In Bhagavad Gita 18.39, Krishna says happiness that deludes the self from beginning to end, arising from sleep, laziness and heedlessness, is tamasic.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
यदग्रे चानुबन्धे च
सुखं मोहनमात्मनः
निद्रालस्यप्रमादोत्थं
तत्तामसमुदाहृतम् ॥ १८-३९ ॥
yadagre cānubandhe ca
sukhaṃ mohanamātmanaḥ
nidrālasyapramādotthaṃ
tattāmasamudāhṛtam
English transliteration yadagre chaanubandhe cha
sukham mohanamaatmanah
nidraalasyapramaadottham
tattaamasamudaahritam ॥ 18.39 ॥
Translation / Meaning
That happiness which deludes the self both at the beginning and in the end, arising from sleep, laziness and heedlessness, is declared to be tamasic.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| यत् yat | which |
| अग्रे agre | at the beginning |
| च ca | and |
| अनुबन्धे anubandhe | in the end |
| च ca | and |
| सुखम् sukham | happiness |
| मोहनम् mohanam | deluding |
| आत्मनः ātmanaḥ | of the self |
| निद्रालस्यप्रमादोत्थम् nidrālasyapramādottham | arising from sleep, laziness and heedlessness nidrā (sleep) + ālasya (laziness) + pramāda (heedlessness) + uttham (arising) |
| तत् tat | that |
| तामसम् tāmasam | tamasic |
| उदाहृतम् udāhṛtam | is declared |
Word-wise Chanting
- ya–dag–re cā–nu–ban–dhe ca 8 syllables ya-dag-re chaa-nu-ban-dhe cha
- su–khaṃ mo–ha–na–māt–ma–naḥ | 8 syllables su-kham mo-ha-na-maat-ma-nah
- nid–rā–las–yap–ra–mā–dot–thaṃ 8 syllables nid-raa-las-yap-ra-maa-dot-tham
- tat–tā–ma–sa–mu–dā–hṛ–tam || 18-39 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 39
Context
Krishna describes the three kinds of happiness (18.36–18.39).
Meaning
Tāmasa sukha is mohana, deluding, from start to finish. It comes from nidrā, excessive sleep; ālasya, laziness; and pramāda, carelessness. It dulls the mind and leaves nothing of value.
The “comfort” of inertia is a false happiness that slowly drains life of meaning.
In Practice
Replace one moment of idle, mindless comfort today with something that awakens you.
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.