In Bhagavad Gita 14.13, Krishna says that when tamas increases, darkness, inactivity, heedlessness and delusion arise.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
अप्रकाशोऽप्रवृत्तिश्च
प्रमादो मोह एव च
तमस्येतानि जायन्ते
विवृद्धे कुरुनन्दन ॥ १४-१३ ॥
aprakāśo’pravṛttiśca
pramādo moha eva ca
tamasyetāni jāyante
vivṛddhe kurunandana
English transliteration aprakaasho’pravrittishcha
pramaado moha eva cha
tamasyetaani jaayante
vivriddhe kurunandana ॥ 14.13 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Darkness, inertia, heedlessness and delusion: these arise, O joy of the Kurus, when tamas increases.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| अप्रकाशः aprakāśaḥ | darkness |
| अप्रवृत्तिः apravṛttiḥ | inertia |
| च ca | and |
| प्रमादः pramādaḥ | heedlessness |
| मोहः mohaḥ | delusion |
| एव eva | indeed |
| च ca | and |
| तमसि tamasi | when tamas |
| एतानि etāni | these |
| जायन्ते jāyante | arise |
| विवृद्धे vivṛddhe | increases |
| कुरुनन्दन kurunandana | O joy of the Kurus |
Word-wise Chanting
- ap–ra–kā–śo–‘pra–vṛt–tiś–ca 8 syllables ap-ra-kaa-sho-‘pra-vrit-tish-cha
- pra–mā–do mo–ha e–va ca | 8 syllables pra-maa-do mo-ha e-va cha
- ta–mas–ye–tā–ni jā–yan–te 8 syllables ta-mas-ye-taa-ni jaa-yan-te
- vi–vṛd–dhe ku–ru–nan–da–na || 14-13 8 syllables vi-vrid-dhe ku-ru-nan-da-na
How to read this
How to chant: each line is one pāda (quarter-verse); chant it in one breath. The hyphen (-) divides the syllables, inside a word and across a sandhi join, so every pāda shows its 8 syllables (11 in triṣṭubh verses). A consonant cluster is divided after its first consonant (kar-ma, vet-ti): that syllable is held longer. Mark above a syllable: guru, long (two beats); laghu, short (one beat). | closes the half-verse, || the verse; the number is the syllable count of the pāda.
Deeper Explanation – Chapter 14 Verse 13
Context
Krishna describes the signs of each guna (14.11–14.13).
Meaning
When tamas dominates, there is aprakāśa, lack of light and clarity; apravṛtti, unwillingness to act; pramāda, carelessness; and moha, confusion. The mind is heavy and dim.
Tamas can feel like comfort, but it dulls life. Movement, light and purposeful activity help overcome it.
In Practice
When you feel heavy or confused today, step into sunlight, move your body or tidy something to lift the mood.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 14: Gunatraya Vibhaga Yoga (The Three Gunas). Read the chapter overview, browse every verse of the Gita, or return to the chapter-by-chapter guide. For a reading plan, see how to study the Bhagavad Gita and the study resources.