Conquering the Six Inner Enemies
Life is a journey filled with experiences, and it is inevitable that we encounter errors, shortcomings, and weaknesses along the way. It is impossible for anyone to be completely free from errors, shortcomings, and weaknesses. However, according to ancient Indian wisdom, these human shortcomings can be traced back to the six fundamental doshas or negative factors. The ancient Indian seers and sages considered these six negative factors as the six basic enemies of a human being. These six enemies keep the man engaged in all kinds of wrong and negative actions and keep ruining his life. Therefore one must take care of not falling into the trap of these inner enemies. Who are these enemies and what are their characters? These are: kaama (lust, craze, desire), krodha (anger, hatred), lobha (greed, miserliness, narrow-minded), moha (delusory emotional attachment), mada (arrogance, pride, stubborn mindedness) and maatsarya (envy, jealousy, show or vanity).
कामः क्रोधस्तथा लोभो मदो मात्सर्यमेव च ।
मोहश्चेत्यरिषड्वर्गमहंकारगतं विदुः ॥ (Shivagita 2.36)
kāmaḥ krodhastathā lobho mado mātsaryameva ca .
mohaścetyariṣaḍvargamahaṃkāragataṃ viduḥ ..
The group of six enemies like kāma etc. are rooted in ahankāra or EGO.
In our ordinary consciousness, we are all ruled by our ego-centric projected self, which pollutes the mind and other inner faculties in order to fulfil its own agenda. These enemies are like thieves who steal the vivekabuddhi or the power of intuitive discernment. Shankaracharya in his Vairagya-DinDima (1.3) says:
कामः क्रोधश्च लोभश्च देहे तिष्ठन्ति तस्कराः।
ज्ञानरत्नापहाराय तस्मात् जाग्रत जाग्रत॥
kāmaḥ krodhaśca lobhaśca dehe tiṣṭhanti taskarāḥ|
jñānaratnāpahārāya tasmāt jāgrata jāgrata||
In the human being kama, krodha and lobha etc. live like thieves in order to steal wisdom’s riches. You should therefore remain alert and aware of yourself, O man.
The whole challenge in living a happy life lies in conquering these inner enemies distracting the man in many ways from the fulfilment of the ultimate goal of his life. Man is therefore advised to conquer these inner enemies by all possible means conducive to one’s svabhava and svadharma. Shanakracharya further says in his sarvavedantasiddhantasara (101):
कामः क्रोधश्च लोभश्च मदो मोहश्च मत्सरः ।
न जिताः षडिमे येन तस्य शान्तिर्न सिध्यति ।।
kāmaḥ krodhaśca lobhaśca mado mohaśca matsaraḥ .
na jitāḥ ṣaḍime yena tasya śāntirna sidhyati.
The one who has not conquered the six enemies can never experience peace in life.
In the Veda the characteristic features of each one of the six enemies are presented by comparing them with certain animals. There is a Mantra in Rigveda (7.104.22) in which Rishi Vasishtha Maitravaruni prays to Indra to destroy the six animals which man nurtures in him. This Mantra is the first reference to and the source of the ariṣaḍvarga or ṣaḍripu mentioned in the later texts. The Mantra is as follows:
उलूकयातुं शुशुलूकयातुं जहि श्वयातुम् उत कोकयातुम् |
सुपर्णयातुम् उत गृध्रयातुं दृषदेव प्र मृण रक्ष इन्द्र ||
ulūkayātuṃ śuśulūkayātuṃ jahi śvayātum uta kokayātum |
suparṇayātum uta gṛdhrayātuṃ dṛṣadeva pra mṛṇa rakṣa indra ||
The meaning of the Mantra is as follows:
O Indra, kill the ulūka or owl living in us. Ulūka or owl symbolises the ‘moha’ or delusion in us. When in the bright day light everything is clear the owl cannot see anything. Moha or delusion is like the owl which does not allow us to see what is right and what is wrong. It does not allow us to see things as they are. This needs to be worked out and the owl living within has to be killed meaning the delusion or moha is to be conquered.
O Indra, kill the śuśulūka or wolf living in us. Śuśulūka or wolf symbolises ‘krodha’ or anger. Wolf has a voracious appetite, is always hungry and keeps looking for food. This hunger makes the wolf an angry animal. Anger comes from excessive expectations (kaamaat krodhobhijaayate says the Gita). One has to be careful about one’s expectations and unnecessary desires. Or else the wolf wishing is well nurtured and one falls into the trap of anger and creates all kinds of terrible situations for oneself and others. Therefore the wolf living within is to be killed meaning the anger is to be conquered.
O Indra, crush the śva or dog living in us. Śva or dog represents maatsarya or envy. Dogs are usually very jealous animals. Try caressing a dog in front of other dogs and you can see the jealousy in others. Jealousy or maatsarya-bhaava is intolerance of others’ happiness and growth. This needs to be conquered and the śva living within must be killed.
O Indra, destroy the koka living within us. Koka or chakravaaka represents kaama or lust. Chakravaakas are birds who live in couples. When night is the time to make love, the chakravaaka couples cannot remain together. They turn their faces from each other and start yelling, intensely feeling the pang of separation. When day dawns they do not leave each other even for a moment. This intense longing for making love with each other is kaama or lust. The most dangerous enemy within which is a great hindrance in one’s own progress. This needs to be conquered and one needs to stop feeding the koka within.
O Indra, annihilate the suparṇa or the eagle living within us. Suparṇa or eagle represents arrogance. One may be doing great things which is good but one has to take care that it does not take over. One has to carry the feeling that one is nothing compared to what potential one has. If one starts boasting of oneself with little achievements then one truly hinders one’s progress. The arrogant eagle that one nurtures within needs to be killed and the high spirited eagle to be nurtured.
O Indra, destroy the gṛdhra or the vulture living within us. Gṛdhra or the vulture represents lobha or greed. The sense of possessiveness and procuring for oneself more than one’s need is lobha or greed. The vultures are of this nature. One needs to stop feeding the vulture within if one wishes to move ahead in life with all positivity.
Every animal has both negative and positive qualities. Here the six animals described as the six negative elements in the human consciousness which when fed ruin the human being.
The journey to conquer the six inner enemies may not be easy, but it is essential for finding true peace and fulfillment in life. By remaining vigilant and aware of these negative factors, we can gradually weaken their hold over us. With self-discipline, self-awareness, and spiritual growth, we can experience inner peace and lead a life aligned with our higher purpose. The path to conquering these inner enemies leads us to a life of compassion, contentment, and joy, ultimately guiding us towards the fulfillment of our ultimate life goals.
-Sampadananda Mishra
PS: This article was published in the January 2023 issue of Rishiplus — A Monthly Magazine of Rishihood University.
