A core teaching · reflective in mood · a little context helps
“Blind action begins where clear seeing is absent.”
Action begun in delusion, ignoring its consequences, harm, and one’s own capacity, is called tamasic.
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Tap a word to focus on it.
Read literallyconsequence · loss · harm · without considering · and · one’s own capacity · from delusion · is begun · action · which · that · tamasic · is called
Action driven by confusion, without considering consequences, damage, or your real ability, is dark and unwise.
Krishna speaks this verse, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, in the chapter titled "Moksha Sanyasa Yoga" (Liberation through Renunciation).
Verse 25 sits in Chapter 18 of the Bhagavad Gita — Moksha Sanyasa Yoga, "Liberation through Renunciation". The chapter has 78 verses in total.
A young man takes a large loan to start a restaurant without checking the rent, the market or his own cooking. Krishna names that tamasic action: begun blindly, ignoring consequence, harm and capacity.
Did you like this verse?
Tamasic action starts in delusion, with no thought for consequence, loss, harm to others, or one's own ability.
What this verse means
Action driven by confusion, without considering consequences, damage, or your real ability, is dark and unwise.
Context & commentary
Krishna is sorting action into three kinds for Arjuna. After describing pure and passionate action, he turns to the worst kind: action launched in confusion, without weighing results, harm, or strength.
What it looks like today
A young man takes a large loan to start a restaurant without checking the rent, the market or his own cooking. Krishna names that tamasic action: begun blindly, ignoring consequence, harm and capacity.
“You feel the warning light before rushing ahead. Clear seeing can stop avoidable damage.”
Explore related themes: delusion (19 verses), ahankara (10 verses)