Tamasic Knowledge.
यत्तु कृत्स्नवदेकस्मिन् कार्ये सक्तमहेतुकम् ।
अतत्त्वार्थवदल्पं च तत्तामसमुदाहृतम् ॥ २२ ॥
yattu kṛtsnavadekasmin kārye saktamahetukam .
atattvārthavadalpaṃ ca tattāmasamudāhṛtam .. 22 ..
Read the commentary
Tamasic knowledge is engrossed in one single effect,—such as the body or an external idol—as though it is all-comprehensive, thinking ‘this body is the Self’ or ‘that is God,’ and that there is nothing higher than that. Jīva (soul), for example, dwelling in the body is regarded by the naked Sramanakas,* etc., as being of the size of that body, and the Īśvara is regarded (by some) to be the mere stone or piece of wood † This knowledge is not founded on reason and does not perceive things as they are. Because it is not founded on reason, it is narrow, as extending over a limited area, or as producing very small results. This knowledge is said to be Tamasic, because it is found only in Tamasic beings possessing no faculty of discrimination.
The Jains. Some MSS. read Kshapanakas.
The material of which the image is made.
Sattvic Action.
The threefold nature of action is next described :