In Bhagavad Gita 14.8, Krishna says tamas is born of ignorance, deludes all beings, and binds through heedlessness, laziness and sleep.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
तमस्त्वज्ञानजं विद्धि
मोहनं सर्वदेहिनाम्
प्रमादालस्यनिद्राभिस्
तन्निबध्नाति भारत ॥ १४-८ ॥
tamastvajñānajaṃ viddhi
mohanaṃ sarvadehinām
pramādālasyanidrābhis
tannibadhnāti bhārata
English transliteration tamastvajnaanajam viddhi
mohanam sarvadehinaam
pramaadaalasyanidraabhis
tannibadhnaati bhaarata ॥ 14.8 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Know tamas to be born of ignorance, deluding all embodied beings. It binds, O descendant of Bharata, through heedlessness, laziness and sleep.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| तमः tamaḥ | tamas |
| तु tu | but |
| अज्ञानजम् ajñānajam | born of ignorance ajñāna (ignorance) + jam (born) |
| विद्धि viddhi | know |
| मोहनम् mohanam | deluding |
| सर्वदेहिनाम् sarvadehinām | of all embodied beings |
| प्रमादालस्यनिद्राभिः pramādālasyanidrābhiḥ | through heedlessness, laziness and sleep pramāda (heedlessness) + ālasya (laziness) + nidrābhiḥ (sleep) |
| तत् tat | that |
| निबध्नाति nibadhnāti | binds |
| भारत bhārata | O descendant of Bharata |
Word-wise Chanting
- ta–mas–tva–jñā–na–jaṃ vid–dhi 8 syllables ta-mas-tva-jnaa-na-jam vid-dhi
- mo–ha–naṃ sar–va–de–hi–nām | 8 syllables mo-ha-nam sar-va-de-hi-naam
- pra–mā–dā–las–ya–nid–rā–bhis– 8 syllables pra-maa-daa-las-ya-nid-raa-bhis-
- tan–ni–badh–nā–ti bhā–ra–ta || 14-8 8 syllables tan-ni-badh-naa-ti bhaa-ra-ta
How to read this
How to chant: each line is one pāda (quarter-verse); chant it in one breath. The hyphen (-) divides the syllables, inside a word and across a sandhi join, so every pāda shows its 8 syllables (11 in triṣṭubh verses). A consonant cluster is divided after its first consonant (kar-ma, vet-ti): that syllable is held longer. Mark above a syllable: guru, long (two beats); laghu, short (one beat). | closes the half-verse, || the verse; the number is the syllable count of the pāda.
Deeper Explanation – Chapter 14 Verse 8
Context
Krishna describes how each guna binds (14.6–14.8).
Meaning
Tamas is ajñāna-ja, born of ignorance, and mohana, deluding. It binds through pramāda, carelessness and inattention; ālasya, laziness; and nidrā, excessive sleep and dullness. It is the force of inertia and darkness.
Tamas is the hardest quality to overcome because it resists all effort. Small steps of activity and attention gradually lift it.
In Practice
When you feel dull or lazy today, do one small task with full attention to break the inertia.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 14: Gunatraya Vibhaga Yoga (The Three Gunas). Read the chapter overview, browse every verse of the Gita, or return to the chapter-by-chapter guide. For a reading plan, see how to study the Bhagavad Gita and the study resources.