Shloka 28
Śuka–Janaka Saṃvāda: Āśrama-krama, Jñāna-vijñāna, and the Marks of Liberation (शुक-जनक संवादः)
नृत्यवादित्रगीतानामज्ञानाच्छुद्धधानता । द्वेषो धर्मविशेषाणामेते वै तामसा गुणा:
nṛtyavāditragītānām ajñānāc chuddhadhānatā | dveṣo dharmaviśeṣāṇām ete vai tāmasā guṇāḥ ||
Yājñavalkya bersabda: Karena ketidaktahuan timbul kekakuan yang keliru atas nama ‘kesucian’ terkait tari, musik instrumental, dan nyanyian; dan muncul pula kebencian terhadap bentuk-bentuk dharma tertentu. Inilah sungguh sifat-sifat yang lahir dari tamas. Orang yang diselubungi tamas terpaku pada kesucian lahiriah semata, namun berpaling dari pertimbangan dharma yang berlandas daya budi, dan tak sanggup menerima keragaman jalan kebenaran.
याज़्वल्क्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse identifies two tamasic tendencies: (1) ignorance-driven scrupulosity—clinging to superficial notions of purity/propriety in matters like dance, music, and song; and (2) aversion toward particular expressions of dharma. Together they show how tamas distorts judgment, replacing discernment with rigidity and dislike.
In the Śānti Parva’s instructional setting, Yājñavalkya is describing the marks of tamas (the dark, inert guṇa). This verse is part of a broader ethical-psychological analysis meant to guide self-correction and cultivate clearer, more sattvic understanding of dharma.