偈颂 18.3518.118.218.318.418.518.618.718.818.918.1018.1118.1218.1318.1418.1518.1618.1718.1818.1918.2018.2118.2218.2318.2418.2518.2618.2718.2818.2918.3018.3118.3218.3318.3418.3518.3618.3718.3818.3918.4018.4118.4218.4318.4418.4518.4618.4718.4818.4918.5018.5118.5218.5318.5418.5518.5618.5718.5818.5918.6018.6118.6218.6318.6418.6518.6618.6718.6818.6918.7018.7118.7218.7318.7418.7518.7618.7718.78

That, by which a stupid man does not abandon sleep, fear, grief, despair and also conceit that firmness, O Arjuna, is Tamasic.

The steadiness by which a dull-witted person does not let go of sleep, fear, grief, despondency and conceit, son of Pritha, is tamasic.

Tamasic steadiness is the stubbornness by which a dull-minded person refuses to give up sleep, fear, grief, despondency and arrogance. This is persistence in the wrong direction, a firm grip on what weakens and darkens the mind. The verse shows that steadiness is not always a virtue; one can cling with great tenacity to habits that cause suffering. Grief and despondency in the list recall Arjuna's state at the beginning of the dialogue.