Bhagavad Gita Chapter 16, Verse 21
त्रिविधं नरकस्येदं द्वारं नाशनमात्मनः | कामः क्रोधस्तथा लोभस्तस्मादेतत्त्रयं त्यजेत् ||
trividhaṁ narakasyedaṁ dvāraṁ nāśanam ātmanaḥ kāmaḥ krodhas tathā lobhas tasmād etat trayaṁ tyajet
There are three gates leading to hell—desire, anger, and greed. Therefore, one should abandon these three.
Krishna now provides the solution: 'trividhaṁ narakasyedaṁ dvāram'—there are three gates leading to hell. 'Nāśanam ātmanaḥ'—destruction of the self. These three gates destroy you, create hell for you. 'Kāmaḥ krodhas tathā lobhaḥ'—desire, anger, and greed. These three are the gates to hell. Not just any desire, but insatiable desire. Not just any anger, but reactive anger. Not just any greed, but endless greed. These three work together: desire creates frustration, frustration creates anger, anger creates greed (wanting more to compensate), greed creates more desire. They form a cycle that leads to hell. 'Tasmād etat trayaṁ tyajet'—therefore, one should abandon these three. This is the way out: not suppress them, but abandon them. Recognize them, understand them, and choose to let them go. This is how you avoid hell: by abandoning the three gates that lead to it.