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Bhagavad Gita · 18.28 · Yoga through the Perfection of Renunciation and Surrender·28 of 78

अयुक्तः प्राकृतः स्तब्धः शठो नैष्कृतिकोऽलसःविषादी दीर्घसूत्री च कर्ता तामस उच्यते

ayuktaḥ prākṛitaḥ stabdhaḥ śhaṭho naiṣhkṛitiko

‘lasaḥ viṣhādī dīrgha-sūtrī cha kartā tāmasa uchyate

Sanskrit recitation

What makes an action · 18.13–18.28 · Teaching

Translation

Unsteady, vulgar, inflexible, deceitful, malicious, lazy, despondent, and procrastinating—such an agent is called Tamasic.

Meaning

Owing to his vulgar nature he is not able to discriminate between proper and improper actions. His heart is filled with vanity. He will never prostrate himself before the deity or a sage. He is very stiff and unbending in his demeanour. He is the very embodiment of deceit, the abode of the passion for gambling and all such vices. He is ever ready to do evil actions. When an opportunity for his doing good occurs, he is utterly slothful and inactive, but he is very alert in doing evil.Prakritah Vulgar Quite uncultured in intellect one who is childish.Stabdhah Unbending (like a stick), not bowing down to anybody.Shathah Cheating concealing his real nature.Naishkritikah Creating quarrels and disputes among the people.Alasah Lazy Not doing even that which ought to be done.Dirghasutri Postponing duties too long always slothful not performing even in a month what ought to be done today or tomorrow.

After Swami Sivananda

What makes an action· 18.13–18.28

Teachers usually read this idea across several verses together, one shared reflection covers the whole unit.

Word-by-word
cha
and
kartā
performer
uchyate
is said to be
alasaḥ
slothful
ayuktaḥ
undisciplined
stabdhaḥ
obstinate
tāmasaḥ
in the mode of ignorance
viṣhādī
unhappy and morose
śhaṭhaḥ
cunning
prākṛitaḥ
vulgar
dīrgha-sūtrī
procrastinating
naiṣhkṛitikaḥ
dishonest or vile

Related verses

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