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Bhagavad-gītā 18.28

अयुक्त: प्राकृत: स्तब्ध: शठो नैष्कृतिकोऽलस: । विषादी दीर्घसूत्री च कर्ता तामस उच्यते ॥ २८ ॥
ayuktaḥ prākṛtaḥ stabdhaḥ
[ayuktah praakritah stabdhah]
śaṭho naiṣkṛtiko ’lasaḥ
[shatho naishkritiko ’lasah]
viṣādī dīrgha-sūtrī ca
[vishaadee deergha-sootree cha]
kartā tāmasa ucyate
[kartaa taamasa uchyate]
Word-for-word
ayuktaḥ — not referring to the scriptural injunctions prākṛtaḥ — materialistic stabdhaḥ — obstinate śaṭhaḥ — deceitful naiṣkṛtikaḥ — expert in insulting others alasaḥ — lazy viṣādī — morose dīrgha - sūtrī — procrastinating ca — also kartā — worker tāmasaḥ — in the mode of ignorance ucyate — is said to be .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
ayuktaḥ prākṛtaḥ stabdhaḥ
ayuktaḥ
not referring to the scriptural injunctions
prākṛtaḥ
materialistic
stabdhaḥ
obstinate
śaṭho naiṣkṛtiko ’lasaḥ
śaṭhaḥ
deceitful
naiṣkṛtikaḥ
expert in insulting others
alasaḥ
lazy
viṣādī dīrgha-sūtrī ca
viṣādī
morose
dīrgha - sūtrī
procrastinating
ca
also
kartā tāmasa ucyate
kartā
worker
tāmasaḥ
in the mode of ignorance
ucyate
is said to be .
Important Words
  • ayuktaḥ — unconnected (to scripture)
    Negative of yukta — joined, engaged. The worker has no reference to śāstra. He operates by impulse, not by instruction.
  • stabdhaḥ — obstinate, stiff-necked
    Past participle — 'stiffened.' He cannot be moved by reason or counsel. Tamas hardens; the worker becomes uneducable.
  • śaṭhaḥ — deceitful
    Doubles his work with falsehood. Whatever he produces is partially fake. Tamas is comfortable with cheating because it does not see the long-term cost.
  • naiṣkṛtikaḥ — expert at insulting / cutting others
    From niṣ-kṛ — to undo, cut down. He specializes in tearing other people down. Tamas cannot lift; it can only level.
  • dīrgha-sūtrī — procrastinating
    Literally 'long-thread' — one who stretches things out endlessly. A signature mark of tamas: tasks that should take a day take a year.
  • viṣādī — morose
    Habitual gloom. Not occasional sadness but a settled coloring of the mood. Viṣāda is what tamas tastes like from the inside.
The worker who is always engaged in work against the injunctions of the scripture, who is materialistic, obstinate, cheating and expert in insulting others, and who is lazy, always morose and procrastinating is said to be a worker in the mode of ignorance.
Classical Sanskrit analysis शास्त्रीय विश्लेषण
How Sanskrit scholars read this verse — split, rearranged, grammar-tagged. For the plain English distilled meaning, jump to Plain meaning below.
Auto-generated study layers — original analysis of the public-domain śloka. Review against a published edition for academic work.
Plain meaning (तात्पर्य · Tātparya)
Eight marks of the tāmasa worker — a sustained portrait of stagnant heaviness: no discipline, no refinement, no flexibility, no honesty, no kindness, no energy, no cheer, no follow-through. Action, when it happens at all, is wreckage-prone.
Further notes (विवरण · Vivaraṇa)
The longest of the three doer-portraits — eight epithets vs. five (sāttvika) and six (rājasa) — perhaps because tāmas is harder to spot in oneself: it disguises itself as 'just my nature.' Dīrgha-sūtrī (long-threaded) is the Gītā's pungent term for chronic procrastination — putting off what one can almost feel one ought to do.
Prose order (अन्वय · Anvaya)
अयुक्तः प्राकृतः स्तब्धः शठः नैष्कृतिकः अलसः विषादी दीर्घ-सूत्री च कर्ता तामसः उच्यते ।
ayuktaḥ prākṛtaḥ stabdhaḥ śaṭhaḥ naiṣkṛtikaḥ alasaḥ viṣādī dīrgha-sūtrī ca kartā tāmasaḥ ucyate |
Undisciplined, vulgar, obstinate, deceitful, malicious, lazy, depressed, and procrastinating — such a doer is called tāmasa.
Word split (पदच्छेद · Padaccheda)
अयुक्तः प्राकृतः स्तब्धः शठः नैष्कृतिकः अलसः । विषादी दीर्घ-सूत्री च कर्ता तामसः उच्यते ॥
ayuktaḥ prākṛtaḥ stabdhaḥ śaṭhaḥ naiṣkṛtikaḥ alasaḥ | viṣādī dīrgha-sūtrī ca kartā tāmasaḥ ucyate ||
Grammar (व्याकरण · Vyākaraṇa)
SanskritIASTGrammarMeaning
अयुक्तः ayuktaḥ अ + √युज् p.p.p. (past passive participle) nom.sg. (nominative singular)m. undisciplined
प्राकृतः prākṛtaḥ प्राकृत (adj.) nom.sg. (nominative singular)m. vulgar, materialistic
स्तब्धः stabdhaḥ √स्तम्भ् p.p.p. (past passive participle) nom.sg. (nominative singular)m. obstinate
शठः śaṭhaḥ शठ (adj.) nom.sg. (nominative singular)m. deceitful
नैष्कृतिकः naiṣkṛtikaḥ नैष्कृतिक (adj.) nom.sg. (nominative singular)m. malicious
अलसः alasaḥ अलस (adj.) nom.sg. (nominative singular)m. lazy
विषादी viṣādī विषादिन् (adj.) nom.sg. (nominative singular)m. morose
दीर्घ-सूत्री dīrgha-sūtrī bahuvrīhi cpd. (compound) nom.sg. (nominative singular)m. procrastinating
कर्ता kartā कर्तृ (m.) nom.sg. (nominative singular) doer
तामसः tāmasaḥ तामस (adj.) nom.sg. (nominative singular)m. tāmasa
उच्यते ucyate √वच् pres. (present)pass. (passive) 3sg. is called
Purport

In the scriptural injunctions we find what sort of work should be performed and what sort of work should not be performed. Those who do not care for those injunctions engage in work not to be done, and such persons are generally materialistic. They work according to the modes of nature, not according to the injunctions of the scripture. Such workers are not very gentle, and generally they are always cunning and expert in insulting others. They are very lazy; even though they have some duty, they do not do it properly, and they put it aside to be done later on. Therefore they appear to be morose. They procrastinate; anything which can be done in an hour they drag on for years. Such workers are situated in the mode of ignorance.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
28. One who does what should not be done, whose acts according his nature, who is indifferent to work, who is deceitful, who offends others, who is lazy, dejected, and delays the work, is known as a tamasic worker.
Commentary

One who does what should not be done is ayuktaḥ. One who acts according his nature, so that whatever occurs in his mind he does, rather than according to the instruction of the guru is called prākṛtaḥ. One who offends others is naiṣkṛtikaḥ. The jñānīs must perform the sattvic tyāga described here, must take shelter of the knowledge fixed in sattvic karma, must perform sattvic work, and must become a sattvic doer. This is the sannyāsa of the jñānī. This is essential meaning of the section. The knowledge (jñānam) possessed by the devotees however is beyond the guṇas. Their work (karma) for Me, called bhakti-yoga, is beyond the guṇas. The doers (bhaktas) are also beyond the guṇas. This is stated by the Lord in the Bhāgavatam: kaivalyaṁ sattvicṁ jñānaṁ rajo vaikalpikaṁ tu yat prākṛtaṁ tāmasaṁ jñānaṁ man-niṣṭhaṁ nirguṇaṁ smṛtam Absolute knowledge is in the mode of goodness, knowledge based on duality is in the mode of passion, and foolish, materialistic knowledge is in the mode of ignorance. Knowledge based upon Me, however, is understood to be transcendental. SB 11.25.24 lakṣaṇaṁ bhakti-yogasya nirguṇasya hy udāhṛtam The characteristics of bhakti-yoga which is beyond the guṇas are manifested.

Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa Gauḍīya
Translation
28. One who does what should not be done, whose acts according his nature, who is not humble, who hides his abilities, who offends others, who is lazy, dejected, and delays the work is known as a tamasic worker.
Bhūrijana Dāsa Gauḍīya
Commentary

This point about ignorance as it said before in the previous sloka that ignorance will be against the sastra and here the worker who is in ignorance is materialistic, is obstinate, he is cheating, expert in insulting others, he is lazy, morose and procrastinating ‑ these are the symptoms of someone who works (or rather doesn't work) in the mode of ignorance.

[4. Understandings: One in goodness understands what should be done, one in passion can't distinguish between what should and shouldn't be done, and one in ignorance strives in the wrong direction. (29‑32) ]

Classical Ācāryas
Śrī Śaṅkarācārya Classical
Translation
18.28 The agent who is ayuktah, unsteady; prakrtah, naive, of very unrefined intelligence, like a child; stabdhah, unbending like a staff-he does not bend down to anyone; sathah, deceitful, cunning, hiding his own powers; naiskrtikah, wicked, given to destroying the livelihood of others; alasah, lazy, not inclined even to his own duties; visadi, morose, ever in a mood of dejection; and dirghasutri, procrastinating, postponing duties for long, [Ast. adds here, 'sarvada mandasvabhavah, always slow by nature'.-Tr.] not accomplishing even in a month what is to be done today or tomorrow;-one who is such, he ucyate, is said to be; tamasah, possessed of tamas.
Śrī Rāmānujācārya Classical
Translation
18.28 'Ayukta' is the doer who is unalified for acts enjoined by the Sastras; the meaning is that he is engaged in perverse acts; who is 'unrefined', means one uninstructed; who is 'stubborn', means one who is not disposed to act; who is 'depraved' means one who has the taste for black magic etc; who is dishonest is one who is treacherous; who is 'indolent' is one who is not inclined to carry out actions undertaken; who is 'despondent' is one given to excessive despondency; and one who is 'dilatory', is a person who, while engaged in black magic, etc., pays malevolent attention to produce long-standing evil to others - such a doer is declared to be Tamasika. Thus, has been told the threefold division in terms of the Gunas of the knowledge about the work that ought to be performed, and about the agent of work. Now, Sri Krsna describe s the threefold division of Buddhi and Dhrti (fortitude) on the basis of Gunas. These faculties give the determinate knowledge of all realities in existence and of all ends of human life (Purusarthas).
Śrī Abhinavagupta Classical
Translation
18.26-28 Muktasangah etc. upto Tamasa ucyate. He who does not make speech of egoism : He who does not claim 'I am the agent' i.e., he who is different from the one who claims so by natural inclination, or claims as such with an intention that 'I should do so', or claims so in an efficient manner. This nini (suffix employed in anahamvadi) does not prohibit for a Yogin, the speech 'I do' under the influence of the cover of the mundane life. Who is overpowered by joy and grief : i.e., at the time of success and failure [respectively]. Wickedness : cruelty.
Swami Sivananda Classical
Translation
18.28 Unsteady, vulgar, unbending, cheating, malicious, lazy, desponding and procrastinating such an agent is called Tamasic.
Commentary

18.28 अयुक्तः unsteady? प्राकृतः vulgar? स्तब्धः unbending? शठः cheating? नैष्कृतिकः malicious? अलसः lazy? विषादी desponding? दीर्घसूत्री procrastinating? च and? कर्ता agent? तामसः Tamasic (dark)? उच्यते is said.Commentary 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 arrels 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.

Swami Gambhīrānanda Classical
Translation
18.28 The agent who is unsteady, naive, unbending, deceitful, wicked, [A variant reading is naikrtikah.-Tr.] lazy, morose and procrastinating is said to be possessed of tamas.
Shri Purohit Swami Classical
Translation
18.28 While he whose purpose is infirm, who is low-minded, stubborn, dishonest, malicious, indolent, despondent, procrastinating - he may be assumed to be in Darkness.
Related values & verses
Related values
Tyaga (Renunciation / Letting Go)Ahimsa (Non-violence / Compassion)Tapas (Austerity / Discipline)Guru Bhakti (Reverence for Teacher)Atma Nigraha (Self-control)Daksya (Resourcefulness / Skill)Maitri (Friendship / Goodwill)
Related verses
BG 14.13 BG 14.8 BG 18.7 SB 11.25.22 SB 11.25.4 SB 7.5.30 CC Antya 3.121 CC Madhya 17.95 CC Madhya 24.250 Īśa Upaniṣad 3 Kaṭha Upaniṣad 1.2.5
Concepts
Guru
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Doer obstinate, undisciplined, vulgar, deceitful, lazy, morose, procrastinating — tamasic.
Practical Applications
  • Honestly recognize tamasic doer-traits in self.
  • Don't excuse procrastination.
  • Address the cluster, not just one trait.
Reflection Questions
  • Which of these traits is most active in me lately?
  • What discipline addresses it?
Analogy

A clerk who shows up late, drags his work, snipes at colleagues, and abandons projects half-finished — yet considers himself shrewd. Tāmasa karta is exactly such a worker: laziness, deceit, and procrastination posing as freedom from the rat-race.

📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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