Verse-8
Chapter 14 — Gunatreyavibhag Yoga
Verse 8
🕉 Original Sanskrit Shloka
tamastvajñānajam viddhi mohanam sarvadehinām
pramādālasyanidrābhis tannibadhnāti bhārata
🕉 English Translation
Tamoguna jo sab ko hee mohit kare,
Hota hai utpann yeh agyan se.
Alasya, pramad, nidra hai jo,
Inhi se sadaa bandhe yeh dehi ko.
📜 Translation
English
O Arjun! Know tamoguna, the deluder of all the embodied beings to be born of ignorance. It binds the embodied being by attachment to indolence, negligence and sleep.
Tamoguna is the state which is the lowest of all. It is beneficial neither for oneself nor for others! Merely a state of ignorance, lack of understanding, immaturity. What is to be done and what is not to be done-not the least bit of awareness about it. Taking improper to be proper and vice verse and interest in continuing in that state! It is the cause for keeping all under entanglement and delusion. Tamoguna does not allow any understanding to develop towards the fact that this invaluable life is going waste.
Eating, drinking and sleeping-this is all to life, and the ultimate. Even in this there is no sense of discernment. Eating things not worthy to be eaten, intoxication, excessive sleep. No interest in virtuous deeds, heedlessness towards it. Eagerness towards evil deeds. Laziness towards practical works. Action is to be taken but with procrastination. If one is lazing around, continuing to do so, if one sitting then continuing in that too. I will do it, it will be done-such an attitude! Anywhere and any time coming under the grip of sleep-life is limited to this only.
What is the nature of all three attributes? See further in just one verse which follows-