In Bhagavad Gita 18.35, Krishna says the steadiness by which a foolish person does not give up sleep, fear, grief, despondency and arrogance is tamasic.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
यया स्वप्नं भयं शोकं
विषादं मदमेव च
न विमुञ्चति दुर्मेधा
धृतिः सा पार्थ तामसी ॥ १८-३५ ॥
yayā svapnaṃ bhayaṃ śokaṃ
viṣādaṃ madameva ca
na vimuñcati durmedhā
dhṛtiḥ sā pārtha tāmasī
English transliteration yayaa svapnam bhayam shokam
vishaadam madameva cha
na vimunchati durmedhaa
dhritih saa paartha taamasee ॥ 18.35 ॥
Translation / Meaning
The steadiness by which a person of poor understanding does not give up sleep, fear, grief, despondency and arrogance, O Partha, is tamasic.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| यया yayā | by which |
| स्वप्नम् svapnam | sleep |
| भयम् bhayam | fear |
| शोकम् śokam | grief |
| विषादम् viṣādam | despondency |
| मदम् madam | arrogance |
| एव eva | also |
| च ca | and |
| न na | not |
| विमुञ्चति vimuñcati | gives up |
| दुर्मेधाः durmedhāḥ | a person of poor understanding |
| धृतिः dhṛtiḥ | steadiness |
| सा sā | that |
| पार्थ pārtha | O Pārtha |
| तामसी tāmasī | tamasic |
Word-wise Chanting
- ya–yā svap–naṃ bha–yaṃ śo–kaṃ 8 syllables ya-yaa svap-nam bha-yam sho-kam
- vi–ṣā–daṃ ma–da–me–va ca | 8 syllables vi-shaa-dam ma-da-me-va cha
- na vi–muñ–ca–ti dur–me–dhā 8 syllables na vi-mun-cha-ti dur-me-dhaa
- dhṛ–tiḥ sā pār–tha tā–ma–sī || 18-35 8 syllables dhri-tih 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 35
Context
Krishna describes the three kinds of steadiness (18.33–18.35).
Meaning
Tāmasī dhṛti is a stubborn clinging to negative states: excessive sleep, fear, grief, despondency and mada, conceit. It is persistence in darkness.
We can be very persistent in our bad habits. Recognising this tamasic “steadiness” is the first step to releasing it.
In Practice
Identify one negative state you hold on to stubbornly, and take one step to release it today.
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.