Chapter 14, Verse 13
अप्रकाशोऽप्रवृत्तिश्च प्रमादो मोह एव च |
तमस्येतानि जायन्ते विवृद्धे कुरुनन्दन ॥13॥
aprakāśo 'pravṛttiśca pramādo moha eva ca |
tamasyetāni jāyante vivṛddhe kurunandana ||13||
"O descendant of the Kuru dynasty, when tamas predominates these surely come into being: non-discrimination and inactivity, inadvertence and delusion."
Key Insight:
The Bhagavad Gita teaches us through 14.13 that true peace is found when we align our actions with Dharma.
The Bhagavad Gita teaches us through 14.13 that true peace is found when we align our actions with Dharma.
Detailed Meaning
Lord Krishna describes the symptoms of the dominance of Tamo Guna (the mode of ignorance). When this mode increases, the individual experiences a lack of intellectual clarity (aprakāśa), a lack of motivation or effort (apravṛtti), a tendency toward carelessness (pramāda), and a state of total delusion (moha). Unlike Rajas, which causes frantic activity, Tamas causes a psychological paralysis and a downward spiral into ignorance, making one unable to distinguish right from wrong or even find the will to act.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core message of Gita 14.13?
O descendant of the Kuru dynasty, when tamas predominates these surely come into being: non-discrimination and inactivity, inadvertence and delusion.