Bhagavad Gita 3.37 — Desire and Anger: The All-Devouring Enemy
श्रीभगवानुवाच ।
काम एष क्रोध एष रजोगुणसमुद्भवः ।
महाशनो महापाप्मा विद्ध्येनमिह वैरिणम् ॥ ३.३७ ॥
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The Supreme Lord said: It is desire, it is anger, born of the mode of passion, all-devouring and greatly sinful. Know this to be the enemy in this world.
Transliteration (IAST)
Word Separation
The Sanskrit verse is separated into individual words (Padched) for easier study.
Word Meanings
| Line 1 | |
|---|---|
| Sanskrit Word | Meaning |
| kāmaḥ | desire, lust |
| eṣhaḥ | this |
| krodhaḥ | anger |
| eṣhaḥ | this |
| rajoguṇasamudbhavaḥ | born of the mode of passion |
| Line 2 | |
|---|---|
| Sanskrit Word | Meaning |
| mahāśhanaḥ | all-devouring, insatiable |
| mahāpāpmā | greatly sinful |
| viddhi | know |
| enam | this |
| iha | in this world |
| vairiṇam | enemy |
| Line 1 | Line 2 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sanskrit Word | Meaning | Sanskrit Word | Meaning |
| kāmaḥ | desire, lust | mahāśhanaḥ | all-devouring, insatiable |
| eṣhaḥ | this | mahāpāpmā | greatly sinful |
| krodhaḥ | anger | viddhi | know |
| eṣhaḥ | this | enam | this |
| rajoguṇasamudbhavaḥ | born of the mode of passion | iha | in this world |
| vairiṇam | enemy | ||
Detailed Meaning
Introduction
Here, Lord Krishna answers Arjuna's question without hesitation. The force that drives people to wrong action is desire, which turns into anger when obstructed. Born of the quality of rajas, it is insatiable and greatly destructive, and it must be recognised as the enemy.
Essence
The identity of the inner enemy
Lord Krishna says: "It is desire (kāma); it is anger (krodha), born of the quality of rajas. It is all-devouring (mahāśanaḥ) and greatly sinful (mahā-pāpmā). Know this to be the enemy here."
Kāma (desire, craving): This is not the healthy wish for food, rest or a worthy goal. It is the restless, grasping craving that says, "I must have this to be happy."
Krodha (anger): Lord Krishna treats anger as another form of the same force. When desire is blocked or thwarted, it turns into frustration and rage. Anger is the shadow of unfulfilled craving.
Rajo-guṇa-samudbhavaḥ (born of rajas): Among the three qualities of nature, rajas is the energy of passion, restlessness and ambition. When it dominates, the mind is constantly agitated and seeks one object after another.
Mahāśanaḥ (all-devouring): Like a fire that is never satisfied, craving consumes everything fed to it and still asks for more. No amount of gratification brings lasting contentment.
Mahā-pāpmā (greatly sinful or harmful): Because it drives people to deceive, harm and neglect duty, desire is the root of much suffering.
The enemy within
This answer is striking because it turns attention away from external enemies and toward the one inside. Arjuna stands before an army of opponents, yet the greatest foe is within his own mind. Lord Krishna identifies it precisely so that it can be understood and conquered.
Message for Everyday Life (Notice Craving and Its Shadow)
Pay attention to how restlessness and irritation often follow unmet wants: the delayed order, the unreturned message, the expectation not met. Beneath the anger is usually a craving that has been frustrated.
Trace anger to its root: When you feel anger rising, ask, "What did I want that I am not getting?" Seeing the craving clearly often reduces the anger's power.
The identity of the inner enemy
Lord Krishna says: "It is desire (kāma); it is anger (krodha), born of the quality of rajas. It is all-devouring (mahāśanaḥ) and greatly sinful (mahā-pāpmā). Know this to be the enemy here."
Kāma (desire, craving): This is not the healthy wish for food, rest or a worthy goal. It is the restless, grasping craving that says, "I must have this to be happy."
Krodha (anger): Lord Krishna treats anger as another form of the same force. When desire is blocked or thwarted, it turns into frustration and rage. Anger is the shadow of unfulfilled craving.
Rajo-guṇa-samudbhavaḥ (born of rajas): Among the three qualities of nature, rajas is the energy of passion, restlessness and ambition. When it dominates, the mind is constantly agitated and seeks one object after another.
Mahāśanaḥ (all-devouring): Like a fire that is never satisfied, craving consumes everything fed to it and still asks for more. No amount of gratification brings lasting contentment.
Mahā-pāpmā (greatly sinful or harmful): Because it drives people to deceive, harm and neglect duty, desire is the root of much suffering.
The enemy within
This answer is striking because it turns attention away from external enemies and toward the one inside. Arjuna stands before an army of opponents, yet the greatest foe is within his own mind. Lord Krishna identifies it precisely so that it can be understood and conquered.
Message for Everyday Life (Notice Craving and Its Shadow)
Pay attention to how restlessness and irritation often follow unmet wants: the delayed order, the unreturned message, the expectation not met. Beneath the anger is usually a craving that has been frustrated.
Trace anger to its root: When you feel anger rising, ask, "What did I want that I am not getting?" Seeing the craving clearly often reduces the anger's power.
Next Topic
Lord Krishna has named desire and anger as the enemy. In the next verse, He uses three vivid images to show how this enemy covers our understanding to different degrees.
Hidden Messages In This Shloka
Reflect on this verse from different perspectives and see which deeper message opens up for you.
Wisdom Nuggets
The more you feed craving, the hungrier it becomes.
Anger is often desire that was blocked.
Know your inner enemy and it loses power.
Peace begins where craving ends.
He who rules his desires rules himself.
Most wrongs begin as a wish that was not examined.
Freedom is not having everything but not being ruled by wanting.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is 'kāma' (desire) in this verse?
How is 'krodha' (anger) related to 'kāma' (desire)?
What does 'rajo-guṇa-samudbhava' (born of the mode of passion) mean?
Why is it called 'mahāśhana' (all-devouring)?
How can this enemy be overcome?
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