In Bhagavad Gita 18.28, Krishna says the agent who is undisciplined, vulgar, stubborn, deceitful, malicious, lazy, despondent and procrastinating is tamasic.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
अयुक्तः प्राकृतः स्तब्धः
शठो नैष्कृतिकोऽलसः
विषादी दीर्घसूत्री च
कर्ता तामस उच्यते ॥ १८-२८ ॥
ayuktaḥ prākṛtaḥ stabdhaḥ
śaṭho naiṣkṛtiko’lasaḥ
viṣādī dīrghasūtrī ca
kartā tāmasa ucyate
English transliteration ayuktah praakritah stabdhah
shatho naishkritiko’lasah
vishaadee deerghasootree cha
kartaa taamasa uchyate ॥ 18.28 ॥
Translation / Meaning
An agent who is undisciplined, vulgar, obstinate, deceitful, malicious, lazy, despondent and procrastinating is said to be tamasic.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| अयुक्तः ayuktaḥ | undisciplined |
| प्राकृतः prākṛtaḥ | vulgar, uncultured |
| स्तब्धः stabdhaḥ | obstinate |
| शठः śaṭhaḥ | deceitful |
| नैष्कृतिकः naiṣkṛtikaḥ | malicious |
| अलसः alasaḥ | lazy |
| विषादी viṣādī | despondent |
| दीर्घसूत्री dīrghasūtrī | procrastinating dīrgha (long) + sūtrī (drawing out) |
| च ca | and |
| कर्ता kartā | agent |
| तामसः tāmasaḥ | tamasic |
| उच्यते ucyate | is said |
Word-wise Chanting
- a–yuk–taḥ prā–kṛ–taḥ stab–dhaḥ 8 syllables a-yuk-tah praa-kri-tah stab-dhah
- śa–ṭho naiṣ–kṛ–ti–ko–‘la–saḥ | 8 syllables sha-tho naish-kri-ti-ko-‘la-sah
- vi–ṣā–dī dīr–gha–sūt–rī ca 8 syllables vi-shaa-dee deer-gha-soot-ree cha
- kar–tā tā–ma–sa uc–ya–te || 18-28 8 syllables kar-taa taa-ma-sa uch-ya-te
How to read this
How to chant: each line is one pāda (quarter-verse); chant it in one breath. The hyphen (-) divides the syllables, inside a word and across a sandhi join, so every pāda shows its 8 syllables (11 in triṣṭubh verses). A consonant cluster is divided after its first consonant (kar-ma, vet-ti): that syllable is held longer. Mark above a syllable: guru, long (two beats); laghu, short (one beat). | closes the half-verse, || the verse; the number is the syllable count of the pāda.
Deeper Explanation – Chapter 18 Verse 28
Context
Krishna describes the three kinds of agent (18.26–18.28).
Meaning
The tāmasa kartā is ayukta, unsteady; prākṛta, unrefined; stabdha, rigid; śaṭha, dishonest; naiṣkṛtika, spiteful; alasa, lazy; viṣādin, gloomy; and dīrgha-sūtrin, endlessly postponing.
Procrastination and despondency are signs of tamas. Small, prompt actions help break their hold.
In Practice
Complete one task today that you have been postponing.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 18: Moksha Sannyasa Yoga (Liberation and Renunciation). Read the chapter overview, browse every verse of the Gita, or return to the chapter-by-chapter guide. For a reading plan, see how to study the Bhagavad Gita and the study resources.