anubandham ksayam himsam anapeksya cha paurusam। mohad arabhyate karma yat tat tamasam ucyate॥ 18.25 ॥

Sri Krishna said: O Arjuna, That action performed in illusion, in disregard of scriptural injunctions, and without concern for future bondage or for violence or distress caused to others is said to be in the mode of ignorance.

mukta-sango ’naham-vadi dhrty-utsaha-samanvitah। siddhy-asiddhyor nirvikarah karta sattvika ucyate॥ 18.26 ॥

Sri Krishna said: O Arjuna, One who performs his duty without association with the modes of material nature, without false ego, with great determination and enthusiasm, and without wavering in success or failure is said to be a worker in the mode of goodness.

ragi karma-phala-prepsur lubdho himsatmako ’sucih। harsa-sokanvitah karta rajasah parikirtitah॥ 18.27 ॥

Sri Krishna said: O Arjuna, The worker who is attached to work and the fruits of work, desiring to enjoy those fruits, and who is greedy, always envious, impure, and moved by joy and sorrow, is said to be in the mode of passion.

ayuktah prakritah stabdhah satho naiskritiko ’lasah। visadi dirgha-sutri cha karta tamasa ucyate॥ 18.28 ॥

Sri Krishna said: O Arjuna, 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.