yaya svapnam bhayam sokam visadam madam eva ca na vimuncati durmedha dhriti sa partha tamasi
The steadiness by which a foolish person does not give up sleep, fear, grief, despondency, and arrogance — that steadiness is tamasic, O Arjuna. Tamasic dhriti is the grim persistence of someone stuck in self-destructive patterns.
- •Tamasic steadiness clings to sleep, fear, grief, despondency, and arrogance
- •This is the obstinacy of delusion rather than the strength of wisdom
- •Persistence in harmful and degrading patterns is the darkest form of dhriti