anubandhaṁ kṣhayaṁ hinsām anapekṣhya cha pauruṣham
mohād ārabhyate karma yat tat tāmasam uchyate
anubandham — consequences;
kṣhayam — loss;
hinsām — injury;
anapekṣhya — by disregarding;
cha — and;
pauruṣham — one’s own ability;
mohāt — out of delusion;
ārabhyate — is begun;
karma — action;
yat — which;
tat — that;
tāmasam — in the mode of ignorance;
uchyate — is declared to be
This verse speaks about actions that people do when they don’t think clearly or understand the consequences of what they are doing. When someone acts out of confusion or delusion, they often don’t consider how their actions might affect themselves or others in the future.
For instance, if someone decides to cheat or lie because they think it will benefit them, they are acting without understanding the potential harm their actions can cause, not just to others, but also to themselves. Such actions are often careless and lead to negative outcomes. They might seem like a fast solution in the moment but can cause a lot of trouble later on.
The verse emphasizes that these types of actions often cause harm to others. They may involve physical harm, emotional pain, or creating conflicts that hurt relationships. When we don’t care about the results of our actions and act impulsively, we not only hurt others but also create bad karma, which is the idea that our actions come back to us, sometimes in unexpected ways.
This is often rooted in ignorance or a lack of understanding—sometimes people are so caught up in their own desires or frustrations that they can't see the bigger picture. They might believe that their current actions won’t lead to any long-term problems; however, this kind of thinking is misleading and stems from being in a state of confusion.
In simple words, the verse warns against acting thoughtlessly. It encourages us to think carefully about our actions and consider how they may cause harm or lead to problems down the line. When we act without regard for the consequences, we are not only misusing our abilities but also drifting away from a more responsible and meaningful life. This state of acting carelessly and causing harm to others is called ignorance, and we should strive to be more aware and thoughtful in our actions.