Shloka 32

Devanagari script

तमसा लोभयुक्तानि क्रोधजानि च सेवते । हिंसाविहाराभिरतस्तन्द्रीनिद्रासमन्वित:,तमोगुणद्वारा मनुष्य लोभ और क्रोधजनित कर्मोंका सेवन करता है, हिंसात्मक कर्मामें उसकी विशेष आसक्ति हो जाती है, तथा वह हर समय निद्रा-तन्द्रासे घिरा रहता है

Transliteration

tamasā lobhayuktāni krodhajāni ca sevate | hiṃsāvihārābhiratas tandrīnidrāsamanvitaḥ ||

Translation

Бхишма сказал: Под властью качества тьмы (тамас) человек предаётся поступкам, движимым жадностью и рождённым гневом. Он особенно привязывается к насильственным занятиям и постоянно пребывает в оцепенении, во власти сонливости и сна.

Word by Word

तमसाby darkness / by tamas

लोभयुक्तानिendowed with greed

क्रोधजानिborn of anger

चand

सेवतेhe resorts to / practices

हिंसाविहाराभिरतःdelighting in violent acts/ways

तन्द्रीनिद्रासमन्वितःaccompanied by drowsiness and sleep

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhishma

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse characterizes tamas as a force that pushes a person toward greed- and anger-born actions, attachment to violence, and a life dominated by lethargy and sleep—thereby indicating what should be recognized and restrained for ethical living.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma and conduct, Bhishma is explaining to Yudhishthira the behavioral signs of the guṇas; here he describes the tamasic disposition and its moral consequences.