The Yoga of the Division of the Three Gunas

Krishna describes tamas guna: 'Tamas tv ajñāna-jaṁ viddhi'—know tamas to be born from ignorance (ajñāna-jaṁ). 'Mohanam sarvadehinām'—causing delusion (mohanam) in all embodied beings. Tamas is characterized by ignorance, confusion, and darkness. 'Pramāda-ālasya-nidrābhis tan nibadhnāti'—it binds (nibadhnāti) through negligence (pramāda), laziness (ālasya), and sleep (nidrābhiḥ). This is the key: tamas binds you through negligence, laziness, and sloth. When you're under the influence of tamas, you're confused, negligent, lazy, and asleep to reality. You're bound because you're not aware, not active, not clear. This ignorance and inertia keeps you in material existence. Understanding this helps you recognize tamas and work toward transcending it.