Bhagavad Gita Chapter 16, Verse 22

Chapter 16 – Daivasura Sampad Vibhaga Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

एतैर्विमुक्तः कौन्तेय तमोद्वारैस्त्रिभिर्नरः ।
आचरत्यात्मनः श्रेयस्ततो याति परां गतिम् ॥

Transliteration

etairvimuktaḥ kaunteya tamodvāraistribhirnaraḥ .
ācaratyātmanaḥ śreyastato yāti parāṃ gatim ॥

Meaning

The person freed from these three gates of darkness, O son of Kunti, practises what is good for himself and thus reaches the supreme goal.

Word meanings

एतैः – from these
विमुक्तः – freed
कौन्तेय – O son of Kunti
तमोद्वारैः – gates of darkness
त्रिभिः – three
नरः – a person
आचरति – practises
आत्मनः – for oneself
श्रेयः – what is good, the highest welfare
ततः – thereby
याति – reaches
पराम् – the supreme
गतिम् – goal

Anvaya (word order)

कौन्तेय, एतैः त्रिभिः तमोद्वारैः विमुक्तः नरः आत्मनः श्रेयः आचरति, ततः परां गतिं याति ।

Explanation

The previous verse called desire, anger and greed the gates of hell; here they are called tamo-dvara, 'gates of darkness'. They cover the light of discernment and lead into the darkness of ignorance and sorrow. Krishna now tells what happens when one is freed from them.

Acharaty atmanah shreyah: such a person begins to practise what is truly good for himself. This is a vital point. While the mind is full of desire, anger and greed, a person cannot walk the right path even when he knows it, because craving drags him away. As soon as these obstacles are removed, following shreyas, the path of real welfare, becomes natural and easy. The Katha Upanishad distinguishes shreyas from preyas: preyas is what pleases at once, shreyas is what leads to lasting good. One freed from the three faults chooses shreyas over preyas.

Tato yati param gatim: and thereby he reaches the supreme goal, liberation. A clear sequence emerges: giving up the three faults leads to beneficial conduct, which leads to the supreme goal.

After the dark descriptions of the preceding verses, this verse is a ray of hope. The demonic destiny is not inevitable. Anyone, from any condition, can rise by closing these three gates.

Context

The previous verse named desire, anger and greed as the gates of hell and commanded their abandonment; this verse gives the fruit of being freed from them. In the next verse Krishna says that one who discards scriptural guidance and acts on whim attains no perfection.

Life lesson

As soon as the mind is lightened of desire, anger and greed, walking the right path becomes easy. Learn to choose shreyas, lasting good, over preyas, what merely pleases now.

Key terms

Tamo-dvara: Gates of darkness — desire, anger and greed
Shreyas: That which leads to lasting good
Para gati: The supreme goal, liberation