Bhagavad Gita · Chapter 16 · Daivasura Sampad Vibhaga Yoga
Bhagavad Gita 16.22 एतैर्विमुक्तः कौन्तेय तमोद्वारैस्त्रिभिर्नरः
श्लोक 16.22
एतैर्विमुक्तः कौन्तेय तमोद्वारैस्त्रिभिर्नरः ।
आचरत्यात्मनः श्रेयस्ततो याति परां गतिम् ॥
etairvimuktaḥ kaunteya tamodvāraistribhirnaraḥ |
ācaratyātmanaḥ śreyastato yāti parāṃ gatim ||
हिन्दी अर्थ
हे कौन्तेय! अंधकार के इन तीन द्वारों से मुक्त हुआ मनुष्य अपने कल्याण का आचरण करता है और इससे परम गति को प्राप्त होता है।
Meaning in English
A person freed from these three gates of darkness, O Kaunteya, does what is truly good for the self and thereby reaches the supreme goal.
Bhagavad Gita 16.22 — word by word
| Word | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| एतैः | etaiḥ | from these |
| विमुक्तः | vimuktaḥ | freed |
| कौन्तेय | kaunteya | O son of Kunti |
| तमोद्वारैः | tamo-dvāraiḥ | gates of darkness |
| त्रिभिः | tribhiḥ | three |
| नरः | naraḥ | a person |
| आचरति | ācarati | practises |
| आत्मनः | ātmanaḥ | for oneself |
| श्रेयः | śreyaḥ | what is good |
| ततः | tataḥ | then |
| याति | yāti | goes |
| पराम् | parām | the highest |
| गतिम् | gatim | goal |
Explanation
A person who is freed from these three gates of darkness, O son of Kunti, practises what is truly good for the self, and thereby reaches the highest goal. Once desire, anger and greed lose their hold, Krishna says, a person naturally begins to act for their real welfare, and that path leads to liberation.
This verse is the hopeful counterpart to 16.21. Darkness (tamas) here suggests the confusion and ignorance that desire, anger and greed bring. Shankara explains śreyaḥ as the path that leads to the highest good, practised by one whose mind has been cleansed. Commentators note how practical the Gita's remedy is: it does not demand a sudden transformation into perfection, only the steady closing of three doors. Once they are shut, the divine qualities of 16.1–3 can grow.
भावार्थ
हे कौन्तेय, जो मनुष्य अन्धकार के इन तीन द्वारों — काम, क्रोध और लोभ — से मुक्त हो जाता है, वह अपने कल्याण का आचरण करता है और उससे परम गति को प्राप्त होता है।
Living it today
You don't need to fix everything at once. Work on closing just one of the three doors, desire, anger or greed, and the rest of life starts to clear.
Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of Bhagavad Gita 16.22?
A person who is freed from these three gates of darkness, O son of Kunti, practises what is truly good for the self, and thereby reaches the highest goal. Once desire, anger and greed lose their hold, Krishna says, a person naturally begins to act for their real welfare, and that path leads to liberation.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 16.22?
Sri Krishna speaks this verse, in Chapter 16 (Daivasura Sampad Vibhaga Yoga) of the Bhagavad Gita.
How can I apply Bhagavad Gita 16.22 in daily life?
You don't need to fix everything at once. Work on closing just one of the three doors, desire, anger or greed, and the rest of life starts to clear.
Reflected on verse 16.22?
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