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Bhagavad Gita Chapter 16 Verse 21 (16.21)

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 16 Verse 21 (16.21)

त्रिविधं नरकस्येदं द्वारं नाशनमात्मनः । कामः क्रोधस्तथा लोभस्तस्मादेतत्त्रयं त्यजेत् | | १६-२१ | |

trividhaṁ narakasyedaṁ dvāraṁ nāśhanamātmanaḥ kāmaḥ krodhastathā lobhastasmādetattrayaṁ tyajet

Word-by-word guide:
Line 1:
  • त्रिविधम् (tri-vidham) — तीन प्रकार का(threefold)
  • (na) — नहीं(not)
  • ra joined in narakasyedaṁ
  • कः (kah) — कौन(who)
  • yedam joined in narakasyedaṁ
  • द्वारम् (dvaram) — द्वार(gate)
  • नाशनम् (nashanam) — नाश करने वाला(destructive)
  • आत्मनः (atmanah) — आत्मा(of the soul)
Line 2:
  • कामः (kamah) — कामना(lust/uncontrolled desire)
  • क्रोधः (krodhah) — क्रोध(anger)
  • तथा (tatha) — तथा(also)
  • लोभः (lobhah) — लोभ(greed)
  • तस्मात् (tasmat) — इसलिए(therefore)
  • एतत् (etat) — यह(these)
  • त्रयम् (trayam) — तीनों(three)
  • त्यजेत् (tyajet) — त्यागना चाहिए(one should abandon)

English: The gates of hell are three: uncontrolled desire, anger and avarice. They destroy the self. Avoid them.

💡 Commentary Note

Triple is the gate of hell, destructive of the Self: lust (selfish desire), anger, and greed. Therefore, one must reject these three entirely.

Learnings from Shloka 21:
  • Three Gates of Hell:: Lust, anger, and greed are the three primary sources of mental degradation and suffering.
  • Crucial Rejection:: Make a firm, daily commitment to watch for and reject these three destructive impulses.

Gita/Sanskrit Language Quiz

Practice this shloka vocabulary

Match Sanskrit words from shloka 16.21 with their Hindi and English meanings.

Practice vocabulary