Bhagavad Gita BG 14.13
Chapter 14, Verse 13 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
अप्रकाशोऽप्रवृत्तिश्च प्रमादो मोह एव च । तमस्येतानि जायन्ते विवृद्धे कुरुनन्दन ॥
aprakasho 'pravrtish ca pramado moha eva ca tamasy etani jayante vivrddhe kuru-nandana
Meaning
Darkness (aprakasha), inactivity (apravrtti), negligence (pramada), and delusion (moha) — these arise when tamas is flourishing, O joy of the Kurus.
Understanding
Signs of dominant tamas: aprakasha (a-prakasha = absence of light/clarity — mental darkness, inability to see clearly). Apravrtti (a-pravrtti = inactivity, withdrawal, no motivation to act — opposite of rajas's driven-ness). Pramada (negligence, heedlessness — not caring about what matters). Moha (delusion — confusion about what is real, what is Self, what has value). Tamasy etani jayante vivrddhe (these arise when tamas is vivrddhe = flourishing). Comparing with rajas signs (v12): rajas = driven, grasping, restless; tamas = dark, inactive, negligent, confused. The two are opposite poles of bondage — rajas too much, tamas too little. Only sattva, and ultimately transcending all three, is the path.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| अप्रकाशः | aprakasha | darkness, absence of clarity, dullness of mind |
| अप्रवृत्तिः | apravrtih | inactivity, non-engagement, absence of initiative |
| प्रमादः | pramada | negligence, carelessness, heedlessness |
| मोहः | moha | delusion, confusion, inability to discriminate |
| अप्रकाशः | aprakāśaḥ | darkness, lack of illumination |
| च | ca | and |
| अप्रवृत्तिः | apravṛtiḥ | inactivity |
| प्रमादः | pramādaḥ | negligence |
| एव | eva ca | and also |
| तमसि | tamasi | in ignorance |
| एतानि | etāni | these |
| जायन्ते | jāyante | arise, are born |
| विवृद्धे | vivṛddhe | when increased |
| कुरु-नन्दन | kuru-nandana | O joy of the Kurus |
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