Bhagavad Gita BG 18.35
Chapter 18, Verse 35 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
यया स्वप्नं भयं शोकं विषादं मदमेव च । न विमुञ्चति दुर्मेधा धृतिः सा पार्थ तामसी ॥
yaya svapnam bhayam shokam vishadam madam eva ca na vimuncati durmedha dhrTih sa partha tamasi
Meaning
That by which a foolish person does not give up sleep, fear, grief, despondency, and arrogance — that firmness is tamasic, O Partha.
Understanding
Tamasic dhriti: 'holds onto' svapna (sleep/unconsciousness), bhaya (fear), shoka (grief), vishada (depression/despondency), and mada (arrogance/intoxication). Durmedha (the foolish/dull-witted one) — not because these qualities are complex, but because the tamasic person stubbornly clings to them. The 'firmness' of tamas is actually inertia — an inability or refusal to release the dark states. The tamasic person clings to their fears, griefs, and despairs as if they were fundamental identity. Tamas 'firms up' darkness.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| स्वप्नम् | svapnam | sleep, dreaminess, unconsciousness |
| विषादम् | vishadam | despondency, depression (the opening state of Arjuna in Ch1) |
| मदम् | madam | arrogance, intoxication, pride |
| विमुञ्चति | vimuncati | gives up, releases, lets go of |
| दुर्मेधा | durmedha | one of dull/bad intelligence, foolish |
| यया | yayā | by which |
| भयम् | bhayam | fear |
| शोकम् | śokam | grief |
| विषादम् | viṣādam | depression, despondency |
| मदम् | madam eva ca | and intoxication also |
| न | na vimunñcati | does not give up |
| दुर्मेधाः | durmedhāḥ | the unintelligent, the foolish |
| धृतिः | dhṛtiḥ | steadiness |
| सा | sā | that |
| पार्थ | pārtha | O Arjuna |
| तामसी | tāmasī | in ignorance |