In Bhagavad Gita 18.32, Krishna says the intellect enveloped in darkness that regards adharma as dharma and sees all things in a perverted way is tamasic.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
अधर्मं धर्ममिति या
मन्यते तमसावृता
सर्वार्थान्विपरीतांश्च
बुद्धिः सा पार्थ तामसी ॥ १८-३२ ॥
adharmaṃ dharmamiti yā
manyate tamasāvṛtā
sarvārthānviparītāṃśca
buddhiḥ sā pārtha tāmasī
English transliteration adharmam dharmamiti yaa
manyate tamasaavritaa
sarvaarthaanvipareetaamshcha
buddhih saa paartha taamasee ॥ 18.32 ॥
Translation / Meaning
That intellect which, enveloped in darkness, regards adharma as dharma and sees all things in a perverted way, O Partha, is tamasic.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| अधर्मम् adharmam | adharma |
| धर्मम् dharmam | dharma |
| इति iti | thus |
| या yā | which |
| मन्यते manyate | regards |
| तमसा tamasā | in darkness |
| आवृता āvṛtā | enveloped |
| सर्वार्थान् sarvārthān | all things sarva (all) + arthān (things) |
| विपरीतान् viparītān | perverted |
| च ca | and |
| बुद्धिः buddhiḥ | intellect |
| सा sā | that |
| पार्थ pārtha | O Pārtha |
| तामसी tāmasī | tamasic |
Word-wise Chanting
- a–dhar–maṃ dhar–ma–mi–ti yā 8 syllables a-dhar-mam dhar-ma-mi-ti yaa
- man–ya–te ta–ma–sā–vṛ–tā | 8 syllables man-ya-te ta-ma-saa-vri-taa
- sar–vār–thān–vi–pa–rī–tāṃś–ca 8 syllables sar-vaar-thaan-vi-pa-ree-taamsh-cha
- bud–dhiḥ sā pār–tha tā–ma–sī || 18-32 8 syllables bud-dhih saa paar-tha taa-ma-see
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 32
Context
Krishna describes the three kinds of intellect (18.30–18.32).
Meaning
The tāmasī buddhi, covered by darkness, inverts values: it sees adharma as dharma, wrong as right, and sees everything viparīta, upside down.
This is the most dangerous state of mind: wrong is called right with conviction. Light and honest reflection are its remedy.
In Practice
Seek honest feedback from a wise friend on a belief you hold strongly.
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.