tri-vidhaṁ narakasyedaṁ dvāraṁ nāśanam ātmanaḥ kāmaḥ krodhas tathā lobhas tasmād etat trayaṁ tyajet
"Threefold is this gate of hell, destructive of the self—lust, anger, and greed. Therefore, one should abandon these three."
What This Means:
There are three gates to hell that destroy the soul: lust, anger, and greed. Therefore, abandon all three. This is practical guidance for avoiding the demonic path.
Going Deeper:
'Trividham narakasya dvāram'—threefold gate to hell. 'Nāśanam ātmanaḥ'—destructive of the Self. (1) Kāma—lust/desire, (2) krodha—anger, (3) lobha—greed. These three are the root of all demonic qualities previously listed. 'Tasmāt etat trayam tyajet'—therefore abandon these three. Simple instruction: avoid these three gates and you avoid hell.
How To Apply This:
When you feel desire, anger, or greed arising, recognize them as gates to suffering. You don't have to act on them. Pause, breathe, and choose differently. These three emotions, when acted upon, lead to destruction.
Key Sanskrit Terms: