Verse 18.32 : Moksha Sanyasa Yoga "Liberation and Renunciation"
Verse 32 of 78
“
The Translation
“That intellect which, wrapped in darkness, regards irreligion (adharma) as religion (dharma), and sees all things in a distorted, reverse way, O Partha, is in the mode of ignorance (Tamasic).”
Commentary & Insights
Krishna describes the lowest quality of intellect: Tamasic Buddhi. In Vedic ethics, this is the state of total spiritual darkness, where an individual's moral compass is completely inverted, leading them to destroy themselves and society.
Practical Application
1
Avoid environments or media that celebrate toxicity, hatred, or laziness as virtues; seek wisdom instead.
Reflections & Notes
Saved to browser
Self-Reflection Prompts
- How does a Tamasic intellect explain how entire societies can sometimes celebrate cruelty, violence, or slavery as 'just' and 'glorious'?
- When our mind is lazy or depressed, how do we start viewing constructive habits (like study or exercise) as 'torture' and passive habits (like oversleeping) as 'bliss'?
Have you finished this lesson?
Mark this verse as studied to track your progress and see your learning journey on the dashboard.
18.32
अधर्मं धर्ममिति या मन्यते तमसावृता
Shankara comments that a Tamasic intellect is blinded by ignorance (Tamas). It confuses vice with virtue. For example, it considers irreligion (like violence or theft) as one's duty, and true duty (like non-injury or truth) as irreligion. It sees the world in a completely upside-down (viparīta) manner, dragging the Jiva to lower realms.