That which thinks lawlessness (adharma) is duty (dharma), enveloped in darkness (tamas), And perceives all things perversely, that understanding (buddhi), O son of Pritha (Pārtha), is of darkness (tāmasī).
When it thinks in perverse ways, is covered in darkness, imagining chaos to be sacred duty, understanding is darkly inert.
(32) The intellect which, by Darkness overcast, thinks right is wrong, law-lawlessness, all things their opposite, is [an intellect] in Darkness’ way.
18.32 O Pārtha, that intellect is born of tamas which, being covered by darkness, considers vice as virtue, and verily perceives all things contrary to what they are.
18.32 That Buddhi, O Arjuna, which, enveloped in darkness, regards Adharma as Dharma and which reverses every value, is Tamasika.
18.32 That, which, enveloped in darkness, sees Adharma as Dharma and all things perverted -- that intellect, O Arjuna, is Tamasic (dark).