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Chapter 18 · The Perfection of Renunciation · 78 verses

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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

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.

The Worker in Ignorance

  1. 1A worker in ignorance acts against scripture and is materialistic, stubborn, dishonest, insulting, lazy, gloomy, and slow to act.
  2. 2Prabhupāda explains that scripture teaches what work to do and avoid. Ignorant workers neglect this guidance and keep postponing their duties.
  3. 3Follow scriptural guidance, do your duties properly, and avoid putting them off.

Where we are

In the story

Chapter 18, The Perfection of Renunciation: knowledge, action, determination and happiness in the modes.

What it teaches

Theme summary

The modes of nature condition behavior.

2

Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Key ideas: prakṛti, guṇa.

3

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.

4

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

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

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Ask about BG 18.28 — get a simple answer linked to related ideas and verses.

Back to step 3The key ideasNext · Step 5 of 7 · 5 minLive the teachingsBring it into your day with a practice and a question, straight from Prabhupāda's purports.