Bhagavad Gita Chapter 18, Verse 25

Chapter 18 – Moksha Sanyasa Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

अनुबन्धं क्षयं हिंसामनपेक्ष्य च पौरुषम् ।
मोहादारभ्यते कर्म यत्तत्तामसमुच्यते ॥

Transliteration

anubandhaṃ kṣayaṃ hiṃsāmanapekṣya ca pauruṣam .
mohādārabhyate karma yattattāmasamucyate ॥

Meaning

That action which is undertaken out of delusion, without regard to consequences, loss, injury to others, or one's own capacity, is called tamasic.

Word meanings

अनुबन्धम् – consequence
क्षयम् – loss
हिंसाम् – injury, harm to others
अनपेक्ष्य – without regard to
च – and
पौरुषम् – one's own capacity
मोहात् – out of delusion
आरभ्यते – is undertaken
कर्म – action
यत् – which
तत् – that
तामसम् – tamasic
उच्यते – is called

Anvaya (word order)

अनुबन्धं क्षयं हिंसां पौरुषं च अनपेक्ष्य मोहात् यत् कर्म आरभ्यते, तत् तामसम् उच्यते ।

Explanation

Tamasic action is marked by a total absence of discernment. Krishna lists four things that the tamasic doer fails to consider. The first is anubandha — the consequence. He does not ask what will follow from the action or how it will affect his own life and the lives of others.

The second is kshaya — loss. He has no sense of how much wealth, time, health or goodwill will be destroyed. The third is himsa — harm to others. The tamasic doer is insensitive to the pain he causes. The fourth is paurusha — his own capacity. He does not check whether the task is within his ability, and so becomes entangled in half-finished undertakings.

The root of all this is mohat — delusion. Tamasic action springs from impulse, inertia or confusion. An act committed while intoxicated, a step taken in rage, a reckless decision made without thought — all are tamasic.

It is striking that Duryodhana's whole conduct exemplifies this verse. He did not weigh the consequences of the war, the ruin of his clan, the slaughter of countless people, or the real strength of the Pandavas; he began the war out of delusion and hatred. Shankara explains paurusha as the question 'Can I accomplish this or not?' — failing to consider it is itself a mark of tamas.

Context

The previous two verses described sattvic and rajasic action. This verse describes tamasic action. From the next verse (18.26) Krishna begins describing the three kinds of doer.

Life lesson

Before any step, ask four questions: What will follow from this? What will it cost? Will it hurt anyone? Is it within my capacity? Decisions made in impulse or inertia usually bring only regret.

Key terms

Tamasic karma: Action without discernment, driven by delusion
Anubandha: The consequence that follows an action
Kshaya: Loss of wealth, strength and the like
Himsa: Harm caused to others
Paurusha: One's own capacity