Chapter 18 Shloka 39
यदग्रे चानुबंधे च सुखं मोहनमात्मनः।
निद्रालस्यप्रमादोत्थं तत्तामसमुदाहृतम्।।३९।।
Now the Lord describes tamsic happiness.
That happiness, which deludes the individual in the beginning and subsequently in its outcome, and which arises from sleep, indolence and lassitude, such happiness is tamsic.
My little one, now learn of the nature of tamsic happiness. One who abides in tamas:
a) dwells in the abysmal darkness of ignorance;
b) takes the support of false principles;
c) avoids involvement in action;
d) does not use his sense organs appropriately nor adequately;
e) deems that which is not his duty to be his duty;
f) considers the truth as falsehood and regards falsehood as the truth;
g) dubs the other as an illusion and considers himself to be the image of Brahm;
h) does not even consider the other to be a human being and deems himself to be godlike;
i) has no consideration for the other’s mind and desires, yet considers himself to be highly intellectual;
j) tries to justify his own lies as truth and the other’s truth as falsehood.
Such people are ever mired in the darkness of moha. They are intellectually sightless; they are both deaf and blind. This constitutes the lassitude of the tamsic individual.
1. Such people gain joy in the performance of lowly deeds.
2. They derive joy through escape from duty.
3. They deplete their own energies in wasteful activities.
4. They are oversensitive.
5. They threaten to leave on the minutest issue.
6. The smallest adversity can wipe the smile off their face.
7. They take affront at the smallest excuse.
8. Such people are ever perturbed.
9. They harbour innumerable grudges, real and imagined, against others.
10. They are ever immersed in mental remorse and depression.
11. They criticise others but cannot endure a word against themselves.
12. They ridicule others but cannot endure another’s ridicule.
13. Their humour is filled with sarcasm.
14. Their jokes are poisonous barbs.
15. Actually such people are cowards.
16. They consider themselves to be extremely strong.
17. They are devoid of intellect, yet they consider themselves to be intellectuals.
18. It is this attribute of tamas that makes them extremely stubborn.
19. Such people do not know how to give in to another – even if such arrogance leads to self destruction.
20. They are the epitome of wrath and animosity.
21. They are even capable of setting fire to their own home!
22. Dwelling in utter lethargy, they are immersed in delusionary convictions on account of which they remain ever unacquainted with reality.
Little one, they feel that their happiness lies in causing misery to others. They boast:
1. “I said this, I said that – I hurt him twice as much as he hurt me.”
2. “I really gave him such an earful, it was great fun!”
3. “I beat him up and straightened him out forever!”
These people retain their happiness as long as they bask in this attribute of tamas. This is the happiness of tamas.
Such people inflict pain and remain sorrowful themselves. They are unhappy but get peace only by troubling others. This is their trade – their business is to give sorrow.
