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Chapter 16 · The Divine and Demoniac Natures · 24 verses

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How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Remember who is speaking. Kṛṣṇa is speaking. Take the verse as He directs.
  2. 2Say the verse and its words. Read the Sanskrit, then each word with its meaning.
  3. 3Read the translation as it is. Let the translation say what it says, without adding your own meaning.
  4. 4Read the purport. Hear the verse through the disciplic succession.
  5. 5Bring your own question. Ask: where does this verse meet my life, my trouble, my doubt?
  6. 6Act on it, remembering Kṛṣṇa. Carry one instruction into your work today.
Read the full guide: how to read the Bhagavad-gītā ›
Character & ethicsChapter 16 · The Divine and Demoniac Natures
16.2116.23

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 16.22

Lust, anger, greed and scriptural guidance

Jīva · The soul

एतैर्विमुक्त: कौन्तेय तमोद्वारैस्त्रिभिर्नर: ।

आचरत्यात्मन: श्रेयस्ततो याति परां गतिम् ॥ २२ ॥

etair vimuktaḥ kaunteya

tamo-dvārais tribhir naraḥ

ācaraty ātmanaḥ śreyas

tato yāti parāṁ gatim

Translation

The man who has escaped these three gates of hell, O son of Kuntī, performs acts conducive to self-realization and thus gradually attains the supreme destination.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

What this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.

3 study points

Freedom from Three Enemies

  1. 1

    One who escapes the three gates of hell acts for self-realization and gradually reaches the supreme destination.

  2. 2

    Prabhupāda explains that giving up lust, anger and greed purifies life. Self-realization is perfected in devotional service, which guarantees liberation.

  3. 3

    Be careful of lust, anger and greed, and follow the rules given in Vedic literature to grow in spiritual realization.

Key points from the purport

These notes cover verses 16.21–22

How does one become demoniac and get cast into hellish life (as mentioned in Texts 16.19 – 16.20)

There are 3 gates to hell – Lust, anger and greed

Why one should give up these 3 gates:

Because they lead to degradation of the soul

By controlling these qualities one escapes demoniac life and attains happiness

Actions of one who escapes the 3 gates: He performs acts conducive to self-realization and attains supreme destination (16.22)

4 mentions the ‘royal road to hell’

a

These verses describe the beginning of demoniac life — All these demoniac qualities begin with lust, anger and greed (3 gates to hell)

b

Extreme danger from these gates

They can kill the self to such an extent that there will be no possibility from this material entanglement

Thus they lead to degradation of soul

c

Basis of whole method and prescription of Vedic literature

The entire method is based on giving up lust and anger

The more one gives up, the more his existence becomes pure

Then he can follow all the rules and regulations and gradually rise to spiritual realization

Thus one can rise to the platform of Krishna Consciousness

d

How this Vedic system is practically instituted — In the form of Varnasrama duties, which help in gradual elevation to the highest platform of spiritual realization and liberation

Connected verses · 1

Texts 16.22 & 16.23

Krishna will describe how one can avoid being controlled by these tendencies — ‘through acting on injunctions of sastras’ – rather than one’s conditioned impulses

Further reading

The Choice: Escaping To The Supreme Destination

Three gates leading to soul’s degradation and entanglement in demoniac mentality –

Lust, Anger and Greed

Every sane man should give these up, act for purification and attain the supreme destination

Instead of acting under the control of these, one should act according to sastra

Chapter 16, section III: The Choice: Escaping To The Supreme Destination
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. etaiḥfrom these
  2. vimuktaḥbeing liberated
  3. kaunteyaO son of Kuntī
  4. tamaḥ-dvāraiḥfrom the gates of ignorance
  5. tribhiḥof three kinds
  6. naraḥa person
  7. ācaratiperforms
  8. ātmanaḥfor the self
3

Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Key ideas: daivī-sampat, dharma.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 16.22 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to character & ethics?

Practice

Choose one virtue to practice consciously today.

5

Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

BG 16.21Lust, anger and greed lead toward degradation.BG 16.23Lust, anger, greed and scriptural guidanceBG 12.13Qualities of a devotee dear to Krishna
Live this todayCultivating the Divine QualitiesA practice from BG 16.1-3, close to this verse

Study notes are editorial summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport.

  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
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