Shloka 36
मनु-उपदेशः — भूत-उत्पत्ति, इन्द्रिय-निवृत्ति, तथा पर-स्वभाव-विवेकः
Manu’s Instruction on Elemental Origination, Sense-Withdrawal, and Discrimination of the Supreme Nature
अवमानस्तथा मोह: प्रमाद: स्वप्रतन्द्रिता । कथंचिदभिवर्तन्ते विविधास्तामसा गुणा:
avamānas tathā mohaḥ pramādaḥ svapratandritā | kathaṃcid abhivartante vividhās tāmasā guṇāḥ ||
Demikian pula, bila penghinaan, delusi, kelengahan, kelesuan karena tidur dan mimpi, serta kemalasan dan cacat-cacat sejenis—dengan cara apa pun—datang mengepung seseorang, maka itu hendaknya dipahami sebagai berbagai wujud tamas.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
States like humiliation/disrespect, delusion, negligence, and torpor are to be recognized as manifestations of tamas; identifying them helps one resist their pull and protect ethical clarity and disciplined action.
In Bhīṣma’s instruction during the Śānti Parva, he classifies certain mental and behavioral faults as tamasic modes that can overtake a person, framing them as obstacles to right judgment and dharmic living.