Chapter XVI · Śloka 21
त्रिविधं नरकस्येदं द्वारं नाशनमात्मनः ।
कामः क्रोधस्तथा लोभस्तस्मादेतत्त्रयं त्यजेत् ॥
कामः क्रोधस्तथा लोभस्तस्मादेतत्त्रयं त्यजेत् ॥
tri-vidhaṃ narakasyedaṃ dvāraṃ nāśanam ātmanaḥ |
kāmaḥ krodhas tathā lobhas tasmād etat trayaṃ tyajet ||
kāmaḥ krodhas tathā lobhas tasmād etat trayaṃ tyajet ||
Three are the gates of this hell that destroy the self: lust, anger, and greed. Therefore one should abandon these three.
This is one of the Gītā's most memorable aphorisms: kāma, krodha, and lobha form a triad of self-destruction. Lust is the primary drive; when frustrated it becomes anger; when satisfied it becomes greed that seeks to hold what was gained. The prescription is total abandonment — not moderation.