The Yoga of the Division of the Three Gunas

Krishna describes the signs of increased tamas: 'Aprakāśo 'pravṛttiś ca pramādo moha eva ca'—darkness (aprakāśaḥ), inactivity (apravṛttiḥ), negligence (pramādaḥ), and delusion (mohaḥ). 'Tamasy etāni jāyante vivṛddhe'—these arise (jāyante) when tamas increases. This is how you recognize tamas: when you're in darkness, unable to see clearly, inactive, negligent, and deluded. When tamas is dominant, there's no illumination, no activity, no care, and no clarity. Understanding this helps you recognize when tamas is active and how it binds you through covering knowledge and attachment to negligence.