Shloka 21
“जो चराचरस्वरूप श्रीवत्सचिह्नभूषित उत्तम कान्तिसे सम्पन्न भगवान् पद्मनाभको नहीं जानता, उसे विद्वान् पुरुष तमोगुणी कहते हैं
yo carācarasvarūpaḥ śrīvatsacihnabhūṣita uttamakāntisampanno bhagavān padmanābhaṃ na jānāti, taṃ vidvān puruṣas tamoguṇinaṃ vadanti.
毗湿摩说道：智者宣称，若有人不识莲华脐主（Padmanābha）——其形遍满一切动与不动之众生，胸前具吉祥的室利跋蹉（Śrīvatsa）标记，且以无上光辉照耀——此人即为昏暗之性（tamas）所支配。
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Failure to recognize the all-pervading Lord (Padmanabha), marked by Śrīvatsa and supreme radiance, is identified as tamasic ignorance—an inner darkness that blocks true discernment and dharmic orientation.
Bhishma is instructing by characterizing spiritual ignorance: he contrasts the wise perspective with the condition of one who does not know the Supreme Lord, labeling such a state as dominated by tamas.