1. Like this, the attributes of the "worldly quality" (Rajas) and its activities, have been explained. Now, listen to the explanation of the quality of "ignorance," or the Tamas guna.
2. Worldly life creates sorrow which makes one feel bound. When one feels that sorrow, and when anger can suddenly rise up and set in, this is all an indication of the Tamas quality.
3. When the mind is full of anger and one cannot recognize or respect one's own mother, father, brother, sister or wife, and even beats them, this is Tamas quality.
4. When one feels the inclination to kill someone else or oneself, and even loses affection for one's own life, that is Tamas.
5. When one is filled with the madness of anger and behaves like a person possessed by a ghost who cannot be controlled by any remedy, that is a sign of Tamas.
6. If such an occasion occurs when one injures one's own body or someone else with a weapon, that is the quality of Tamas.
7. When one has the feeling that one must see a battle with one’s own eyes, or go to visit the battlefield where dead bodies are lying around, these thoughts arising in the mind are the sign of the Tamas quality.
8. When one is continuously in a state of confusion and cannot make decisions, or likes excessive sleep, this is due the Tamas guna.
9. When one has an excessive appetite, does not understand bitter or sweet, or when one is very dull, this is all due to the quality of Tamas.
10. When a loved one dies and one feels inclined to kill oneself, this is due to the Tamas quality.
11. When one likes killing insects, ants, and animals, and is very unsympathetic and inhumane, that is all due to the Tamas quality.
12. If there is the killing of women and children, or the killing of brahmins (priests) and pious people or sacred cows for money, this is due to the Tamas quality.
13. When one is agitated with anger and feels like taking poison, or if the thought of killing others comes in the mind, this is the Tamas quality.
14. When one holds malice in the mind for others and wishes for their misfortune, or when one is unrestrained in one's arrogance, this is due to the Tamas quality.
15. When one feels inclined to engage in disputes and quarrels, and even takes to physically fighting because of jealousy in the mind, this is the appearance of the Tamas guna.
16. When one wants to see or hear about war, or wants to become involved in warfare and indulge in killing, and even dying, this is due to the quality of Tamas.
17. When out of jealousy one gives up on devotion, and even destroys temples and cuts down fruit trees, this is because of the Tamas quality.
18. When one does not like to do good deeds and is involved in misdeeds, and has no sense of propriety, that is due to the quality of Tamas.
19. When one does not respect the tradition of the brahmins, or causes sorrow to living beings, or enjoys committing crimes, this is due to the Tamas quality.
20. When one likes to set things on fire, or fight using weapons, or prey on or poison others, or because of jealousy causes damage to another's body, that is all because of the Tamas quality.
21. When one feels happy when giving trouble to others, or when one enjoys being ruthless and cruel to others, and never gets tired of worldly life, this is the Tamas quality.
22. When one initiates quarrels and enjoys watching them, or when one's intelligence is full of evil intentions, that is called Tamoguna, the quality of ignorance.
23. When one acquires wealth yet gives trouble to others and has no compassionate thoughts arising, this is due to the Tamas quality.
24. When one does not like devotion (bhakti) or devotional feelings, or pilgrimage places or God, and when one feels that the knowledge of the Vedas is not required, know that this is a sign of Tamas quality.
25. When one does not have any discipline regarding the performing of daily worship, and has no sense of one's own "Self religion" (Swadharma), and only indulges in corrupt activities, this is because of the Tamas quality.
26. When one does not like to hear the advice of an elder brother, or father and mother, and immediately gets angry and leaves the home, this is due to the Tamas quality.
27. When one eats unnecessarily, or always remains idle, or stays where his presence is not required, or when one is very forgetful, this is all due to the quality of ignorance.
28. When one takes up studying black magic and weaponry, or is very interested in wrestling, this is because of the Tamas attribute.
29. When one takes up various bodily tortures such as burning and piercing the body, this is due to the Tamas quality.
30. When one burns the head, or puts a lighted torch on the body, or pierces oneself with a sharp weapon, this is due to the Tamas quality.
31. When one offers to sever his head for God, or slay the body as an offering, or jump off a cliff for God, know that these are all attributes of Tamas.
32. When one sits on the doorstep of a temple with a determination to hang oneself and give up his life if his desires are not fulfilled, this is due to the quality of ignorance.
33. When one undergoes intense fasting without food, or inhales smoke, or lights fires all around the body, or buries oneself in the hopes of some spiritual experiences, this is due the Tamas quality.
34. When one performs religious rituals or holds one’s breath desiring some fruits from it, or from even just always laying around, know that this is the Tamas quality.
35. When one takes up such penances as growing the nails and hair long, or holding one's arms up above the head, or takes a vow of silence, this is all due to the Tamas quality
36. When one tortures the body, or complains in anger when experiencing some pain, or when one breaks idols of the Gods out of anger, this is due to the Tamas guna.
37. Know that when one criticizes God, is bound by hopes and desires, has inclinations towards cruelty, and does not keep the company of saints, all of this is due to the quality of ignorance.
38. Like this, is the "Tamoguna." It is impossible to describe its expanse completely. This explanation has been given so one may recognize and give up a few of these qualities upon hearing about them.
39. One whose behavior displays the Tamas quality shows the signs of the cause of downfall. These are not the indications of one who is liberated.
40. Know that whatever actions (karma) have been done, the fruits flowing from them will surely be acquired, and birth, which is the root of sorrow, is not easily broken off.
41. To break the birth cycle, the attribute of "Purity," the "Sattva Guna" is required. This is explained in the next sub-chapter.