द्वेष
Dveṣa
DVAY-shah
Level 2Etymology
Root: From the Sanskrit root √dviṣ (to hate, to be hostile, to show enmity). The noun dveṣa is formed with the suffix -a, denoting the state or act of aversion.
Literal meaning: Aversion, hatred, repulsion — the act of pushing away or feeling hostility toward something.
Definition
Dvesha is the instinctive feeling of aversion, dislike, or hostility toward people, situations, or experiences that cause discomfort. It manifests as anger, resentment, jealousy, or avoidance in daily life. It is the automatic recoiling of the mind from what it perceives as unpleasant or threatening.
In Patanjali's Yoga Sutras (2.8), dvesha is defined as 'duḥkhānuśayī dveṣaḥ' — the aversion that follows from the memory of pain. It is one of the five kleshas (afflictions) that bind the jiva to samsara, arising from avidya and creating karmic impressions that perpetuate suffering.
From the absolute standpoint, dvesha is a superimposition upon the non-dual Self, which is beyond all pairs of opposites. In Brahman there is no 'other' to repel. Dvesha dissolves when the aspirant realizes that the perceived source of suffering is not separate from one's own awareness, and that all duality is mithya (apparent, not ultimately real).
Appears In
Common Misconception
A common misconception is that dvesha refers only to intense hatred or violent hostility. In reality, dvesha includes all forms of aversion — even mild irritation, subtle avoidance, or the quiet preference to push away discomfort. Patanjali classifies it as a deep-rooted klesha that operates even in dormant (prasupta) and attenuated (tanu) states, meaning one can be driven by dvesha without being consciously aware of it.
Modern Application
Dvesha operates constantly in modern life — in the reflexive scroll past uncomfortable news, the avoidance of difficult conversations, the resentment toward a colleague, or the urge to suppress painful emotions. Cognitive behavioral therapy mirrors yogic insight by identifying avoidance patterns as drivers of anxiety and depression. Recognizing dvesha does not mean forcing oneself to like everything; it means noticing when aversion is distorting perception and driving reactive behavior. Mindfulness practices rooted in yoga teach us to sit with discomfort without being controlled by it, transforming unconscious repulsion into conscious, measured response.
Quick Quiz
In Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, what is dvesha defined as arising from?