul from within, dimming its light and binding it to suffering. Notice too that they are interlinked — thwarted desire becomes anger, fulfilled desire becomes greed for more. Krishna's counsel is direct and liberating: tasmad etat trayam tyajet — therefore abandon these three. Where earlier verses diagnosed at length, this one prescribes in a single breath, handing the seeker a clear and actionable focus for the inner work.
💡 Key Takeaway
Lust, anger, and greed are the three gates to ruin — guard against these and the inner life is largely safe.
Related Verses
श्रीभगवानुवाच | अभयं सत्त्वसंशुद्धिर्ज्ञानयोगव्यवस्थितिः | दानं दमश्च यज्ञश्च स्वाध्यायस्तप आर्जवम् ||१६-१||
śrībhagavānuvāca . abhayaṃ sattvasaṃśuddhirjñānayogavyavasthitiḥ . dānaṃ damaśca yajñaśca svādhyāyastapa ārjavam ||16-1||
16.1 The Blessed Lord said Fearlessness, purity of heart, steadfastness in knowledge and Yoga, almsgiving, control of the senses, sacrifice, study of scriptures, austerity and straightforwardness.
दम्भो दर्पोऽभिमानश्च क्रोधः पारुष्यमेव च | अज्ञानं चाभिजातस्य पार्थ सम्पदमासुरीम् ||१६-४||
dambho darpo.abhimānaśca krodhaḥ pāruṣyameva ca . ajñānaṃ cābhijātasya pārtha sampadamāsurīm ||16-4||
16.4 Hypocrisy, arrogance and self-conceit, anger and also harshness and ignorance, belong to one who is born for a demoniacal state, O Partha (Arjuna).
दैवी सम्पद्विमोक्षाय निबन्धायासुरी मता | मा शुचः सम्पदं दैवीमभिजातोऽसि पाण्डव ||१६-५||
daivī sampadvimokṣāya nibandhāyāsurī matā . mā śucaḥ sampadaṃ daivīmabhijāto.asi pāṇḍava ||16-5||
16.5 The divine nature is deemed conducive to liberation, and the demoniacal to bondage. Grieve not, O Arjuna, thou art born with divine endowments.