Four rivers of fire

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In the Guru Granth Sahib, the Guru states that anger, cruelty, material attachment and greed are the Four rivers of fire. Anyone who falls victim of any of these vices - anger, cruelty, material attachment or greed will be ruined. These four afflictions are the most serious ways to destroy our lives.

These Guru's four rivers of fire should be avoided and one should try ones best to control the flow of these rivers; reduce anger; keep away from cruelty; don't get sucked into material attachment and finally don't fall victim to greed. Falling into any one of these fiery rivers will result in your annihilation!

The following shabads in the Guru Granth Sahib informs us about the Four rivers of fire thus:

Falling into them, one is burned!

ਹੰਸ੝ ਹੇਤ੝ ਲੋਭ੝ ਕੋਪ੝ ਚਾਰੇ ਨਦੀਆ ਅਗਿ ॥ ਪਵਹਿ ਦਝਹਿ ਨਾਨਕਾ ਤਰੀਝ ਕਰਮੀ ਲਗਿ ॥੨॥
Hans heṯ lobẖ kop cẖĝre naḝī▫ĝ ag. Pavėh ḝajẖėh nĝnkĝ ṯarī▫ai karmī lag. (2)
Cruelty, material attachment, greed and anger are the four rivers of fire.

Falling into them, one is burned, O Nanak! One is saved only by holding tight to good deeds. (2)

Save yourself, enshrine the Lord's name in your heart

ਚਾਰਿ ਨਦੀਆ ਅਗਨੀ ਤਨਿ ਚਾਰੇ ॥ ਤ੝ਰਿਸਨਾ ਜਲਤ ਜਲੇ ਅਹੰਕਾਰੇ ॥

ਗ੝ਰਿ ਰਾਖੇ ਵਡਭਾਗੀ ਤਾਰੇ ॥ ਜਨ ਨਾਨਕ ਉਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਅੰਮ੝ਰਿਤ੝ ਧਾਰੇ ॥੪॥੨॥

Cẖĝr naḝī▫ĝ agnī ṯan cẖĝre. Ŧarisnĝ jalaṯ jale ahaʼnkĝre.

Gur rĝkẖe vadbẖĝgī ṯĝre. Jan Nĝnak ur har amriṯ ḝẖĝre. (4)(2)

The four evils are the four rivers of fire flowing through the body.

It is burning in desire, and burning in egotism. Those whom the Guru protects and saves are very fortunate. Servant Nanak enshrines the Ambrosial Name of the Lord in his heart. (4)(2)