Bhagavad Gita · Chapter 18 · Moksha Sannyasa Yoga
Bhagavad Gita 18.32 अधर्मं धर्ममिति या मन्यते तमसावृता
श्लोक 18.32
अधर्मं धर्ममिति या मन्यते तमसावृता ।
सर्वार्थान्विपरीतांश्च बुद्धिः सा पार्थ तामसी ॥
adharmaṃ dharmamiti yā manyate tamasāvṛtā |
sarvārthānviparītāṃśca buddhiḥ sā pārtha tāmasī ||
हिन्दी अर्थ
हे पार्थ! जो बुद्धि अज्ञान के अंधकार से ढकी होकर अधर्म को धर्म मान लेती है और सब बातों को उल्टा ही देखती है, वह तामसी है।
Meaning in English
The understanding which, covered in darkness, takes adharma to be dharma and sees all things in a reversed way, O Partha, is tamasic.
Bhagavad Gita 18.32 — word by word
| Word | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| अधर्मम् | adharmam | wrong |
| धर्मम् | dharmam | as right |
| इति | iti | thus |
| या | yā | which |
| मन्यते | manyate | considers |
| तमसा | tamasā | by darkness |
| आवृता | āvṛtā | covered |
| सर्वार्थान् | sarva-arthān | all things |
| विपरीतान् | viparītān | inverted |
| च | ca | and |
| बुद्धिः | buddhiḥ | understanding |
| सा | sā | that |
| पार्थ | pārtha | O son of Pritha |
| तामसी | tāmasī | tamasic |
Explanation
The understanding which, covered in darkness, takes wrong to be right and sees everything upside down, is tamasic. Where rajasic understanding is distorted, tamasic understanding is inverted: it mistakes harm for good and good for harm. Its errors come not from hasty desire but from deep confusion.
Shankara says such a mind sees all things contrary to their nature, as if in a mirror. Ramanuja applies the verse to the mind that treats the Self as the body and the transient as lasting. The progression across 18.30 to 18.32 moves from clear sight, to bent sight, to reversed sight, and many readers note how dangerous the last can be when confidently held.
भावार्थ
हे पार्थ, जो बुद्धि तमोगुण से ढकी होकर अधर्म को धर्म मानती है और सब बातों को उलटा ही देखती है, वह तामसी बुद्धि है।
Living it today
If you find yourself defending what you know hurts others, pause. Darkness can feel like conviction from the inside.
Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of Bhagavad Gita 18.32?
The understanding which, covered in darkness, takes wrong to be right and sees everything upside down, is tamasic. Where rajasic understanding is distorted, tamasic understanding is inverted: it mistakes harm for good and good for harm. Its errors come not from hasty desire but from deep confusion.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 18.32?
Sri Krishna speaks this verse, in Chapter 18 (Moksha Sannyasa Yoga) of the Bhagavad Gita.
How can I apply Bhagavad Gita 18.32 in daily life?
If you find yourself defending what you know hurts others, pause. Darkness can feel like conviction from the inside.
Reflected on verse 18.32?
Light a diya, add a note, or share this verse.