Gita Verses on Overcoming Laziness and Procrastination

This guide brings together 5 verses from the Bhagavad Gita on overcoming laziness and procrastination, drawn from chapters 2, 3, 6 and 18.

The Gita treats laziness (tamas) as a heavy fog that hides even the wish to act. It can't be argued away — only worked through, with small disciplined steps that gradually let lighter qualities rise.

1. Verse 1 of 5Bhagavad Gita 3.8 →

   नियतं कुरु कर्म त्वं कर्म ज्यायो ह्यकर्मणः।

   niyataṁ kuru karma tvaṁ karma jyāyo hyakarmaṇaḥ śharīra-yātrāpi cha te na prasiddhyed akarmaṇaḥ

   Perform your bounden duty, for action is superior to inaction, and even the maintenance of the body would not be possible for you through inaction.

   तू शास्त्रविधिसे नियत किये हुए कर्तव्य-कर्म कर; क्योंकि कर्म न करनेकी अपेक्षा कर्म करना श्रेष्ठ है तथा कर्म न करनेसे तेरा शरीर-निर्वाह भी सिद्ध नहीं होगा।

2. Verse 2 of 5Bhagavad Gita 6.16 →

   नात्यश्नतस्तु योगोऽस्ति न चैकान्तमनश्नतः।

   nātyaśhnatastu yogo ’sti na chaikāntam anaśhnataḥ na chāti-svapna-śhīlasya jāgrato naiva chārjuna

   Verily, Yoga is not possible for him who eats too much, nor for him who does not eat at all, nor for him who sleeps too much, nor for him who is always awake, O Arjuna.

   हे अर्जुन ! यह योग न तो अधिक खानेवालेका और न बिलकुल न खानेवालेका तथा न अधिक सोनेवालेका और न बिलकुल न सोनेवालेका ही सिद्ध होता है।

3. Verse 3 of 5Bhagavad Gita 18.39 →

   यदग्रे चानुबन्धे च सुखं मोहनमात्मनः।निद्रालस्यप्रमादोत्थं तत्तामसमुदाहृतम्॥

   yad agre chānubandhe cha sukhaṁ mohanam ātmanaḥ nidrālasya-pramādotthaṁ tat tāmasam udāhṛitam

   That happiness which at first, as well as in the end, deludes the self, and which arises from sleep, indolence, and heedlessness—that is declared to be Tamasic.

   निद्रा, आलस्य और प्रमादसे उत्पन्न होनेवाला जो सुख आरम्भमें और परिणाममें अपनेको मोहित करनेवाला है, वह सुख तामस कहा गया है।

4. Verse 4 of 5Bhagavad Gita 3.19 →

   तस्मादसक्तः सततं कार्यं कर्म समाचर।

   tasmād asaktaḥ satataṁ kāryaṁ karma samāchara asakto hyācharan karma param āpnoti pūruṣhaḥ

   Therefore, without attachment, always perform the actions that should be done; for by performing actions without attachment, one reaches the Supreme.

   इसलिये तू निरन्तर आसक्तिरहित होकर कर्तव्य-कर्मका भलीभाँति आचरण कर; क्योंकि आसक्तिरहित होकर कर्म करता हुआ मनुष्य परमात्माको प्राप्त हो जाता है।

5. Verse 5 of 5Bhagavad Gita 2.47 →

   कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन ।

   karmaṇy evādhikāras te mā phaleṣu kadācana mā karma-phala-hetur bhūr mā te saṅgo 'stv akarmaṇi

   You have a right to action alone, never to its fruits. Let not the fruits of action be your motive, nor let your attachment be to inaction.

   तेरा अधिकार केवल कर्म करने में है, उसके फलों में कभी नहीं। कर्म के फल का हेतु मत बन, और न ही अकर्म में तेरी आसक्ति हो।