Chapter 18 • Verse 22
यत्तु कृत्स्नवदेकस्मिन्कार्ये सक्तमहैतुकम्। अतत्त्वार्थवदल्पं च तत्तामसमुदाहृतम्॥
yat tu kṛitsna-vad ekasmin kārye saktam ahaitukam atattvārthavad alpaṁ cha tat tāmasam udāhṛitam
Meaning
But that knowledge which clings to one single effect as if it were everything, without reason, without basis in truth, and trivial — that is declared to be tamasic.
Tamasic knowledge obsesses over one thing as if it's all that matters — unreasonable, baseless, missing the big picture. It's narrow, irrational, and truth-lacking. The most ignorant form of knowing.
Strength Reflection
"I avoid narrow, irrational knowledge that misses the larger truth."
Devotional Surrender
O Lord, protect me from tamasic knowledge that clings and misses truth.