1 Gita Sloka Every Day - Chapter 18 - Moksha Sanyasa Yoga - Sloka 28

The entire content of this mail is from Shri V N Gopala Desikan's  Srimad Bhagavad Gita, published by Vishishtadvaita Research Centre, Chennai and The Bhagavad Gita by Swami Chidbhavananda published by Ramakrishna Mission

The Three Gunas Give Impetus to Karma - 18-40

1 Gita Sloka  Every Day - Chapter 18 - Moksha Sanyasa Yoga - Sloka 28

Ayuktah prakrutah sthabdhah shatho naishkrutikah alasah I

Vishadi dhirgasutri cha karta tamasa uchyate II sloka 28

अयुक्तः प्राकृतः स्थब्धः शठो नैष्कृतिको अलसः I 
विषादी दीर्घ सूत्री च कर्ता तामस उच्यते II श्लोक 28

Unsteady, vulgar, stubborn, deceitful, malicious, indolent, despondent, procrastinating - such an agent is tamasika .

That man who practises self control, self discipline and self dedication grows in steadfastness. That other man who is alien to these benign qualities would be unsteady in all his undertakings. Wallowing in low physical life, lacking in intellectual development, evincing childishness in all dealings - these are signs of vulgarity. Stubborn is that man who refuses to pay homage to great one's worthy of reverence. The shirker who does not harness his talents for any good cause, but allows them all to rust away is deceitful. That man who wilfully creates hatred and enmity among people is said to be malicious. An indolent man is he who does not engage himself in the work in which he is expected to take part. Despondency is a disease of the mind warranting a radical cure. For, he who is a victim of depression  and dejection is good for nothing. All manliness dwindles away from him. The passing despondency that came by Arjuna was vehemently reprimanded by Krishna. The teachings of teh Bhagavad Gita came about to cure Arjuna from this disease. When an undertaking that is to be completed in a day is dragged on for days together, it is procrastination. Achievements of life get lost because of this evil. The tamasika agent suffers frrom all these evils.

A fissherman cast his net and caught fish in a  river.  Many among the catch lay quiet  within the net, making no effort to escape. Some of them made unsuccessful attempts. But a few somehow managed to jump out of the net. Likewise men of the world are of 3 sorts - (1) Those who make no effort for emancipation (2) The aspirants who seek deliverance (3) The liberated souls.