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Verse 18.35

Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit

यया स्वप्नं भयं शोकं विषादं मदमेव च | न विमुञ्चति दुर्मेधा धृतिः सा पार्थ तामसी ||३५||

Transliteration (IAST)

yayā svapnaṁ bhayaṁ śokaṁ viṣādaṁ madam eva ca | na vimuñcati durmedhā dhṛtiḥ sā pārtha tāmasī ||35||

Word-by-Word Meanings

yayā-by which

svapnam-sleep/dreaming

bhayam-fear

śokam-grief

viṣādam-depression

madam-intoxication/conceit

na vimuñcati-does not give up

durmedhā-of dull intellect

Translation

The fortitude by which a dull-witted person does not give up excessive sleep, fear, grief, depression, and conceit - that fortitude, O Partha, is tamasic.

Commentary

Tamasic fortitude is the stubborn persistence in negative states. Shankaracharya explains the paradox: this is 'fortitude' only in the sense of obstinate clinging to harmful patterns. The person tenaciously holds onto sleep, fear, grief, depression, and arrogance rather than making effort to overcome them. Ramanuja notes that 'durmedhā' (dull-witted) indicates this person mistakes inertia for steadfastness.

Themes

yoga