Chapter 18, Verse 28 (Bhagavad Gita 18.28)
Chapter 18: Mokṣha Sanyās Yog – Yoga through the Perfection of Renunciation and Surrender
Sanskrit Shloka
अयुक्तः प्राकृतः स्तब्धः शठो नैष्कृतिकोऽलसः।विषादी दीर्घसूत्री च कर्ता तामस उच्यते
Transliteration
ayuktaḥ prākṛitaḥ stabdhaḥ śhaṭho naiṣhkṛitiko ‘lasaḥ viṣhādī dīrgha-sūtrī cha kartā tāmasa uchyate
Word Meanings
ayuktaḥ—undisciplined; prākṛitaḥ—vulgar; stabdhaḥ—obstinate; śhaṭhaḥ—cunning; naiṣhkṛitikaḥ—dishonest or vile; alasaḥ—slothful; viṣhādī—unhappy and morose; dīrgha-sūtrī—procrastinating; cha—and; kartā—performer; tāmasaḥ—in the mode of ignorance; uchyate—is said to be
Translation
Unsteady, vulgar, inflexible, deceitful, malicious, lazy, despondent, and procrastinating—such an agent is called Tamasic.
Meaning & Commentary
In this profound revelation on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, Bhagwan Shri Krishna identifies the psychology of the Tamasic agent, whose consciousness is clouded by the darkness of ignorance. Lord Krishna explains that such a person lacks the divine alignment required for spiritual progress, remaining shackled to lethargy and base tendencies. By categorizing these traits, Yogeshwar Krishna invites the seeker to look inward and purify the mind, for these qualities obstruct the soul's journey toward the Divine. Liberation requires moving beyond this state of stagnation, as Shri Krishna emphasizes that only by transcending such limitations can a devotee reach the proximity of the Supreme Being.