Chapter 18 • Verse 28

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

ayuktaḥ prākṛitaḥ stabdhaḥ śhaṭho naiṣhkṛitiko 'lasaḥ viṣhādī dīrgha-sūtrī cha kartā tāmasa uchyate

Meaning

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

The tamasic doer is: lacking self-control, crude, obstinate, dishonest, harmful, lazy, depressed, and always delaying. This is the lowest type of agency — destructive to self and others.

Strength Reflection

"I reject tamasic qualities: laziness, deceit, procrastination, and negativity."

Devotional Surrender

O Lord, free me from all tamasic tendencies in my nature.