Link to purport by A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada

Transcript of Bhakti-Shastri class on this verse by Chaitanya Charan

We discussed how soul becomes entangled in the matter 

We also discussed about the characteristics of three mode, we discussed about goodness and passion now let us discuss about the characteristics of mode of ignorance.

We are in the section: 5-9: How the modes binds the soul.

Bg 14.8

tamas tv ajñāna-jaṁ viddhi
mohanaṁ sarva-dehinām
pramādālasya-nidrābhis
tan nibadhnāti bhārata

Synonyms: 

tamaḥ — the mode of ignorance; tu — but; ajñāna–jam — produced of ignorance; viddhi — know; mohanam — the delusion; sarva–dehinām — of all embodied beings; pramāda — with madness; ālasya — indolence; nidrābhiḥ— and sleep; tat — that; nibadhnāti — binds; bhārata — O son of Bharata.

Translation: 

O son of Bharata, know that the mode of darkness, born of ignorance, is the delusion of all embodied living entities. The results of this mode are madness, indolence and sleep, which bind the conditioned soul.

tamas tv ajñāna-jaṁ viddhi, so this mode of ignorance born of ignorance (this may seems peculiar we will discuss this)

mohanaṁ sarva-dehinām, that it deludes all living beings 

How does it deludes?

pramādālasya-nidrābhis, by producing pramad, madness; alasys, is laziness, and nidra is sleep, 

tan nibadhnāti bhārata, ignorance born of ignorance, so first there is ignorance and when we act in ignorance we get more entangled in ignorance and in that way we complicate our life. So from basic ignorance we go into deeper ignorance. E.g. a person having trouble thinks that by taking alcohol he will get rid of his trouble. So the trouble will come back in a far more troubling form then at present. So there is no limit of how low a person can be dragged because of ignorance.

Generally we think that this person is in mode of goodness, passion and ignorance etc. But here Krishna has said: mohanaṁ sarva-dehinām, sarva-dehinām, all living entities, this kind of describer is not used earlier with respect to goodness and passion. 

So why all living beings are deluded? There are multiple level of understanding for this. 

1. The very bodily conception itself is ignorance and all living beings are in bodily conception of live. That itself is one level of Tama.
2. Everybody has to take sleep and before sleep we feel tired. So Nidra which a basic bodily function is in ignorance, pure devotees may sleep also for Krishna’s pleasure and they dream about Krishna. They are exceptions. 

So there are necessary contact with mode of ignorance and unnecessary aggravation because of mode of ignorance which are like drinking or taking drugs which make the situation worse. 

Ālasya– laziness, we have to do something but we refuse to do it. 

Pramad is madness. 

tan nibadhnāti bhārata, that binds the souls.

End of transcription.