Shloka : 39 / 78

In this Bhagavad Gita verse, Lord Krishna highlights the ignorance caused by the Tamas quality. From an astrological perspective, those with Capricorn Rasi and Uttiradam Nakshatra are influenced by the planet Saturn. Saturn can particularly affect health and mental state. This may lead them to live with inactivity and lack of attention. In health, they should follow practices that improve physical well-being. In mental state, they must keep their mind active, overcoming the fatigue caused by the Tamas quality. In discipline and habits, they should eliminate self-interest and cultivate good practices. This way, they can transcend the ignorance caused by the Tamas quality and achieve progress in life. By following the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita, they should aim to reduce the Tamas quality and live with self-awareness and effort.

Through this verse, Lord Krishna illustrates the pleasure that arises from ignorance or the Tamas quality. Although it may seem pleasurable at the beginning of life, it binds us with illusion. Sleep, inactivity, and lack of attention provide a temporary pleasure. These pleasures prevent the growth of our self. As a result, we get trapped in ignorance. Such pleasures do not allow us to progress in life. Therefore, we must keep our senses alert.

In Vedanta, the Tamas quality signifies ignorance. It emphasizes acting without deep understanding. We should seek knowledge rather than only focusing on our self-interest in life. Illusion or Maya stimulates our mind's distractions. This hinders our true spiritual growth. When we remain inactive without knowledge, we are controlled by the Tamas quality. The aim of Vedanta is to liberate man from this ignorance. We should strive to live with self-awareness and effort.

In today's world, the Tamas quality is prevalent in our lifestyle. It is common for us to live like we are in a slumber. We spend excessive time in work, but waste much time in unproductive activities. This leads to mental stress and health issues. For family well-being, we need to rejuvenate our relationships. If we mismanage money and debts, our mind becomes very irresponsible. However, we must restructure our lives by eliminating self-interest and practicing self-reflection. Good dietary habits and exercise will enhance our physical health. For longevity, our mind must remain active. When using social media, we should think about not letting it steal our time. By living without self-interest in anything, we can attain true happiness.