यया स्वप्नं भयं शोकं विषादं मदमेव च |
न विमुञ्चति दुर्मेधा धृति: सा पार्थ तामसी || 35||
yayā svapnaṁ bhayaṁ śhokaṁ viṣhādaṁ madam eva cha
na vimuñchati durmedhā dhṛitiḥ sā pārtha tāmasī
yayā—in which; svapnam—dreaming; bhayam—fearing; śhokam—grieving; viṣhādam—despair; madam—conceit; eva—indeed; cha—and; na—not; vimuñchati—give up; durmedhā—unintelligent; dhṛitiḥ—resolve; sā—that; pārtha—Arjun, the son of Pritha; tāmasī—in the mode of ignorance
Translation:
O Arjuna! that by which a stupid man holds fast to sleep, fear, grief, despair, and also pride and egoism is called Tamasic.
Commentary:
Firmness is a virtue indeed. But it can be misused and produce evil effects. The Tamasic man is overcome by sleep, fear, grief, and despair. Pride and conceit never leave him. Thus his firmness wastes itself in self-destructive ways. Therefore, the true seeker should strive to attain spiritual virtues by proper orientation of his mental attitude. He should strive to cultivate kindness, compassion, devotion, and knowledge, and acquire God’s grace. Sage Valmiki at first misused his faculties in evil ways. But later on, by his companionship with perfected men, he was able to know what was Dharma, and what God-realisation was, and from that onwards, he spent his life singing the Glories of Rama and attained the highest state.
Durmedha: Intelligence is capable of gross misuse in every field of activity. The intelligence of the Tamasic men always runs in evil ways.
Svapnam: This word here refers to excessive sleep, and not the moderate rest of the body which is quite essential for a normal and healthy life.
Question: What is the nature of ‘Tamasic Dhriti’?
Answer: It induces sleep, fear, grief, and despair. It produces too much pride and self-conceit.