Shloka 18
तमोगुण-निरूपण
Analysis of Tamas and its Marks
अत्यागश्चाभिमानश्चव मोहो मन्युस्तथाक्षमा । मत्सरश्रैव भूतेषु तामसं वृत्तमिष्यते,देवता, ब्राह्मण और वेदकी सदा निन्दा करना, दान न देना, अभिमान, मोह, क्रोध, असहनशीलता और प्राणियोंके प्रति मात्सर्य--ये सब तामस बर्ताव हैं
atyāgaś cābhimānaś ca moho manyus tathākṣamā | matsaraś caiva bhūteṣu tāmasaṁ vṛttam iṣyate ||
Vāyu-deva said: “Stinginess (refusal to give), pride, delusion, anger, intolerance, and envy toward living beings—such conduct is regarded as tāmasa (born of darkness and inertia).”
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse defines tāmasa conduct by listing inner vices—miserliness, pride, delusion, anger, intolerance, and envy—implying that ethical life requires generosity, humility, clarity, patience, forbearance, and goodwill toward all beings.
Vāyu-deva is instructing the listener by classifying certain traits as tāmasa, using a concise catalogue of behaviors that obstruct dharma and harmonious social and spiritual life.