Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 18, Verse 39

यदग्रे चानुबन्धे च सुखं मोहनमात्मन: |
निद्रालस्यप्रमादोत्थं तत्तामसमुदाहृतम् || 39||

yad agre chānubandhe cha sukhaṁ mohanam ātmanaḥ
nidrālasya-pramādotthaṁ tat tāmasam udāhṛitam

yat—which; agre—from beginning; cha—and; anubandhe—to end; cha—and; sukham—happiness; mohanam—illusory; ātmanaḥ—of the self; nidrā—sleep; ālasya—indolence; pramāda—negligence; uttham—derived from; tat—that; tāmasam—in the mode of ignorance; udāhṛitam—is said to be

Translation:

That pleasure that arises from sleep, idleness, and error causes delusion during the enjoyment and in the sequel, is said to be Tamasic.

Commentary:

Too much sleep, indolence, and heedlessness are the marks of a Tamasic nature. Such a man lives and dies under the darkest delusion. Ignorance in its worst form clouds their minds and their actions are like those of beasts. Therefore Tamasic pleasure is of the worst type. Those who crave it are not men at all. Their life is devoid of understanding. Precious human life is then wasted in beastly pleasures. The seed of ignorance continues to exert its power over man, and drives him on from birth to birth, every time drawing man on the downward path of destruction. Therefore, those who are enlightened should follow the Lord’s command and abandon all Tamasic and Rajasic pleasures. Holding on to Sattva, man should purify himself and rise to the highest state.

Question: What is the nature of Tamasic pleasure?

Answer: It arises from sleep, indolence, and heedlessness. It causes delusion. During the time of enjoyment and in its sequel, it binds man to ignorance and delusion.

Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 18 🔻 (78 Verses)

01	02	03	04	05	06	07	08	09	10
11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20
21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30
31	32	33	34	35	36	37	38	39	40
41	42	43	44	45	46	47	48	49	50
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61	62	63	64	65	66	67	68	69	70
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