A man who is liberated from these three gates to darkness, O Arjuna, practises what is good for him and thus goes to the Supreme Goal.
In simple words
Krishna gives hope: "The person who is freed from these three gates to darkness — lust, anger, and greed — does what is truly good for themselves and reaches the highest goal."
Word-by-word meanings
एतैःfrom theseविमुक्तःliberatedकौन्तेयO Kaunteyaतमोद्वारैःgates to darknessत्रिभिः(by) threeनरःthe manआचरतिpractisesआत्मनःfor himश्रेयःwhat is goodततःand thenयातिgoes toपराम्the Supremeगतिम्Goal
16.22 एतैः from these? विमुक्तः liberated? कौन्तेय O Kaunteya? तमोद्वारैः gates to darkness? त्रिभिः (by) three? नरः the man? आचरति practises? आत्मनः for him? श्रेयः what is good? ततः and then? याति goes to? पराम् the Supreme? गतिम् Goal.Commentary When these gates to hell are abandoned? the path to salvation is made clear for the aspirant. He gets the company of sages? which leads to liberation. He gets spiritual instructions and practises them. He hears the scriptures? reflects? meditates and attains Selfrealisation.Tamodvara Gate to darkness leading to hell which is full of pain and delusion.
Contemporary scholarly and practical interpretations for modern seekers.
This interpretation draws on a specific tradition and may not represent the view of any single school. For authoritative guidance within a specific tradition, seek a qualified teacher.
Modern
Those seekers who strive to free themselves from desire, anger, and greed are truly worthy of praise. The Blessed Lord Krishna assures them that through the renunciation of these base qualities, they shall attain the supreme goal. To achieve any objective, one requires mental and intellectual powers, which are ordinarily depleted and weakened by these very vices of desire and the like. Therefore, the teaching here is to abandon these three gates of hell. This alone is truly beneficial for humanity.
The word "shreyas" cannot be adequately translated. This Sanskrit term carries profound and expansive meaning. Through the pursuit of the path of shreyas, not only does the seeker find liberation, but also becomes an instrument of welfare for the society surrounding them.
Thus, advancing in the right direction, the seeker attains the supreme goal. Cultural and spiritual development is not a sudden occurrence that happens in a single day. Just as a flower bud gradually unfolds petal by petal, so too does the development toward perfection unfold gradually through discipline, study, and the practice of righteous conduct. The evolution of the soul is far more delicate than the unfolding of a flower.
In this verse, the attainment of supreme liberation through the renunciation of base qualities is declared. Yet one may ask: how can yoga—the attainment of union—come through renunciation alone? How can perfect health be achieved merely by abandoning poor diet? The Lord replies: the person who renounces these base qualities naturally follows the path of self-welfare, and through this, attains perfection.
The means to renounce demoniac qualities and to practice the path of shreyas are revealed in the dharma-shastras. Therefore, by studying the scriptures and acting accordingly, humanity finds true benefit. Yet...