Bhagavad Gita Chapter 18 Verse 39
भगवद् गीता अध्याय 18 श्लोक 39

यदग्रे चानुबन्धे च सुखं मोहनमात्मनः।
निद्रालस्यप्रमादोत्थं तत्तामसमुदाहृतम्।।18.39।।



English Translation - Swami Gambirananda
18.39 That joy is said to be born of tams which, both in the beginning and in the seel, is delusive to oneself and arises from sleep, laziness and inadvertence.


English Translation of Ramanuja's Sanskrit Commentary
18.39 Pleasure of the Tamasika type causes delusion to the self at the beginning and the end of enjoyment. Here delusion means the absence of knowledge about things as they are. Pleasure springing from sleep, sloth and error are the cause of it. Even at the time of experience, sleep etc., are the cause of delusion. It is clear how sleep causes delusion. Sloth is indolence in sensory operations. When sensory activities are slow, dimness of knowledge results. Error is heedlessness regarding what ought to be done. From this also occurs the dimness of knowledge. Thus, these two also cause delusion. Such pleasure is declared to be Tamasika. Therefore what is meant is this:  subduing Rajas and Tamas, the Sattva alone should be allowed to develop by the aspirant for relase.


Transliteration Bhagavad Gita 18.39Yadagre chaanubandhe cha sukham mohanamaatmanah;
Nidraalasyapramaadottham tattaamasamudaahritam.


Word Meanings Bhagavad Gita 18.39yat—which; agre—from beginning; cha—and; anubandhe—to end; cha—and; sukham—happiness; mohanam—illusory; ātmanaḥ—of the self; nidrā—sleep; ālasya—indolence; pramāda—negligence; uttham—derived from; tat—that; tāmasam—in the mode of ignorance; udāhṛitam—is said to be