Verse 16.22

Verse 16.22: “Released, O Son of Kunti, from these three gates of darkness, (if) a man works and follows his higher good, he thereupon attains the Highest Goal. (433)

Commentary called Jnaneshwari by Jnaneshwar:

“One should think of the Four Objects of Life (of a human being) such as Religion and others, only after abandoning this triad (of demerits). My ears refuse to hear of anybody being able to secure good (a state of bliss) so long as these three are awake (active) in that being,” said the Lord. He further said, “One who has some regard for his soul, and feels afraid of self-destruction, should be careful and avoid association with them. To expect any success in one’s undertaking, while associating with Passion, Wrath and Greed, is like trying to swim, on the strength of one’s arms, with a stone tied round one’s abdomen, or like having a meal of deadly poision [poison] for saving one’s life: and so (even) the least trace of them should be wiped out altogether. If ever this chain of three links gets snapped, then only can one walk along his path very comfortably.

One whom the triad of passions, etc. has forsaken, becomes happy like a body freed from the three bodily humours (in disorder), or like a town free from the triad of (i) malicious disclosure of misdeeds (cāhāḍī), (ii) theft (corī) (iii) harlotry (śindalakī), or like a heart free from the three afflictions (viz. ādhyātmika—Corporal,—physical, and ādhidaivika—Supernatural), and secures the association of the righteous along the road to liberation. So also on the might of the company of the virtuous and on the strength of good and Scriptural guidance, one can transcend the rocky and barren woods in the form of births and deaths. And then he reaches, through the grace of the preceptor, the town where abides eternal bliss of the Self. There he meets the Self, the Mother, the highest (ultimate) limit of love, and with that meeting, is heard no more the (jaring) sound of the beating of the kettle drums of mundane existence. And he alone, who frees himself by sweeping away the triad of Passion, Wrath and Greed, becomes the master of such a great gift.