महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-14, chapter-36, verse-36

तमोगुणा वो बहुधा प्रकीर्तिता यथावदुक्तं च तमः परावरम् ।
नरो हि यो वेद गुणानिमान्सदा स तामसैः सर्वगुणैः प्रमुच्यते ॥३६॥

36. tamoguṇā vo bahudhā prakīrtitā; yathāvaduktaṁ ca tamaḥ parāvaram ,
naro hi yo veda guṇānimānsadā; sa tāmasaiḥ sarvaguṇaiḥ pramucyate.

36. tamoguṇāḥ vaḥ bahudhā prakīrtitāḥ
yathāvat uktam ca tamaḥ parāvaram
naraḥ hi yaḥ veda guṇān imān sadā
saḥ tāmasaiḥ sarvaguṇaiḥ pramucyate

36. vaḥ tamoguṇāḥ bahudhā prakīrtitāḥ ca tamaḥ parāvaram yathāvat uktam.
hi yaḥ naraḥ imān guṇān sadā veda,
saḥ sarvaguṇaiḥ tāmasaiḥ pramucyate.

36. The qualities influenced by ignorance have been manifoldly proclaimed to you, and ignorance (tamas) itself, encompassing both higher and lower aspects, has been duly explained. Indeed, the person who always understands these qualities is completely liberated from all attributes arising from ignorance (tāmasa).

Words meanings summery:

• तमोगुणाः (tamoguṇāḥ) - The various attributes and manifestations associated with the `tamas` (ignorance) quality. (qualities of darkness, dark qualities, qualities pertaining to `tamas`)

• वः (vaḥ) - Refers to the audience. (to you (plural, dative/genitive))

• बहुधा (bahudhā) - Modifies how the qualities were described. (in many ways, manifoldly, variously)

• प्रकीर्तिताः (prakīrtitāḥ) - States that the qualities have been told or explained. (proclaimed, described, declared)

• यथावत् (yathāvat) - Modifies how `tamas` has been explained, indicating correctness. (properly, as it should be, truly)

• उक्तम् (uktam) - Refers to the explanation of `tamas`. (said, spoken, declared)

• च (ca) - Connects the two parts of the first line. (and, also)

• तमः (tamaḥ) - The general principle of ignorance. (darkness, ignorance, `tamas`)

• परावरम् (parāvaram) - Describes `tamas` as manifesting in both subtle and gross, or superior and inferior forms. (higher and lower, supreme and inferior, covering both extremes)

• नरः (naraḥ) - Refers to any individual. (man, person, human being)

• हि (hi) - Emphasizes the statement about liberation. (indeed, surely, for, because)

• यः (yaḥ) - Refers to the `naraḥ` who knows. (who, which, he who)

• वेद (veda) - Refers to having knowledge of the `tamas` qualities. (knows, understands)

• गुणान् (guṇān) - Refers to the `tamoguṇāḥ` previously mentioned. (qualities, attributes)

• इमान् (imān) - Points to the specific `tamas` qualities being discussed. (these)

• सदा (sadā) - Emphasizes the continuous knowledge required for liberation. (always, ever, constantly)

• सः (saḥ) - Refers back to the `naraḥ` (person) who knows these qualities. (he, that)

• तामसैः (tāmasaiḥ) - Refers to the qualities that are born of or influenced by `tamas`. (by those relating to `tamas`, by `tamasic` ones)

• सर्वगुणैः (sarvaguṇaiḥ) - Means liberation from the entirety of `tamasic` attributes. (by all qualities, from all attributes)

• प्रमुच्यते (pramucyate) - The ultimate outcome for one who understands the nature of `tamas`. (is liberated, is released, is set free)

Words meanings and morphology

तमोगुणाः (tamoguṇāḥ) - The various attributes and manifestations associated with the `tamas` (ignorance) quality. (qualities of darkness, dark qualities, qualities pertaining to `tamas`)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, plural of tamoguṇa

tamoguṇa - quality of darkness/ignorance

Compound type : tatpurusha (tamas+guṇa)

• tamas – darkness, ignorance
  noun (neuter)
  Root: tam (class 4)
• guṇa – quality, attribute, constituent of nature
  noun (masculine)

वः (vaḥ) - Refers to the audience. (to you (plural, dative/genitive))

(pronoun)

Dative, plural of yuşmad

yuṣmad - you (plural)

Note: Shortened form of `yuṣmabhyam`.

बहुधा (bahudhā) - Modifies how the qualities were described. (in many ways, manifoldly, variously)

(indeclinable)

Suffix -dhā meaning 'in ways'

प्रकीर्तिताः (prakīrtitāḥ) - States that the qualities have been told or explained. (proclaimed, described, declared)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, plural of prakīrtita

prakīrtita - proclaimed, described, declared

Past Passive Participle

From root kīrt (to mention, proclaim) with prefix pra-

Prefix: pra

Root: kīrt (class 10)

Note: Agrees with `tamoguṇāḥ`.

यथावत् (yathāvat) - Modifies how `tamas` has been explained, indicating correctness. (properly, as it should be, truly)

(indeclinable)

From yathā (as) + vat (suffix indicating 'like')

उक्तम् (uktam) - Refers to the explanation of `tamas`. (said, spoken, declared)

(adjective)

Nominative, neuter, singular of ukta

ukta - said, spoken, declared

Past Passive Participle

From root vac (to speak), irregular past participle

Root: vac (class 2)

Note: Agrees with `tamaḥ` (implied neuter).

च (ca) - Connects the two parts of the first line. (and, also)

(indeclinable)

तमः (tamaḥ) - The general principle of ignorance. (darkness, ignorance, `tamas`)

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of tamas

tamas - darkness, ignorance, delusion, inertia, one of the three guṇas

Root: tam (class 4)

परावरम् (parāvaram) - Describes `tamas` as manifesting in both subtle and gross, or superior and inferior forms. (higher and lower, supreme and inferior, covering both extremes)

(adjective)

Nominative, neuter, singular of parāvara

parāvara - higher and lower, supreme and inferior, comprising both extremes

Dvanda compound of para (higher) and avara (lower)

Compound type : dvandva (para+avara)

• para – higher, supreme, ultimate
  adjective
• avara – lower, inferior, later
  adjective

Note: Agrees with `tamaḥ`.

नरः (naraḥ) - Refers to any individual. (man, person, human being)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of nara

nara - man, person, human being

Root: nṛ (class 1)

हि (hi) - Emphasizes the statement about liberation. (indeed, surely, for, because)

(indeclinable)

यः (yaḥ) - Refers to the `naraḥ` who knows. (who, which, he who)

(pronoun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of yad

yad - who, which, what

Note: Relative pronoun.

वेद (veda) - Refers to having knowledge of the `tamas` qualities. (knows, understands)

(verb)

3rd person , singular, active, present (liṭ) of vid

Present Active (Perfect form)

Perfect tense form used with present meaning (veda), 3rd person singular, root vid, Class 2

Root: vid (class 2)

Note: Root `vid` (to know), not `vid` (to find/obtain).

गुणान् (guṇān) - Refers to the `tamoguṇāḥ` previously mentioned. (qualities, attributes)

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, plural of guṇa

guṇa - quality, attribute, constituent of nature

इमान् (imān) - Points to the specific `tamas` qualities being discussed. (these)

(pronoun)

Accusative, masculine, plural of idam

idam - this, these

सदा (sadā) - Emphasizes the continuous knowledge required for liberation. (always, ever, constantly)

(indeclinable)

सः (saḥ) - Refers back to the `naraḥ` (person) who knows these qualities. (he, that)

(pronoun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of tad

tad - that, he, she, it

Note: Correlative pronoun to `yaḥ`.

तामसैः (tāmasaiḥ) - Refers to the qualities that are born of or influenced by `tamas`. (by those relating to `tamas`, by `tamasic` ones)

(adjective)

Instrumental, masculine, plural of tāmasa

tāmasa - relating to `tamas`, dark, ignorant, dull, born of `tamas`

Derived from `tamas` by adding -a

Note: Agrees with `sarvaguṇaiḥ`.

सर्वगुणैः (sarvaguṇaiḥ) - Means liberation from the entirety of `tamasic` attributes. (by all qualities, from all attributes)

(noun)

Instrumental, masculine, plural of sarvaguṇa

sarvaguṇa - all qualities, all attributes

Compound type : karmadhāraya (sarva+guṇa)

• sarva – all, every
  pronoun
• guṇa – quality, attribute
  noun (masculine)

प्रमुच्यते (pramucyate) - The ultimate outcome for one who understands the nature of `tamas`. (is liberated, is released, is set free)

(verb)

3rd person , singular, passive, present (laṭ) of muc

Present Passive

Present Passive, 3rd person singular, root muc (Class 6) with prefix pra-

Prefix: pra

Root: muc (class 6)