अनुबन्धं क्षयं हिंसामनपेक्ष्य च पौरुषम् ।
मोहादारभ्यते कर्म यत्तत्तामसमुच्यते ॥
मोहादारभ्यते कर्म यत्तत्तामसमुच्यते ॥
Hindi · हिन्दी
जो कर्म परिणाम, हानि, हिंसा और सामर्थ्यको न देखकर मोहपूर्वक आरम्भ किया जाता है, वह तामस कहा जाता है ॥
English
Action begun in delusion, ignoring its consequences, harm, and one’s own capacity, is called tamasic.
What this verse means
Action driven by confusion, without considering consequences, damage, or your real ability, is dark and unwise.
Context & commentary
On the Kurukshetra battlefield, 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.
Why this verse still matters
You hit send on the angry message, then realize it will wound three people and solve nothing. This verse asks for one breath of clear seeing before the damage starts.
The takeaway
You feel the warning light before rushing ahead. Clear seeing can stop avoidable damage.
Word-by-word translation
अनुबन्धम् (consequence) / क्षयम् (loss) / हिंसाम् (harm) / अनपेक्ष्य (without considering) / च (and) / पौरुषम् (one’s own capacity) / मोहात् (from delusion) / आरभ्यते (is begun) / कर्म (action) / यत् (which) / तत् (that) / तामसम् (tamasic) / उच्यते (is called)
This verse is part of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 18: Moksha Sanyasa Yoga — Liberation through Renunciation, which contains 78 verses.
Explore related themes: delusion (19 verses), ahankara (10 verses)