Chapter 14 Shloka 8

तमस्त्वज्ञानजं विद्धि मोहनं सर्वदेहिनाम्।

प्रमादालस्यनिद्राभिस्तन्निबध्नाति भारत।।८।।

Know that the quality of tamas

is born of ignorance and deludes all beings.

It binds man through indulgence,

indolence and slothfulness.

Chapter 14 Shloka 8

तमस्त्वज्ञानजं विद्धि मोहनं सर्वदेहिनाम्।

प्रमादालस्यनिद्राभिस्तन्निबध्नाति भारत।।८।।

The Lord says, “O Arjuna, now understand the attributes of the quality of tamas.”

Know that the quality of tamas is born of ignorance and deludes all beings. It binds man through indulgence, indolence and slothfulness.

The moment attachment to the gross body prevails:

a) the quality of tamas is born;

b) ignorance takes birth;

c) moha erupts.

Kamla, this moha and ignorance also exist in the other two categories of beings – the satoguni and the rajoguni. However, the individual in whom satoguna predominates, is ready to sacrifice all. Where rajoguna predominates, the person lives only for the satiation of his desires, whereas the tamoguni is dominated by animal-like tendencies. Every individual possesses all the three qualities in varied ratio.

The attribute of tamas

1. Tamas originates when the attributes of sattva and rajas are suppressed.

2. Indulgence and laziness are the offspring of tamas.

3. Foolishness is the result of tamas.

4. All reactions that are born of ignorance are indications of tamas.

5. Moha is caused by tamas.

6. People who are governed by this attribute are devoid of any thought or considerations.

7. They deride and criticise others.

8. They are stubborn and obstinate.

9. They bear ill will towards others.

10. They can never forgive.

11. Blindness, arrogance and false pride are their characteristics.

12. They are oblivious to their duties.

13. They are bloated with false pride.

14. They are ever anxious and sorrowful.

15. They tread the path that is contrary to dharma.

16. They possess an evil intellect and indulge in wicked acts.

17. This attribute leads a person away from purity and cleanliness.

18. The job of this attribute is to give pain and sorrow to others.

19. It gives rise to the desire to control others.

20. It prevents one from understanding reality.

21. This attribute annihilates every trace of knowledge.

22. No one else is a human being for the one in whom this attribute predominates.

23. ‘I can destroy everybody’ – only the tamoguni can indulge in such a thought.

The one who is predominantly sattvic, gives of himself in order to save the other. The one in whom the attribute of rajas predominates, strives only to take from another. The man with a tamsic nature wants to snatch away the other’s rights and possessions, because he does not even consider the other to be a human being. It is impossible for him to ever comprehend the knowledge of the gunas, because he is an escapist.

The attribute of tamas makes a man:

a) indifferent and inconsiderate towards others;

b) devoid of any sense of duty;

c) an escapist;

d) slothful and unwilling to do any work;

e) devoid of a sense of responsibility.

Now mark the difference between the qualities of sattva and tamas.

1. The attribute of sattva renders a man indifferent to his own self. The one who is essentially tamsic becomes indifferent to others.

2. Satoguna makes a person conscious of his duty whereas tamoguna strips him of any sense of duty.

3. The one who is sattvic is the benefactor of all. The tamsic individual does nothing beneficial for others.

The tamsic individual takes enormous pride in his body self and in his own attributes. He is proud of his knowledge, therefore he often changes its connotations and thus promotes ignorance. In fact the knowledge of the tamoguni is nothing but ignorance, because it draws the individual away from humility. The attribute of tamas fills the individual with indolence and makes him lazy towards the fulfilment of duty and asleep towards the Truth.