Bhagavad Gita Chapter 18, Verse 25 (BG 18.25) — Meaning, Translation & Commentary

18.25 अनुबन्धम् conseence? क्षयम् loss? हिंसाम् injury? अनपेक्ष्य without regard? च and? पौरुषम् (ones own) ability? मोहात् from delusion? आरभ्यते is undertaken? कर्म action? यत् which? तत् that? तामसम् Tamasic (dark)? उच्यते is said.Commentary Tamasic acts cause harm to others. A Tamasic man reflects not at all whether he has the capacity to perform these useless actions? but continues to act blindly. With utter thoughtlessness he sets aside any reflection as to the difficulty of performing the action and what the result of it would be. He carries it on in his own egoistical manner. He does not discriminate between the good and the bad? or what is ones own and what belongs to another.Kshayam Loss of power and of wealth? resulting from the performance of an action.Himsa Injury to living beings.Paurusham Ones own ability or capacity to complete the work.Now listen to the characteristics that pertain to the pure agent. The Lord proceeds to deal with the distinction among the agents.

Commentaries

Contemporary scholarly and practical interpretations for modern seekers.

This interpretation draws on a specific tradition and may not represent the view of any single school. For authoritative guidance within a specific tradition, seek a qualified teacher.

Modern

The person dominated by tamas does not even consider, before undertaking an action, what the consequences of that action will be, nor does he reflect upon how much of his physical, financial, and other resources will be depleted in its execution. He remains unconcerned about the violence being perpetrated or the suffering inflicted upon others as a result of his deeds. Such negligent and irresponsible individuals are driven by delusion—by false beliefs and base intentions. Examples of such tamasic actions include intoxication, reckless gambling, and corruption. Those who perform such actions seek only the fleeting sensation of sensory pleasure. Whereas the fruits of rajasic action take some time to manifest as disappointment and suffering, the fruits of tamasic action bring suffering immediately. In contrast, the fruits of sattvic action always yield joy and fulfillment. In the verses that follow, Lord Sri Krishna describes three types of agents of action.