Bhagavad Gita BG 18.39
Chapter 18, Verse 39 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
यदग्रे चानुबन्धे च सुखं मोहनमात्मनः । निद्रालस्यप्रमादोत्थं तत्तामसमुदाहृतम् ॥
yad agre canubandhe ca sukham mohanam atmanah nidra-lasya-pramadotthAm tat tamasam udahrtam
Meaning
That happiness which deludes the Self both at the beginning and in the consequence, arising from sleep, laziness, and negligence — that is said to be tamasic.
Understanding
Tamasic happiness: mohanam atmanah (deludes the Self — both at the start AND in the consequence). Neither agre (at first) nor anubandhe (in the end/sequel) is it genuine happiness — it deludes at every stage. Nidra (sleep/unconsciousness), lasya (laziness, lethargy), pramada (negligence, heedlessness) — the three sources of tamasic 'pleasure'. Unlike rajasic which starts as nectar, tamasic is deluding from the start. The pleasure of oversleeping, of avoiding effort, of numbing oneself — these don't even provide the initial nectar of rajasic happiness; they only perpetuate ignorance throughout.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| अनुबन्धे | anubandhe | in the consequence, in what follows, at the end |
| मोहनम् | mohanam | deluding, causing delusion/confusion |
| निद्रा | nidra | sleep, unconsciousness |
| लास्य | lasya | laziness, lethargy, sloth |
| प्रमाद | pramada | negligence, heedlessness, carelessness |
| उदाहृतम् | udahrtam | said to be, declared as, described as |
| यत् | yat | which |
| अग्रे | agre | at first |
| च | ca anu-bandhe ca | and in the end also |
| सुखम् | sukham | happiness |
| आत्मनः | ātmanaḥ | of the self |
| निद्रा | nidrā | sleep |
| आलस्य | lāsya | laziness |
| प्रमाद | pramāda | carelessness, intoxication |
| उत्थम् | uttham | arising from |
| तत् | tat | that |
| तामसम् | tāmasam | in ignorance |
| उदाहृतम् | udāhṛtam | is declared |