There is an article titled Duryodhan syndrome: Know right yet choose wrong in The Times of India. Duryodhan knew that his actions were wrong and violated all canons of ethics. Yet he chose to act that way and ultimately became the greatest loser. The article describes this phenomenon as Duryodhan Syndrome and summarizes it as “the painful gap between moral awareness and moral action.” This syndrome is not uncommon; many people suffer from it.
What is the reason for this contradiction?
Arjuna raises a similar question in Bhagavad Gita 3.36, and Krishna answers it in 3.37. Arjuna asks why a person knowingly commits sinful actions, as though impelled by some irresistible force. Shankaracharya compares the force to the authority that a king exercises over a servant. Krishna replies that the primary cause is desire, which, when frustrated, transforms into anger. Desire arises from the predominance of rajas in a person’s nature. Krishna describes desire as a great devourer and the eternal enemy of knowledge because it blinds a person to what is right.
Earlier, Bhagavad Gita 2.63 describes the slippery slope that follows unchecked anger:
“From anger comes delusion; from delusion, failure of memory; from failure of memory, the loss of understanding; and from the loss of understanding, one perishes.”
(Translation by Swami Gambhirananda.)