Chapter III · Śloka 37
Krishna uvāca
काम एष क्रोध एष रजोगुणसमुद्भवः ।
महाशनो महापाप्मा विद्ध्येनमिह वैरिणम् ॥
महाशनो महापाप्मा विद्ध्येनमिह वैरिणम् ॥
kāma eṣa krodha eṣa rajo-guṇa-samudbhavaḥ |
mahāśano mahā-pāpmā viddhy enam iha vairiṇam ||
mahāśano mahā-pāpmā viddhy enam iha vairiṇam ||
It is desire, it is anger, born of the quality of rajas — all-consuming, greatly sinful; know this to be the enemy here.
Desire (kāma) is identified as the primary enemy; when obstructed it becomes anger (krodha), and both spring from rajas, the active and passionate quality of nature. This insatiable force devours wisdom and compels beings toward sin.