महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-14, chapter-36, verse-8

नैशात्मकं तमो विद्यात्त्रिगुणं मोहसंज्ञितम् ।
अधर्मलक्षणं चैव नियतं पापकर्मसु ॥८॥

8. naiśātmakaṁ tamo vidyāttriguṇaṁ mohasaṁjñitam ,
adharmalakṣaṇaṁ caiva niyataṁ pāpakarmasu.

8. naiśātmakam tamaḥ vidyāt triguṇam mohasaṃjñitam
adharmalakṣaṇam ca eva niyatam pāpakarmasu

8. tamaḥ naiśātmakam triguṇam mohasaṃjñitam ca eva
adharmalakṣaṇam pāpakarmasu niyatam (iti) vidyāt

8. One should know tamas as inherently dark, as one of the three constituents (guṇas), called delusion (mohasaṃjñitam), marked by unrighteousness (adharma), and consistently associated with sinful actions.

Words meanings summery:

• नैशात्मकम् (naiśātmakam) - inherently dark or obscure, characteristic of tamas (of the nature of night, dark)

• तमः (tamaḥ) - the constituent (guṇa) tamas (tamas, darkness, ignorance)

• विद्यात् (vidyāt) - one should know, one should understand

• त्रिगुणम् (triguṇam) - one of the three constituents (guṇas); here referring to tamas as a guṇa (three qualities/constituents, having three qualities)

• मोहसंज्ञितम् (mohasaṁjñitam) - named delusion, known as delusion

• अधर्मलक्षणम् (adharmalakṣaṇam) - characterized by unrighteousness, having the mark of adharma

• च (ca) - and, also

• एव (eva) - indeed, certainly, only

• नियतम् (niyatam) - consistently or invariably associated with (fixed, regulated, constant, engaged, assigned)

• पापकर्मसु (pāpakarmasu) - in sinful actions

Words meanings and morphology

नैशात्मकम् (naiśātmakam) - inherently dark or obscure, characteristic of tamas (of the nature of night, dark)

(adjective)

Accusative, neuter, singular of naiśātmaka

naiśātmaka - having the nature of night, dark, obscure

From niśā (night) + ātmaka (having the nature of)

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (niśā+ātmaka)

• niśā – night
  noun (feminine)
• ātmaka – having the nature of, consisting of, characterized by
  adjective (masculine)
  From ātman (self) + ka suffix

Note: Modifies tamaḥ

तमः (tamaḥ) - the constituent (guṇa) tamas (tamas, darkness, ignorance)

(noun)

Accusative, neuter, singular of tamas

tamas - darkness, ignorance, dullness, inertia, the guṇa of inertia

विद्यात् (vidyāt) - one should know, one should understand

(verb)

3rd person , singular, active, present optative (liṅ) of vid

Optative Mood, Present Tense

3rd person singular, active voice, Parasmaipada, optative mood, present tense (root vid, 2nd class)

Root: vid (class 2)

त्रिगुणम् (triguṇam) - one of the three constituents (guṇas); here referring to tamas as a guṇa (three qualities/constituents, having three qualities)

(noun)

Accusative, neuter, singular of triguṇa

triguṇa - having three qualities/constituents, the three guṇas (sattva, rajas, tamas)

Compound type : dvigu (tri+guṇa)

• tri – three
  numeral
• guṇa – quality, attribute, constituent, thread, rope
  noun (masculine)

Note: Modifies tamaḥ as 'one of the three guṇas'.

मोहसंज्ञितम् (mohasaṁjñitam) - named delusion, known as delusion

(adjective)

Accusative, neuter, singular of mohasaṃjñita

mohasaṁjñita - named delusion, called illusion, known as ignorance

Past Passive Participle

Compound of moha (delusion) and saṃjñita (named, designated). 'Saṃjñita' is a past passive participle from root 'jñā' (to know) with upasarga 'sam'.

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (moha+saṃjñita)

• moha – delusion, illusion, infatuation, ignorance
  noun (masculine)
  Root: muh (class 4)
• saṃjñita – named, called, designated, known
  adjective (masculine)
  Past Passive Participle
  From root 'jñā' (to know) with upasarga 'sam'.
  Prefix: sam
  Root: jñā (class 9)

Note: Modifies tamaḥ

अधर्मलक्षणम् (adharmalakṣaṇam) - characterized by unrighteousness, having the mark of adharma

(adjective)

Accusative, neuter, singular of adharmalakṣaṇa

adharmalakṣaṇa - characterized by unrighteousness, having the mark or sign of adharma

Compound of adharma (unrighteousness) and lakṣaṇa (mark, characteristic).

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (adharma+lakṣaṇa)

• adharma – unrighteousness, demerit, injustice, that which is contrary to natural law (dharma)
  noun (masculine)
  Prefix 'a-' (negation) + dharma (natural law, righteousness).
  Prefix: a
• lakṣaṇa – mark, sign, characteristic, definition, attribute
  noun (neuter)
  From root 'lakṣ' (to mark, perceive).
  Root: lakṣ (class 10)

Note: Modifies tamaḥ

च (ca) - and, also

(indeclinable)

एव (eva) - indeed, certainly, only

(indeclinable)

नियतम् (niyatam) - consistently or invariably associated with (fixed, regulated, constant, engaged, assigned)

(adjective)

Accusative, neuter, singular of niyata

niyata - fixed, restrained, regulated, constant, disciplined, destined, engaged, intent on

Past Passive Participle

From root 'yam' (to hold, restrain) with upasarga 'ni'.

Prefix: ni

Root: yam (class 1)

Note: Modifies tamaḥ

पापकर्मसु (pāpakarmasu) - in sinful actions

(noun)

Locative, neuter, plural of pāpakarma

pāpakarma - sinful action, wicked deed

Compound of pāpa (sinful) and karma (action, deed).

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (pāpa+karma)

• pāpa – sinful, evil, wicked, bad; sin, evil
  adjective (neuter)
• karma – action, deed, work, ritual, effect of actions
  noun (neuter)
  From root 'kṛ' (to do, make).
  Root: kṛ (class 8)