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Bhagavad Gita Chapter 18 Verse 35 (18.35)

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 18 Verse 35 (18.35)

यया स्वप्नं भयं शोकं विषादं मदमेव च । न विमुञ्चति दुर्मेधा धृतिः सा पार्थ तामसी | | १८-३५ | |

yayā svapnaṁ bhayaṁ śhokaṁ viṣhādaṁ madameva cha na vimuñchati durmedhā dhṛitiḥ sā pārtha tāmasī

Word-by-word guide:
Line 1:
  • यय (yaya) — यय(by which)
  • वन (svapnam) — वन(sleep)
  • भयम् (bhayam) — भय(fear)
  • ओक (śhokam) — दुःख(grief)
  • इशद (viṣhādam) — दुःख(despair)
  • मद (madam) — मद(vanity)
  • एव (eva) — और निश्चय ही(and indeed)
  • (cha) — और निश्चय ही(and indeed)
Line 2:
  • (na) — त्याग नहीं करता(does not give up)
  • इउचइ (vimuñchati) — त्याग नहीं करता(does not give up)
  • उएध (durmedhā) — दोषयुक्त(foolish/evil-minded)
  • धृतिः (dhṛitih) — धृति(determination)
  • सः (sā) — वह(that)
  • पार्थ (Partha) — हे पार्थ(Arjuna)
  • तमसि (tāmasī) — तम में(ignorant)

English: And that which clings perversely to false idealism, fear, grief, despair and vanity is the product of lack of understanding.

💡 Commentary Note

Tamasik resolve is the stubbornness by which an ignorant person clings to sleep, fear, grief, depression, and vanity.

Learnings from Shloka 35:
  • Negative Willpower:: Clinging stubbornly to bad habits, lazy routines, and dark moods is a Tamasik trait.
  • Self-Sabotage:: The refusal to change or seek help is a form of ignorant determination.

Gita/Sanskrit Language Quiz

Practice this shloka vocabulary

Match Sanskrit words from shloka 18.35 with their Hindi and English meanings.

Practice vocabulary