In Bhagavad Gita 18.22, Krishna says knowledge that clings to one single effect as if it were the whole, without reason, without grasping the truth, and narrow, is tamasic.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
यत्तु कृत्स्नवदेकस्मिन्
कार्ये सक्तमहैतुकम्
अतत्त्वार्थवदल्पं च
तत्तामसमुदाहृतम् ॥ १८-२२ ॥
yattu kṛtsnavadekasmin
kārye saktamahaitukam
atattvārthavadalpaṃ ca
tattāmasamudāhṛtam
English transliteration yattu kritsnavadekasmin
kaarye saktamahaitukam
atattvaarthavadalpam cha
tattaamasamudaahritam ॥ 18.22 ॥
Translation / Meaning
And that knowledge which clings to one single effect as if it were the whole, without reason, without grasp of the truth, and narrow, is declared to be tamasic.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| यत् yat | which |
| तु tu | and |
| कृत्स्नवत् kṛtsnavat | as if it were the whole kṛtsna (whole) + vat (as if) |
| एकस्मिन् ekasmin | to one |
| कार्ये kārye | effect |
| सक्तम् saktam | clinging |
| अहैतुकम् ahaitukam | without reason |
| अतत्त्वार्थवत् atattvārthavat | without grasp of the truth a (not) + tattva (truth) + artha (purpose) + vat (having) |
| अल्पम् alpam | narrow |
| च ca | and |
| तत् tat | that |
| तामसम् tāmasam | tamasic |
| उदाहृतम् udāhṛtam | is declared |
Word-wise Chanting
- yat–tu kṛt–sna–va–de–kas–min– 8 syllables yat-tu krit-sna-va-de-kas-min-
- kār–ye sak–ta–ma–hai–tu–kam | 8 syllables kaar-ye sak-ta-ma-hai-tu-kam
- a–tat–tvār–tha–va–dal–paṃ ca 8 syllables a-tat-tvaar-tha-va-dal-pam cha
- tat–tā–ma–sa–mu–dā–hṛ–tam || 18-22 8 syllables tat-taa-ma-sa-mu-daa-hri-tam
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 18 Verse 22
Context
Krishna describes the three kinds of knowledge (18.20–18.22).
Meaning
Tāmasika jñāna fixates on one small part of reality as if it were everything. It is ahaituka, unreasoned; atattvārthavat, lacking real understanding; and alpa, narrow and petty.
Fanaticism and narrow-mindedness are expressions of tamasic knowledge. They mistake a fragment for the whole.
In Practice
Examine one strong opinion you hold. Is it reasoned and broad, or narrow and rigid?
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 18: Moksha Sannyasa Yoga (Liberation and Renunciation). 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.