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avidyā-asmitā-rāga-dveṣa-abhiniveśāḥ kleśāḥ

अविद्यास्मितारागद्वेषाभिनिवेशः क्लेशाः

The afflictions are illusion, the sense of ‘I’ am-ness, attraction, aversion and the will to stay alive

avidyā - illusion; spiritual ignorance; connate misidentification

asmitā - egoity; the sense of 'I' am-ness

rāga - colour; attraction; delight in; vehement desire of; attachment; a musical note, harmony, melody

dveṣa - aversion; hatred; animosity; dislike; repugnance

abhiniveśa - tenacity; the will to stay alive, survival instinct, clinging to life, fear of death, instinctive clinging to worldly life and bodily enjoyments and the fear that one might be cut off from all of them by death

kleśa - afflictions; distress; anguish

Commentary by T Krishnamacharya:

“These five Kleśa surround the heart of every individual. They are related to the three Guṇa known as Sattva, Rajas and Tamas. As long as one chooses not to inquire into the true nature of one’s self and acts mechanically, they will unknowingly contribute to the dominance of the Kleśa.”

Commentary by TKV Desikachar:

“Avidyā is anything else other than Vidyā.”

“We may have intellectual Vidyā, but in reality we follow some deeper force of Avidyā.”