Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3, Verse 37 (BG 3.37) — Meaning, Translation & Commentary

3.37 कामः desire? एषः this? क्रोधः anger? एषः this? रजोगुणसमुद्भवः born of the Rajoguna? महाशनः alldevouring? महापाप्मा allsinful? विद्धि know? एनम् this? इह here? वैरिणम् the foe.Commentary Bhagavan Bhaga means the six attributes? viz.? Jnana (knowledge)? Vairagya (dispassion)? Kirti (fame)? Aishvarya (divine manifestations and excellences)? Sri (wealth)? and Bala (might). He who possesses these six attributes and who has a perfect knowledge of the origin and the end of the universe is Bhagavan or the Lord.The cause of all sin and wrong action in this world is desire. Anger is desire itself. When a desire is not gratified? the man becomes angry against those who stand as obstacles on the path of fulfilment.The desire is born of the ality of Rajas. When desire arises? it generates Rajas and urges the man to work in order to possess the object. Therefore? know that this desire is mans foe on this earth. (Cf.XVI.21).

Commentaries

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

This desire, this anger—desire, that is to say, longing itself, is the demon that dwells within the human heart. Self-ignorance expresses itself in the intellect as the form of desire. In this verse, one should not regard desire and anger as separate from one another. In certain circumstances, desire itself takes on the form of anger. That agitation of the mind which expresses itself as an intense impatience to obtain some object is called desire. Generally, longing arises only for something external to oneself that remains unattained. In this world, among countless persons and circumstances, it is never possible for all desires to be fulfilled, and thus when some obstacle arises between ourselves and the desired object, that thwarted desire itself takes on the form of anger. In this way, desire or anger is that demon which compels us to compromise with circumstances. It causes us to forget our ideals and drives us toward sinful conduct. The more powerful our lower desires become, the more sinful our life will be. Cravings veil our discrimination. When desire arises, from it spring forth countless painful tendencies. To be enslaved by all of these is ignorance, and to exercise mastery over them is knowledge. Now the Blessed Lord explains through examples how this enemy of ours—this desire—veils our discrimination.