Verse 21

In plain words

Here the entire demonic endowment is gathered into a summary — three things, and inside those three every branch of it is held, endless as its branches are. Let go of the three and the whole of it is let go. They are the root of every ruin. That is what is now said —

'Threefold' -- of three kinds -- and this is the gate that leads to hell, the very destroyer of the self: meaning, the moment you step through it, the self is ruined, and you become unfit for anything a human being is actually meant to achieve. That is why it is called 'the gate that destroys the self.' What is it, exactly? Desire. Anger. And greed. So give up this triad. Because this is the gate that destroys the self, give up this threesome -- desire, anger, greed -- entirely.

Close to the Sanskrit

Of the whole demonic endowment this summary is stated, in which threefold thing every division of the demonic endowment — endless though it is — is included; and by the abandoning of which it comes to be abandoned; which is the root of all calamity: that, this, is stated —

'Threefold,' of three kinds, in the attainment of hell -- this is 'the gate,' 'the destruction of the self' -- meaning: entering which gate, the self is destroyed; one becomes unfit for any human goal -- this is the sense; therefore it is said, 'the gate, the destruction of the self.' What is that? Desire, anger, and likewise greed. Therefore one should abandon this triad. Since this is the gate, the destruction of the self, therefore one should abandon this triad beginning with desire.

In plain words

“Those who have the divine qualities told above may be taken as human beings with a portion of the Divine, and those who have the demonic qualities as demon-men who have come down to earth with a demonic portion. Some people think of themselves as having a portion of the Divine. Even though they do not have all the divine qualities fit for that, if they have at least some small measure of compassion, Dharma, helping others or Śānti, they may be considered, to some extent, a portion of the Divine. But if, instead, nothing but wholly contrary, demonic conduct shows on the surface, how can such people be called a portion of the Divine? Saying or displaying what is not there as though it were is called pretence. Pretence too is a demonic quality; it can never be a divine quality. Brother-in-law! Each person can easily decide these divine and demonic aspects for himself, by his own svabhāva. Form, property and possessions, rank and renown are not their basis. For example: Rāvaṇa had a human form. He had authority too, and the position of an emperor. In property and possessions he surpassed Kubera. Merely for that, would you think of him as a man with a portion of the Divine? No. By the nature of his qualities he was placed in the rākṣasa race. For all the demonic qualities, the three qualities called kāma, krodha and lobha are the cause. The root cause of the ruin of the self and of the flourishing of the demonic is these three qualities. To conquer them, the right soldiers are the excellent qualities, the divine qualities called Vairāgya, Śānti and tyāga. If these soldiers are strengthened with good śraddhā, in a mere moment they uproot the rākṣasa charioteers kāma, krodha and lobha, the root and support of the demonic. They build up divinity. If even one of the asuras called kāma, krodha and lobha is left, life is in danger; so all three must be burnt to ashes. Only then can life be blessed.”