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Brahman said:
O best (of men)! I will explain to you accurately the quality of passion. Learn, O noble ones! the action of the quality of passion. Injuring (others), beauty 2, toil, pleasure and pain, cold and heat, power 2, war, peace, argument, repining 3, endurance, strength, valour, frenzy, wrath, exercise and quarrel too, vindictiveness, desire, backbiting, battle, the thought (that this or that is) mine, preservation 4, slaughter, bonds, affliction, buying and selling, touching 5 other people's weak points, by cutting, breaking, piercing; fierceness and cruelty, vilifying, pointing out others' weaknesses, thinking of (this) world, harbouring evil thoughts, animosity, abuse
uttering falsehoods, bad 1 gifts, doubt, boasting, censure, praise, laudation 2, prowess, defiance, attendance. (on another), obedience 3, service,, harbouring desire, management 4, policy, heedlessness, contumely, belongings 5, and the various decorations which prevail in this world, for men, for women, for living creatures., for articles, and for houses, vexation, and also want of faith, vows and regulation 6, and actions with expectations, and the various acts of public charity 7 the ceremony of Svâhâ, the ceremony of Svadhâ, the ceremony of Vashat 8, salutation, both officiating at sacrifices and imparting instruction, and also sacrificing and study, gifts and acceptance of gifts, expiations, auspicious rites, the wish 'this may be mine and that may be mine,' affection generated by the qualities 9, treachery and likewise deception, disrespect and respect, theft, slaughter, disgust, vexing (oneself), wakefulness, ostentation, haughtiness, and attachment also, devotion, pleasure and delight, gambling, common scandal, association with women, devotion
to dancing, and instrumental or vocal music, all these qualities, O Brâhmanas! are described as passionate. The men who meditate on past, present, and future entities in this world 1, who are always devoted to the triad--piety, wealth, and lust also 2--who acting under (the impulse of) desires exult or. the success of all their desires, these men, who are enveloped by passion, have (their) currents downwards 3. Born again and again in this world, they rejoice 4, and wish for the fruit appertaining to the life after death 5 and that appertaining to this world also. They give and receive, and make Tarpana 6, and also sacrifice. The qualities of passion have been described to you in many ways, and the action of the quality has also been stated accurately. The man who always understands these qualities, gets rid of all passionate qualities.
323:1 Generally and specifically, says Arguna Misra.
323:2 Arguna Misra says these mean pride of beauty and pride of power respectively. Cf. as to this list generally, Maitrî, pp. 50, 51.
323:3 Cf. Sanatsugâta, p. 168.
323:4 I presume this means solicitude for preserving what one has got. Cf. Gîtâ, p. 48.
323:5 Literally, piercing. 'Cutting, breaking, piercing,' further on, seem to indicate the greater or less offensiveness of the operation of 'touching others' weak points.'
324:1 I. e. to undeserving persons, Arguna Misra. Probably it includes the other defects also pointed out at Gîtâ, p. 120. As to doubt, see Gîtâ, p. 63.
324:2 The one is attributing merits which do not exist, the other is merely parading merits which do exist.
324:3 Arguna Misra takes this literally to mean 'wish to hear.'
324:4 Cleverness in worldly affairs, Nîlakantha.
324:5 Cf. Gîtâ, passim, and see also Yoga-sûtras II, 30, and commentary (pp. 127-129, Calc. ed.)
324:6 Fasts and other observances for special benefits.
324:7 E.g. digging tanks and wells, &c.
324:8 Vashat and Svâhâ indicate offerings to gods, Svadhâ to the manes. See Brihadâranyaka, p. 982, and Mândukya (Gaudapâda Kârikâ), p. 443, and commentaries there.
324:9 I presume this means attachment to the operations of the qualities. Cf. Gîtâ, p. 48. As to the wish just before, see Gîtâ, pp. 115, 110.