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

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.