6 Deadly Enemies of Human Mind According to Hinduism: Getting Away from the Enemies Within
When most people hear the word Hinduism, they might think of colorful gods, temples, festivals, and rituals. But that’s only the surface. Hinduism is not just a religion—it is a way of life and a profound philosophy of the human mind and spirit. It doesn’t just ask you to believe in God; it invites you to ask, “Who am I?” and “What stands between me and true peace?”
One of the most insightful ideas in Hindu philosophy is the concept of the six inner enemies of the human being—known in Sanskrit as Shadripu or Arishadvarga. These are Kama (Desire), Krodha (Anger), Lobha (Greed), Moha (Attachment), Mada (Pride), and Matsarya (Jealousy). They are not physical monsters but subtle psychological forces that control our actions, disturb our peace, and keep us trapped in the endless cycle of suffering (samsara).
Let’s explore these six enemies—not with fear, but with the clarity that comes from ancient wisdom.
The Chariot of Life: A Hindu Metaphor
To understand how these enemies work, Hindu texts offer a powerful metaphor. Your body is like a chariot. Your five senses are like five wild horses. Your mind is the charioteer (driver), and your soul (Atman) is the passenger.
If the charioteer is wise and in control, the horses are tamed, and the soul reaches its true destination—peace, wisdom, and liberation (moksha). But if the charioteer is weak, distracted, or untrained, the horses run wild. They pull the chariot into dangerous paths, and the soul gets stuck in sorrow and confusion.
The six enemies we’re about to discuss are the forces that weaken the charioteer and allow the horses (senses) to dominate the journey. They are not external. They live within us all.
1. Kama (Desire)
Desire is not always bad. In fact, desire for knowledge, truth, or love can be uplifting. But when desire controls you, it becomes a chain.
In Hindu texts, Kama represents a longing for sense pleasures—food, sex, fame, luxury. When desire becomes endless and unfulfilled, it turns into frustration and suffering. A person dominated by Kama always chases something outside of themselves, forgetting that true happiness is within.
Desire is like fire. A small flame can warm your home, but if left unchecked, it can burn down your life. The Bhagavad Gita warns, “Desire leads to anger, anger to delusion, and delusion to destruction.”
2. Krodha (Anger)
Anger arises when desire is blocked. It’s a reaction to things not going our way. While anger can sometimes push us to fight injustice, more often it clouds judgment, damages relationships, and burns inner peace.
Hindu sages teach that anger is like a storm—it doesn’t solve problems; it destroys clarity. When you’re angry, your inner wisdom is lost. Just like smoke covers a mirror, anger covers your true self.
The way out? Learn to pause and reflect. Breathe. Respond with awareness, not reaction. Forgiveness is stronger than rage.
3. Lobha (Greed)
Greed is the belief that “more is better”—more money, more power, more control. But no matter how much a greedy person gets, it’s never enough. Their thirst only grows.
In Hindu teachings, greed is a form of slavery. A greedy person becomes a servant of their own craving. Worse, they start to see people as resources, not as fellow beings. Greed disconnects us from compassion.
Ancient texts warn: “There is enough in this world for everyone’s need, but not for everyone’s greed.” Greed has caused wars, broken families, and ruined lives. To be free, one must learn the joy of contentment (santosha).
4. Moha (Attachment or Delusion)
Moha means getting emotionally entangled—not only with people and things but also with false ideas of the self. It is the illusion that our identity is limited to our body, roles, and possessions.
Attachment makes us say, “This is mine”, “This is me.” But the truth in Hinduism is that nothing truly belongs to us. Everything in the material world is temporary. Holding on tightly leads to suffering when loss inevitably comes.
Breaking free from Moha doesn’t mean abandoning love—it means loving without clinging. It means accepting change and seeing beyond the illusion of separateness.
5. Mada (Pride or Arrogance)
Mada is the ego’s intoxication. It comes when we feel superior due to our wealth, beauty, knowledge, or status. Pride blinds us to our faults and separates us from others.
Hindu scriptures remind us that humility is a sign of true wisdom. All great saints and sages were humble—not because they were weak, but because they saw the divine in everyone. Pride makes us small by making others seem smaller.
Like a balloon, ego rises but bursts easily. The wise keep their feet on the ground.
6. Matsarya (Jealousy or Envy)
Jealousy is the pain we feel when others succeed. It creates poison in the heart—making us restless, bitter, and resentful. Instead of being happy for others, we want to pull them down.
In Hinduism, jealousy is a deep ignorance—it means we have forgotten our own unique journey. No two people have the same karma, destiny, or lessons to learn. Envy means we are looking outward instead of inward.
The cure is self-awareness and gratitude. When we celebrate others, we open ourselves to joy.
The Path to Liberation
These six enemies—Kama, Krodha, Lobha, Moha, Mada, and Matsarya—are not outside forces. They are habits of the mind that can be understood, tamed, and eventually transcended.
Hinduism doesn’t say “destroy” your senses or emotions. It says master them. Train the charioteer (your mind) through self-discipline, reflection, and spiritual practice.
Practices like:
- Meditation (Dhyana) to calm the mind
- Selfless service (Seva) to dissolve ego
- Study of scriptures (Svadhyaya) for wisdom
- Devotion (Bhakti) to soften the heart
When these inner enemies are conquered, the soul is free. Then, you no longer live in bondage to reactions—you live in peace, clarity, and spiritual freedom.
Final Thoughts
The six enemies are part of every human experience. No one is born free from them. But awareness is the first step to freedom. As Hinduism beautifully teaches, the same senses and mind that bind us can also liberate us—if we train them with wisdom.
You don’t need to become a monk or renounce the world. You just need to recognize these enemies within and choose—every day—to be a little more aware, a little less reactive, and a little more kind.
Because the war is not out there. The true battle is within. And victory begins with knowing your enemy.
Getting Away from the Enemies of the Human Mind: A Hindu Perspective on Conquering Desire, Anger, Greed, Attachment, Pride, and Jealousy
Hinduism is not just a religion of rituals, gods, and temples—it is a science of the mind and a guide to liberation. It looks deeply into the human condition and identifies six powerful internal enemies that trap us in cycles of suffering. These are: Kama (Desire), Krodha (Anger), Lobha (Greed), Moha (Attachment), Mada (Pride), and Matsarya (Jealousy).
Together, they are called Shadripu—the six ripus (enemies) of the human soul. The goal of life, according to Hindu philosophy, is to realize the true Self (Atman) and attain liberation (moksha)—freedom from the cycle of birth and death (samsara). But these enemies keep us tied to illusion (Maya) and suffering.
Let us explore how to recognize, understand, and overcome each of these inner enemies with the help of ancient Hindu teachings and scriptures.
1. Overcoming Desire (Kama)
Desire (Kama) in itself is not evil. As Bhagavad Gita 3.39 says:
“Avritam jñānam etena jñāninah nitya-vairina, kāma-rūpena kaunteya duspurena analena cha”
“This desire is the eternal enemy of the wise. It burns like fire and is never satisfied.”
Your body needs desire to function—it needs food, shelter, and rest. This is body’s dharma, its natural way. However, problems arise when these physical needs overflow into the mind. When eating becomes gluttony or sexual need turns into obsession, you become a slave of pleasure.
The solution lies in awareness. Let desire serve the body—not control the mind. Be present with your senses, but not possessed by them.
“You are not the body, nor the mind. You are the witness.” — Upanishads
2. Overcoming Anger (Krodha)
Anger (Krodha) arises when your desires are frustrated. You want something, and it doesn’t happen—so you explode. Anger blinds the intellect and leads to destructive choices.
The Bhagavad Gita 2.63 explains this psychological chain:
“From desire comes attachment; from attachment, anger is born. From anger arises delusion; from delusion, the memory is confused; from confused memory, reason is destroyed; and when reason is destroyed, the person perishes.”
To overcome anger, you must break the chain before it grows. Anger cannot be suppressed but must be understood. What expectation led to the anger? Is it realistic? Is it worth your peace?
Practice:
- Take a deep breath before reacting.
- Forgive. Not for others, but for your freedom.
3. Overcoming Greed (Lobha)
Greed (Lobha) is the urge for more—more wealth, more possessions, more status. But greed never ends. As Bhagavad Gita 3.37 says, greed is a fire that can never be satisfied.
“He who is satisfied with whatever comes by chance, who has passed beyond dualities, is free from envy and steady in both success and failure, is never bound.” — Gita 4.22
Greed blinds you to what you already have. It creates comparison and competition, and you begin to measure life in numbers, not joy.
Hinduism teaches: Greed is born when your inner conscience is clouded by illusion. Lord Krishna calls this illusion Maya—a spiritual blindness. You chase things that don’t last, forgetting the divine treasure inside you.
To overcome greed:
- Contemplate on God (Ishwar Chintan).
- Live simply. Share what you have.
- Practice gratitude.
As illusion (Maya) fades, so does greed.
4. Overcoming Attachment (Moha)
Attachment (Moha) means clinging to the temporary—to people, objects, roles, or even ideas. It creates fear of loss and blocks spiritual clarity.
The Kathopanishad uses a metaphor:
“Know the Self as the rider in a chariot, the body as the chariot, the intellect as the charioteer, and the mind as the reins. The senses are the horses, and the roads they travel are the objects of the senses.”
When your mind clings to the objects (horses), it loses the destination—Self-realization.
Attachment makes you think “This is mine”, but nothing is truly yours. Everything is on loan from nature. Letting go is not rejection—it is understanding impermanence.
Overcoming Moha:
- Accept change as natural.
- Love without clinging.
- Serve without expectations.
5. Overcoming Pride (Mada)
Pride (Mada) is a subtle poison. It may come from wealth, intelligence, beauty, or power. It creates ego and separates you from others.
The Bhagavad Gita 16.18 warns:
“Bewildered by false ego, strength, pride, lust and anger, the demoniac become envious of the Supreme and of others.”
In truth, nothing you “own” is truly yours. Your body, your mind, your skills—are all gifts of the universe.
Pride clouds humility and blocks wisdom. Even sages fall if pride enters their heart.
Practice humility:
- Bow to the divine in others.
- Listen more, speak less.
- Serve others without superiority.
True strength lies not in raising yourself, but in lifting others.
6. Overcoming Jealousy (Matsarya)
Jealousy (Matsarya) is the sadness at someone else’s happiness. It arises when you see others succeed and feel that it takes something away from you.
But as Hinduism teaches, everyone has their unique karma and path. Your life is your sacred journey. Comparing it to someone else’s is like comparing the sun and the moon—both shine in their own time.
To overcome jealousy:
- Focus on your growth.
- Celebrate others’ success.
- Remember: No one can take what is destined for you.
The Bhagavad Gita 12.13–14 describes the highest devotee:
“He who is free from envy, friendly and compassionate, free from possessiveness and ego, steady in joy and sorrow, forgiving and content—is dear to Me.”
Freedom is Possible
These six enemies are powerful—but not invincible. Hinduism gives us practical tools:
- Self-inquiry (Vichara) – Who am I?
- Meditation (Dhyana) – Watch the mind like a witness.
- Devotion (Bhakti) – Surrender to the Divine.
- Wisdom (Jnana) – Study scriptures and truth.
- Righteous living (Dharma) – Live with purity and purpose.
Remember: You are not the mind, not the body—you are the Atman, the eternal soul beyond all enemies.
The battlefield is within, but so is the divine warrior.
Final Thoughts
Life is not just about conquering the world—it’s about conquering yourself. The six enemies—desire, anger, greed, attachment, pride, and jealousy—are challenges every human being must face.
But Hinduism doesn’t condemn these emotions—it teaches us how to transform them. Like turning poison into medicine, these enemies can become teachers. By understanding and transcending them, you don’t just live—you awaken.
Let your mind be the wise charioteer, your senses be tamed horses, and your soul the shining traveler—headed toward liberation.