Bhagavad Gita Chapter 18, Verse 28

Chapter 18 – Moksha Sanyasa Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

अयुक्तः प्राकृतः स्तब्धः शठो नैष्कृतिकोऽलसः ।
विषादी दीर्घसूत्री च कर्ता तामस उच्यते ॥

Transliteration

ayuktaḥ prākṛtaḥ stabdhaḥ śaṭho naiṣkṛtiko.alasaḥ .
viṣādī dīrghasūtrī ca kartā tāmasa ucyate ॥

Meaning

The doer who is undisciplined, vulgar, obstinate, deceitful, malicious, lazy, despondent and procrastinating is called tamasic.

Word meanings

अयुक्तः – undisciplined, unsteady
प्राकृतः – vulgar, uncultured
स्तब्धः – obstinate, unbending
शठः – deceitful
नैष्कृतिकः – malicious, one who ruins others' livelihood
अलसः – lazy
विषादी – despondent
दीर्घसूत्री – procrastinating
च – and
कर्ता – the doer
तामसः – tamasic
उच्यते – is called

Anvaya (word order)

अयुक्तः प्राकृतः स्तब्धः शठः नैष्कृतिकः अलसः विषादी दीर्घसूत्री च कर्ता तामसः उच्यते ।

Explanation

Eight marks of the tamasic doer are listed, and they offer us a chance for self-examination. Ayukta — his mind is undisciplined; he cannot concentrate on any task. Prakrita — he lacks education and refinement, following only his raw instincts. Stabdha — he is rigid and unbending; he will not bow even before elders, teachers or sound advice.

Shatha — he is deceitful, concealing his true intentions. Naishkritika — he ruins others' livelihoods or insults them; Shankara explains it as one who spoils others' work. Alasa — he is lazy, with no inclination even towards what clearly needs to be done.

The last two deserve special attention. Vishadi — he is always gloomy, dejected and complaining. Dirghasutri — he procrastinates, stretching what should be done today over months. Shankara says the dirghasutri is one who cannot finish in a month what should take a day. In modern language this is procrastination, and the Gita clearly identifies it as a mark of tamas.

The progression of the three doers is now clear: the sattvic doer is enthusiastic and even-minded; the rajasic doer is energetic but restless; the tamasic doer is neither energetic nor calm, but sunk in inertia and negativity. Recognising which traits live in us is the first step to changing them.

Context

The previous two verses described the sattvic and rajasic doer. This verse describes the tamasic doer. In the next verse (18.29) Krishna announces the threefold classification of intellect and fortitude.

Life lesson

Procrastination, laziness and constant complaint are marks of tamas that slowly make life inert. Begin today what needs to be done today. Humility to learn and willingness to accept discipline are the way to overcome tamas.

Key terms

Tamasic karta: A doer who is undisciplined, obstinate, deceitful, lazy and procrastinating
Stabdha: Obstinate, unbending
Shatha: Deceitful
Dirghasutri: One who procrastinates
Vishadi: Habitually despondent