etair vimuktaḥ kaunteya
tamo-dvārais tribhir naraḥ
ācaraty ātmanaḥ śreyas
tato yāti parāḿ gatim
Translation of Bhagavad Gita 16.22
The man who has escaped these three gates of hell, O son of Kunti, performs acts conducive to self-realization and thus gradually attains the supreme destination.
Commentary by Sri A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada of Gaudiya Sampradaya:
One should be very careful of these three enemies to human life: lust, anger and greed. The more a person is freed from lust, anger and greed, the more his existence becomes pure. Then he can follow the rules and regulations enjoined in the Vedic literature. By following the regulative principles of human life, one gradually raises himself to the platform of spiritual realization. If one is so fortunate, by such practice, to rise to the platform of Krishna consciousness, then success is guaranteed for him. In the Vedic literature, the ways of action and reaction are prescribed to enable one to come to the stage of purification. The whole method is based on giving up lust, greed and anger. By cultivating knowledge of this process, one can be elevated to the highest position of self-realization; this self-realization is perfected in devotional service. In that devotional service, the liberation of the conditioned soul is guaranteed. Therefore, according to the Vedic system, there are instituted the four orders of life and the four statuses of life, called the caste system and the spiritual order system. There are different rules and regulations for different castes or divisions of society, and if a person is able to follow them, he will be automatically raised to the highest platform of spiritual realization. Then he can have liberation without a doubt.
Commentary by Sri Vishvanatha Chakravarthi Thakur of Gaudiya Sampradaya:
No commentary by Sri Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakur.
Commentary by Sri Ramanuja of Sri Sampradaya:
16.22 One who has been ‘released from these three’ — from desire, wrath and greed which constitute the gates of darkness causing erroneous knowledge of Myself —, he works for the good of the self. Gaining knowledge of Myself, he endevaours to be inclined towards Me. From there, he attains the supreme goal, which is Myself. Sri Krsna now teaches that the main cause of this Kind of degeneration is lack of reverence for the Sastras:
Commentary by Sri Sridhara Swami of Rudra Sampradaya:
The special result of renouncing lust, greed and anger is being stated by Lord Krishna in that such a person is able to acquire the mental understanding that develops the consciousness to the point where spiritual pursuits become attractive and desirable such as vegetarianism, the practice of yoga, meditation and engagement in austerities like fasting and celibacy. Thereby one begins the process of purifying oneself enough to gain the association of the Vaisnavas who are Lord Krishna’s exclusive devotees and who will guide one to embark upon the path of devotion for their ultimate benefit.
Commentary by Sri Madhvacharya of Brahma Sampradaya:
Sri Madhvacharya did not comment on this sloka.
Commentary by Sri Keshava Kashmiri of Kumara Sampradaya:
Lord Krishna praises the avoidance of lust, greed and anger for by doing so the highest good and well being of a human being is assured. Freedom from these voracious evils allows one to engage in spiritual activities beneficial for oneself and all creation by the acquisition of spiritual knowledge concerning devotion to the Supreme Lord along with atma tattva realisation of the soul and moksa or liberation from material existence. This insures one will never have to enter a hellish condition of life and eventually will attain the Supreme Lord.
Commentary by Sri Adi Shankaracharya of Advaita Sampradaya:
16.22 O son of Kunti, narah, a person; who is vimuktah, free; etaih, from these; tribhih, three; tamo-dvaraih, doors to darkness, i.e., passion etc. which are doors to the darkness of hell consisting of sorrow and delusion; freed from three three which are such, acarati, strives for;-for what?-sreyah, the good; atmanah, of the soul: debarred by which (doors) he could not strive earlier, and on the dispelling of which he strives. Tatah, thereby, as a result of that striving; yati, he attains; the param, suprme; gatim, Goal, i.e. Liberation, as well. [Not only does he attain Liberation by renouncing the demoniacal qualities, but he also secures happiness in this world.] The scripture is instrumental in this complete renunciation of the demoniacal qualities and striving for what is good. Both can be undertaken on the authority of the scriptures, not otherwise. Hence,
Commentary by Sri Abhinavagupta of Kaula Tantra Sampradaya:
16.21-22 Trividham etc. Etaih etc. Because the traid of desire etc., constitute the gate to the hell, therefore one should avoid that. What has been stated should not be neglected on the assumption that it is [based on] the human word. On the other hand, there is the authority of the eternal scripture on this subject. This is said [here] –
Sanskrit Shloka Without Transliteration Marks:
etair vimuktah kaunteya
tamo-dvarais tribhir narah
acaraty atmanah sreyas
tato yati param gatim
Sanskrit to English Word for Word Meanings:
etaiḥ — from these; vimuktaḥ — being liberated; kaunteya — O son of Kuntī; tamaḥ-dvāraiḥ — from the gates of ignorance; tribhiḥ — of three kinds; naraḥ — a person; ācarati — performs; ātmanaḥ — for the self; śreyaḥ — benediction; tataḥ — thereafter; yāti — he goes; parām — to the supreme; gatim — destination.
