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Chapter 18 · The Perfection of Renunciation · 78 verses

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How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Remember who is speaking. Kṛṣṇa is speaking. Take the verse as He directs.
  2. 2Say the verse and its words. Read the Sanskrit, then each word with its meaning.
  3. 3Read the translation as it is. Let the translation say what it says, without adding your own meaning.
  4. 4Read the purport. Hear the verse through the disciplic succession.
  5. 5Bring your own question. Ask: where does this verse meet my life, my trouble, my doubt?
  6. 6Act on it, remembering Kṛṣṇa. Carry one instruction into your work today.
Read the full guide: how to read the Bhagavad-gītā ›
Nature & guṇasChapter 18 · The Perfection of Renunciation
18.2718.29

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 18.28

Knowledge, action, determination and happiness in the modes

Prakṛti · Material nature

अयुक्त: प्राकृत: स्तब्ध: शठो नैष्कृतिकोऽलस: ।

विषादी दीर्घसूत्री च कर्ता तामस उच्यते ॥ २८ ॥

ayuktaḥ prākṛtaḥ stabdhaḥ

śaṭho naiṣkṛtiko ’lasaḥ

viṣādī dīrgha-sūtrī ca

kartā tāmasa ucyate

Translation

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.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

What this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.

3 study points

The Worker in Ignorance

  1. 1

    A worker in ignorance acts against scripture and is materialistic, stubborn, dishonest, insulting, lazy, gloomy, and slow to act.

  2. 2

    Prabhupāda explains that scripture teaches what work to do and avoid. Ignorant workers neglect this guidance and keep postponing their duties.

  3. 3

    Follow scriptural guidance, do your duties properly, and avoid putting them off.

Key points from the purport

Worker in ignorance

Works against the injunctions of scriptures

Materialistic

Obstinate

Cheating and expert in insulting others

Lazy, always morose and procrastinating (Anything which can be done in an hour, they drag on for years)

Further reading

The Modes Control All Activities

One’s work according to the five factors mentioned above is dictated by the three modes of material nature

This includes:

One’s knowledge (19-22) o One’s action (23-26)

One’s performance of action (27-28) o One’s understandings (29-32)

One’s determination(33-35) o One’s happiness (36-39)

All activities within the universe are thus controlled by the three modes SAKAMA TO NISKAMA KARMA YOGA

Chapter 18, section III: The Modes Control All Activities
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. ayuktaḥnot referring to the scriptural injunctions
  2. prākṛtaḥmaterialistic
  3. stabdhaḥobstinate
  4. śaṭhaḥdeceitful
  5. naiṣkṛtikaḥexpert in insulting others
  6. alasaḥlazy
  7. viṣādīmorose
  8. dīrgha-sūtrīprocrastinating
3

Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Key ideas: prakṛti, guṇa.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 18.28 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to nature & guṇas?

Practice

Observe which mode shaped your last decision.

5

Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

BG 18.19Knowledge, action, determination and happiness in the modesBG 18.20Knowledge, action, determination and happiness in the modesBG 7.14Crossing beyond māyā
Live this todayWorship Kṛṣṇa Through Your WorkA practice from BG 18.46, close to this verse

Study notes are editorial summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport.

  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
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