अधर्मं धर्ममिति या मन्यते तमसावृता ।
सर्वार्थान्विपरीतांश्च बुद्धि: सा पार्थ तामसी ॥ ३२ ॥
adharmaṁ dharmam iti yā manyate tamasāvṛitā
sarvārthān viparītānśh cha buddhiḥ sā pārtha tāmasī
श्लोक ३२: हे पार्थ! जो बुद्धि अज्ञान में लिप्त है, अनुचित को भी उचित मानती है और हर वस्तु को विकृत दृष्टि से देखती है, वह बुद्धि तामसिक-बुद्धि कहलाती है।
Shloka 32: O Partha! The intellect which is covered by ignorance, considers the wrong as the right and sees everything in a perverted way, that intellect is known as Tamasik-Buddhi.
In Bhagavad Gita verse 18.32, Lord Krishna continues His explanation of the three types of intelligence (buddhi) to Arjuna, focusing specifically on tamasic intelligence. He states that intelligence shrouded in darkness (tamasāvṛitā) mistakes irreligion for religion and perceives everything contrary to its true nature. This is the intelligence of ignorance (tāmasī), where one's faculty of judgment and logical reasoning becomes severely impaired.
This verse follows Krishna's discussion of sattvic intelligence (which clearly discerns right from wrong) and rajasic intelligence (which confusedly mixes virtue and vice). Here, He reaches the most dangerous form of understanding—one that completely inverts truth and moral values. The tamasic intellect doesn't merely lack knowledge; it possesses a certainty about wrong knowledge and reverses every proper value. It confuses adharma (unrighteousness) with dharma (righteousness) and vice versa, seeing what is harmful as beneficial and what is beneficial as harmful.
The consequences of tamasic intelligence are severe. When our understanding is covered by tamas, we lose our ability to perceive reality correctly. As the commentary explains, a person under this influence might be like someone addicted to alcohol who cannot recognize the damage they're doing to themselves, even selling their property for their next drink. Such a mindset can justify harmful actions, confuse destruction with progress, and mistake selfishness for wisdom.
This verse highlights how our inner faculties—particularly our intelligence—shape our perception and decisions. The tamasic intellect represents more than simple ignorance; it's an active misinterpretation of reality that leads one confidently in the wrong direction. It regards "Adharma as Dharma and Dharma as Adharma, existent as non-existent, and non-existent as existent". This creates a dangerous situation where a person not only chooses wrongly but believes firmly they are choosing correctly.
In practical terms, tamasic intelligence manifests as a person who might glorify dishonesty as cleverness, dismiss compassion as weakness, or embrace harmful behaviors as justified or normal. They might say, "What's wrong with a little dishonesty? That's how the world works," convinced that their distorted perspective is wisdom. This intelligence doesn't allow for correction because the very faculty meant to evaluate right and wrong has become inverted.
The Sanskrit terms reveal deeper dimensions of this concept. The phrase "tamasāvṛitā" indicates intelligence covered or enveloped by darkness, suggesting that beneath the darkness lies the potential for clarity. "Sarvārthān viparītān" means perceiving all things in a contrary fashion—a complete inversion of values and understanding. This explains why those with tamasic intelligence often seem so certain of their incorrect views—their perception itself has been fundamentally altered.
Understanding this verse helps us recognize that many harmful behaviors in society stem not just from bad choices but from a fundamentally distorted understanding. It encourages self-reflection about our own decision-making process and the quality of intelligence that guides our actions. Krishna's teaching invites us to cultivate sattvic intelligence through proper knowledge, association with wise people, and spiritual practices that dispel the darkness of ignorance, helping us see reality as it truly is rather than through the inverted lens of tamas.
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