Bhagavad Gita · Chapter 3: The Path of Action

Bhagavad Gita 3.37

काम एष क्रोध एष रजोगुणसमुद्भवः । महाशनो महापाप्मा विद्ध्येनमिह वैरिणम् ॥

kāma eṣa krodha eṣa rajoguṇasamudbhavaḥ | mahāśano mahāpāpmā viddhyenamiha vairiṇam ||

It is desire, it is anger, born of the quality of passion; all-devouring and deeply sinful. Know this to be the enemy here.

Modern context

Krishna's answer is short: it is desire, and it is anger. The two are named together because they are one force in two states. Craving that is blocked turns into anger. 'All-devouring' is exact, because a craving that is fed comes back larger. The verse places the enemy inside. That is uncomfortable, and it is also hopeful: what is within us is something we can work on.