Brahma Describes Tamas, the Quality of Darkness

Verse 1 (14.37.1)

तदव्यक्तमनुद्रिक्तं सर्वव्यापि ध्रुवं स्थिरम् । नवद्वारं पुरं विद्यात्त्रिगुणं पञ्चधातुकम् ॥

tadavyaktamanudriktaṃ sarvavyāpi dhruvaṃ sthiram | navadvāraṃ puraṃ vidyāttriguṇaṃ pañcadhātukam

That unmanifest, unrisen, all-pervading, firm and steady, one should know as a city of nine gates, threefold in quality and made of five elements.

Verse 2 (14.37.2)

एकादशपरिक्षेपं मनोव्याकरणात्मकम् । बुद्धिस्वामिकमित्येतत्परमेकादशं भवेत् ॥

ekādaśaparikṣepaṃ manovyākaraṇātmakam | buddhisvāmikamityetatparamekādaśaṃ bhavet

It has eleven enclosures, its nature is the mind's discernment, and the intellect is its master; thus this, the highest, is the eleventh.

Verse 3 (14.37.3)

त्रीणि स्रोतांसि यान्यस्मिन्नाप्यायन्ते पुनःपुनः । प्रणाड्यस्तिस्र एवैताः प्रवर्तन्ते गुणात्मिकाः ॥

trīṇi srotāṃsi yānyasminnāpyāyante punaḥpunaḥ | praṇāḍyastisra evaitāḥ pravartante guṇātmikāḥ

The three streams that are filled in it again and again are these three channels, of the nature of the qualities, that flow on.

Note on the text: Corrected प्रवर्न्तते → प्रवर्तन्ते (misprint in Wikisource: scrambled conjunct; CE pravartante) and प्रनाड्यः → प्रणाड्यः (ṇatva misprint; CE praṇāḍyas).

Verse 4 (14.37.4)

तमो रजस्तथा सत्वं गुणानेतान्प्रचक्षते । अन्योन्यमिथुनाः सर्वे तथाऽन्योन्यानुजीविनः ॥

tamo rajastathā satvaṃ guṇānetānpracakṣate | anyonyamithunāḥ sarve tathā'nyonyānujīvinaḥ

Tamas, rajas and sattva: these they call the qualities. All of them are mates of one another, live on one another,

Verse 5 (14.37.5)

अन्योन्यापाश्रयाश्चापि तथाऽन्योन्यानुवर्तिनः । अन्योन्यव्यतिषक्ताश्च त्रिगुणाः पञ्चधातवः ॥

anyonyāpāśrayāścāpi tathā'nyonyānuvartinaḥ | anyonyavyatiṣaktāśca triguṇāḥ pañcadhātavaḥ

depend on one another, follow one another, and are bound up with one another: the five elements are threefold in quality.

Verse 6 (14.37.6)

तमसो मिथुनं सत्वं सत्वस्य मिथुनं रजः । रजसश्चापि सत्वं स्यात्सत्वस्य मिथुनं तमः ॥

tamaso mithunaṃ satvaṃ satvasya mithunaṃ rajaḥ | rajasaścāpi satvaṃ syātsatvasya mithunaṃ tamaḥ

Sattva is the mate of tamas, rajas is the mate of sattva; sattva is also the mate of rajas, and tamas is the mate of sattva.

Verse 7 (14.37.7)

नियम्यते तमो यत्र रजस्तत्र निवर्तते । नियम्यते रजो यत्र सत्वं तत्र प्रवर्तते ॥

niyamyate tamo yatra rajastatra nivartate | niyamyate rajo yatra satvaṃ tatra pravartate

Where tamas is held in check, rajas sets in; where rajas is held in check, sattva sets in.

Verse 8 (14.37.8)

नैशात्मकं तमो विद्यात्त्रिगुणं मोहसंज्ञितम् । अधर्मलक्षणं चैव नियतं पापकर्मसु । तामसं रूपमेतत्तु दृश्यते चापि सङ्गतम् ॥

naiśātmakaṃ tamo vidyāttriguṇaṃ mohasaṃjñitam | adharmalakṣaṇaṃ caiva niyataṃ pāpakarmasu | tāmasaṃ rūpametattu dṛśyate cāpi saṅgatam

Know tamas as having the nature of night, threefold, called delusion, marked by unrighteousness and fixed in evil deeds. This is the tamasic form, and it is also seen joined with the others.

Note on the text: Input had no alignment: lines 1–2 = CE 14.36.8a, 8c; line 3 = star passage *0074_01 (after 14,036.008d): tāmasaṃ rūpam etat tu dṛśyate cāpi saṃgatam.

Verse 9 (14.37.9)

प्रकृत्यात्मकमेवाहू रजः पर्यायकारकम् । सत्त्वे तु सर्वभूतेषु दृश्यमुत्पत्तिलक्षणम् ॥

prakṛtyātmakamevāhū rajaḥ paryāyakārakam | sattve tu sarvabhūteṣu dṛśyamutpattilakṣaṇam

They say that rajas is of the nature of primal nature and makes things follow in turn; and in sattva, in all beings, the mark of origination is seen.

Note on the text: Both lines differ from CE 14.36.9 (pravṛttyātmakam … pravṛttaṃ sarvabhūteṣu dṛśyatotpattilakṣaṇam); the page's readings are good Sanskrit and are kept as a recension variant.

Verse 10 (14.37.10)

प्रकाशं सर्वभूतेषु लाघवं श्रद्धधानता । सात्विकं रूपमेवं तु लाघवं साधुसंमितम् ॥

prakāśaṃ sarvabhūteṣu lāghavaṃ śraddhadhānatā | sātvikaṃ rūpamevaṃ tu lāghavaṃ sādhusaṃmitam

Light in all beings, lightness, and faith: such is the sattvic form; and lightness is what the good approve.

Verse 11 (14.37.11)

एतेषां गुणतत्त्वानि वक्ष्यन्ते तत्त्वहेतुभिः । समासव्यासयुक्तानि तत्त्वतस्तानि बोधत ॥

eteṣāṃ guṇatattvāni vakṣyante tattvahetubhiḥ | samāsavyāsayuktāni tattvatastāni bodhata

The true nature of these qualities will be told, with their reasons; learn them as they truly are, in brief and at length.

Note on the text: Differs from CE 14.36.11 (eteṣāṃ guṇatattvaṃ hi vakṣyate hetvahetubhiḥ … vitta me), a recension variant.

Verse 12 (14.37.12)

सम्मोहोऽज्ञानमत्यागः कर्मणामविनिर्णयः । स्वप्नः स्तंभो भयं लोभः शोकः सुकृतदूषणम् ॥

sammoho'jñānamatyāgaḥ karmaṇāmavinirṇayaḥ | svapnaḥ staṃbho bhayaṃ lobhaḥ śokaḥ sukṛtadūṣaṇam

Bewilderment, ignorance, non-renunciation, indecision about actions, sleep, stupor, fear, greed, grief, the spoiling of good deeds,

Note on the text: Corrected सम्मोहो ज्ञानम् → सम्मोहोऽज्ञानम् (misprint in Wikisource: missing avagraha reverses the sense in a list of tamasic marks; CE saṃmoho 'jñānam).

Verse 13 (14.37.13)

अस्मृतिश्चाविपाकश्च नास्तिक्यं भिन्नवृत्तिता । निर्विशेषत्वमन्धत्वं जघन्यगुणवृत्तिता ॥

asmṛtiścāvipākaśca nāstikyaṃ bhinnavṛttitā | nirviśeṣatvamandhatvaṃ jaghanyaguṇavṛttitā

forgetfulness, deeds that bear no fruit, disbelief, wavering conduct, want of discrimination, blindness, living by the lowest qualities,

Verse 14 (14.37.14)

अकृते कृतमानित्वमज्ञाने ज्ञानमानिता । अमैत्री विकृतो भावो ह्यश्रद्धा मूढभावना ॥

akṛte kṛtamānitvamajñāne jñānamānitā | amaitrī vikṛto bhāvo hyaśraddhā mūḍhabhāvanā

taking credit for what has not been done, claiming knowledge in ignorance, unfriendliness, a warped state of mind, lack of faith, a deluded way of thinking,

Verse 15 (14.37.15)

अनार्जवमसंज्ञत्वं कर्म पापमचेतना । गुरुत्वं सन्नभावत्वमवशित्वमवाग्गतिः ॥

anārjavamasaṃjñatvaṃ karma pāpamacetanā | gurutvaṃ sannabhāvatvamavaśitvamavāggatiḥ

crookedness, senselessness, evil action, want of consciousness, heaviness, sinking, want of self-control, a downward course:

Verse 16 (14.37.16)

सर्व एते गुणा वृत्तास्तामसाः सम्प्रकीर्तिताः । ये चान्ये विहिता भावा लोकेऽस्मिन्भावसंज्ञिताः ॥

sarva ete guṇā vṛttāstāmasāḥ samprakīrtitāḥ | ye cānye vihitā bhāvā loke'sminbhāvasaṃjñitāḥ

all these qualities, in operation, are declared tamasic; and whatever other states there are in this world that are called by the name of states,

Verse 17 (14.37.17)

तत्रतत्र नियम्यन्ते सर्वे ते तामसा गुणाः । परिवादकथा नित्यं देवब्राह्मणवैरिता ॥

tatratatra niyamyante sarve te tāmasā guṇāḥ | parivādakathā nityaṃ devabrāhmaṇavairitā

all those tamasic qualities are held in check wherever they arise. Constant talk of slander, and enmity toward the gods and Brahmins,

Note on the text: Corrected मेवब्राह्मण → देवब्राह्मण (misprint in Wikisource: म for द; CE devabrāhmaṇa-). The page's वैरिता for CE vaidikāḥ is a recension variant.

Verse 18 (14.37.18)

अत्यागश्चातिमानश्च मोहो मन्युस्तथाऽक्षमा । मत्सरश्चैव भूतेषु तामसं वृत्तमिष्यते ॥

atyāgaścātimānaśca moho manyustathā'kṣamā | matsaraścaiva bhūteṣu tāmasaṃ vṛttamiṣyate

non-giving, overweening pride, delusion, anger, impatience, and envy toward beings: this is held to be tamasic conduct.

Verse 19 (14.37.19)

वृथारम्भा हि ये केचिद्वृथा दानानि यानि च । वृथाभक्षणमित्येतत्तामसं वृत्तमिष्यते ॥

vṛthārambhā hi ye kecidvṛthā dānāni yāni ca | vṛthābhakṣaṇamityetattāmasaṃ vṛttamiṣyate

Undertakings begun in vain, gifts given in vain, food eaten in vain: this is held to be tamasic conduct.

Verse 20 (14.37.20)

अतिवादोऽतितिक्षा च मात्सर्यमभिमानिता । अश्रद्दधानता चैव तामसं वृत्तमिष्यते ॥

ativādo'titikṣā ca mātsaryamabhimānitā | aśraddadhānatā caiva tāmasaṃ vṛttamiṣyate

Excessive talk, excessive forbearance, envy, conceit, and lack of faith: this too is held to be tamasic conduct.

Verse 21 (14.37.21)

एवंविधाश्च ये केचिल्लोकेऽस्मिन्पापकर्मिणः । मनुष्या भिन्नमर्यादास्ते सर्वे तामसाः स्मृताः ॥

evaṃvidhāśca ye kecilloke'sminpāpakarmiṇaḥ | manuṣyā bhinnamaryādāste sarve tāmasāḥ smṛtāḥ

Whatever sinners of this kind there are in this world, men who have broken all bounds, all of them are remembered as tamasic.

Verse 22 (14.37.22)

तेषां योनीः प्रवक्ष्यामि नियताः पापकर्मिणाम् । अवाङ्निरयभावा ये तिर्यङ्निरयगामिनः ॥

teṣāṃ yonīḥ pravakṣyāmi niyatāḥ pāpakarmiṇām | avāṅnirayabhāvā ye tiryaṅnirayagāminaḥ

I shall tell you the births fixed for those who do evil: those whose state is the downward hell and who go to the hell of crooked (animal) births:

Verse 23 (14.37.23)

स्थावराणि च भूतानि पशवो वाहनानि च । क्रव्यादा दंदशूकाश्च कृमिकीटविहङ्गमाः ॥

sthāvarāṇi ca bhūtāni paśavo vāhanāni ca | kravyādā daṃdaśūkāśca kṛmikīṭavihaṅgamāḥ

immovable beings, beasts, beasts of burden, flesh-eaters, biters, worms, insects and birds,

Verse 24 (14.37.24)

अब्जाता जन्तवश्चैव सर्वे चापि चतुष्पदाः । उन्मत्ता बधिरा मूका ये चान्ये पापरोगिणः ॥

abjātā jantavaścaiva sarve cāpi catuṣpadāḥ | unmattā badhirā mūkā ye cānye pāparogiṇaḥ

creatures born in water, and all four-footed animals; the mad, the deaf, the dumb, and others afflicted with sinful diseases:

Note on the text: The page reads अब्जाता (water-born); the CE reads aṇḍajā (egg-born), which the page's footnote 14-37-24 records as a झ reading. The page's reading is good Sanskrit and is kept.

Verse 25 (14.37.25)

मग्नास्तमसि दुर्वृत्ताः स्वकर्मकृतलक्षणाः । अवाक्स्रोतस इत्येते मग्नास्तमसि तामसाः ॥

magnāstamasi durvṛttāḥ svakarmakṛtalakṣaṇāḥ | avāksrotasa ityete magnāstamasi tāmasāḥ

Sunk in darkness, of evil conduct, bearing marks made by their own deeds: these are the downward-streaming, sunk in darkness, the tamasic.

Verse 26 (14.37.26)

तेषामुत्कर्षमुद्रेकं वक्ष्याम्यहमतः परम् । यथा ते सुकृतां लोकाँल्लभन्ते पुण्यकर्मिणः ॥

teṣāmutkarṣamudrekaṃ vakṣyāmyahamataḥ param | yathā te sukṛtāṃ lokām̐llabhante puṇyakarmiṇaḥ

Next I shall tell you of their rise and ascent: how those who do meritorious deeds win the worlds of the virtuous.

Verse 27 (14.37.27)

अन्यथा प्रतिपन्नास्तु विवृद्धा ये च कर्मसु । स्वकर्मनिरतानां च ब्राह्मणानां शुभैषिणाम् ॥

anyathā pratipannāstu vivṛddhā ye ca karmasu | svakarmaniratānāṃ ca brāhmaṇānāṃ śubhaiṣiṇām

Those who have taken another course and have grown in their actions, and Brahmins who are devoted to their own duties and wish well to all,

Verse 28 (14.37.28)

संस्कारेणोर्ध्वमायान्ति यतमानाः सलोकताम् । स्वर्गे गच्छन्ति देवानामित्येषा वैदिकी श्रुतिः ॥

saṃskāreṇordhvamāyānti yatamānāḥ salokatām | svarge gacchanti devānāmityeṣā vaidikī śrutiḥ

rise upward through refining rites, striving for the same world as the gods; they go to the heaven of the gods. Such is the Vedic teaching.

Verse 29 (14.37.29)

अन्यथा प्रतिपन्नास्ते विबुद्धाः स्वेषु कर्मसु । पुनरावृत्तिधर्माणस्ते भवन्तीह मानुषाः ॥

anyathā pratipannāste vibuddhāḥ sveṣu karmasu | punarāvṛttidharmāṇaste bhavantīha mānuṣāḥ

But those who have taken the other course, and are awakened to their own actions, become humans here, subject to return.

Verse 30 (14.37.30)

पापयोनिं समापन्नाश्चण्डाला मूकचूचुकाः । वर्णान्पर्यायशश्चापि प्राप्नुवन्त्युत्तरोत्तरम् ॥

pāpayoniṃ samāpannāścaṇḍālā mūkacūcukāḥ | varṇānparyāyaśaścāpi prāpnuvantyuttarottaram

Those who have come into sinful births, as Chandalas, as mutes and stammerers, obtain the classes in turn, each higher than the last.

Note on the text: Footnote 14-37-30 on the page glosses चूचुक as स्खलद्गिरः (faltering of speech) and records the क reading पुष्पचूचुकाः; the base reading is kept.

Verse 31 (14.37.31)

शूद्रयोनिमतिक्रम्य ये चान्ये तामसा गुणाः । स्रोतोमध्ये समागम्य वर्तन्ते तामसे गुणे ॥

śūdrayonimatikramya ye cānye tāmasā guṇāḥ | srotomadhye samāgamya vartante tāmase guṇe

Those others of tamasic qualities, having passed beyond the Shudra birth, come into the middle of the stream and remain in the tamasic quality.

Verse 32 (14.37.32)

अभिष्वङ्गस्तु कामेषु महामोह इति स्मृतः । ऋषयो मुनयो देवा मुह्यन्त्यत्र सुखेप्सवः ॥

abhiṣvaṅgastu kāmeṣu mahāmoha iti smṛtaḥ | ṛṣayo munayo devā muhyantyatra sukhepsavaḥ

Attachment to desires is called great delusion. Seers, sages and gods are bewildered by it here, longing for pleasure.

Verse 33 (14.37.33)

तमोमोहो महामोहस्तामिस्रो ह्यन्धसंज्ञितः । मरणं त्वन्धतामिस्रस्तामिस्रः क्रोध उच्यते ॥

tamomoho mahāmohastāmisro hyandhasaṃjñitaḥ | maraṇaṃ tvandhatāmisrastāmisraḥ krodha ucyate

Darkness, delusion, great delusion, Tamisra, and what is named Andha; death is Andhatamisra, and anger is called Tamisra.

Verse 34 (14.37.34)

वर्णतो गुणतश्चैव योनितश्चैव तत्त्वतः । सर्वमेततमो विप्राः कीर्तितं वो यथाविधि ॥

varṇato guṇataścaiva yonitaścaiva tattvataḥ | sarvametatamo viprāḥ kīrtitaṃ vo yathāvidhi

By state, by quality, by birth, and in truth, all this is tamas, O Brahmins; it has been described to you according to rule.

Verse 35 (14.37.35)

को न्वेतद्बुध्यते साधु को न्वेतत्साधु पश्यति । अतत्त्वे तत्त्वदर्शी यस्तमसस्तच्च लक्षणम् ॥

ko nvetadbudhyate sādhu ko nvetatsādhu paśyati | atattve tattvadarśī yastamasastacca lakṣaṇam

Who understands this well? Who sees this well? He who sees the real in the unreal: that is the mark of tamas.

Verse 36 (14.37.36)

तमोगुणा बहुविधाः प्रकीर्तिता । यथावदुक्तं च तमः परावरम् । नरो हि यो वेद गुणानिमान्सदा । स तामसैः सर्वगुणैः प्रमुच्यते ॥

tamoguṇā bahuvidhāḥ prakīrtitā | yathāvaduktaṃ ca tamaḥ parāvaram | naro hi yo veda guṇānimānsadā | sa tāmasaiḥ sarvaguṇaiḥ pramucyate

The many kinds of tamasic qualities have been declared, and tamas, higher and lower, has been told as it is. The man who always knows these qualities is freed from all tamasic qualities.