tamas tv ajñāna-jaṁ viddhi mohanaṁ sarva-dehinām
pramādālasya-nidrābhis tan nibadhnāti bhārata
tamaḥ — mode of ignorance;
tu — but;
ajñāna-jam — born of ignorance;
viddhi — know;
mohanam — illusion;
sarva-dehinām — for all the embodied souls;
pramāda — negligence;
ālasya — laziness;
nidrābhiḥ — and sleep;
tat — that;
nibadhnāti — binds;
bhārata — Arjun, the son of Bharat
In this verse, Lord Krishna talks about a state of mind called the 'mode of ignorance.' He emphasizes that this mode is a special characteristic of people who are living beings. This mode is very different from a state of goodness, which is associated with wisdom and understanding.
When someone is deeply influenced by ignorance, they become confused about reality. This confusion means they can't see things as they really are. For example, take the truth of life and death. Everyone knows that life is temporary and that one day they will die, just like their loved ones will. But someone caught in ignorance often overlooks this fact. They might spend their entire life chasing after things like money and success, forgetting that these things won't last forever. This behavior seems silly or even crazy, as they ignore their true spiritual nature in favor of worldly possessions.
People stuck in this mode of ignorance often show no interest in understanding or growing spiritually. They may turn down opportunities to learn about deeper truths or engage in discussions about spirituality. This apathy is a sign of laziness; it’s like they are trapped in a comfortable bubble where they refuse to move or explore beyond their immediate desires.
Another way to recognize someone influenced by ignorance is their sleeping habits. While getting enough sleep is essential for health—usually around six hours—those who are heavily anchored in ignorance might sleep excessively, sometimes up to ten to twelve hours a day. This kind of prolonged sleep might indicate that they are consistently unhappy or trying to escape from reality. They could also lean towards addictions, whether that means substances like alcohol or just trying to sleep more to avoid facing life's challenges.
In summary, the mode of ignorance affects how people think and act. It makes them confused and disinterested in meaningful things, leading to behaviors associated with laziness, excessive sleeping, and even madness. This verse serves as a warning about the dangers of falling into ignorance, urging individuals to seek knowledge and understand their true selves instead.