Bhagavad Gita 17.5
Spoken by Krishna · Verse 5 of 28
अशास्त्रविहितं घोरं तप्यन्ते ये तपो जनाः । दम्भाहंकारसंयुक्ताः कामरागबलान्विताः ॥
aśāstra-vihitaṃ ghoraṃ tapyante ye tapo janāḥ | dambhāhaṃkāra-saṃyuktāḥ kāma-rāga-balānvitāḥ ||
Those who practice ghora tapas without śāstric sanction, driven by dambha, ahaṃkāra, kāma and rāga — āsurī tapas.
Word by word (3)
- aśāstra-vihitaṃ ghoraṃ tapyante ye tapo janāḥ
- — those people (ye janāḥ) who practice (tapyante) terrible/fierce (ghoram) austerity (tapas) not prescribed/enjoined by śāstra (aśāstra-vihitam) — unauthorized extreme self-mortification
- dambhāhaṃkāra-saṃyuktāḥ
- — combined with (saṃyuktāḥ) hypocrisy (dambha) and egoism (ahaṃkāra) — two āsurī qualities from Ch.16 reappearing as motivations for this distorted tapas
- kāma-rāga-balānvitāḥ
- — endowed with (anvitāḥ) the power/force (bala) of kāma (desire) and rāga (attachment/passion) — desire and attachment as the hidden energies powering this supposedly ascetic practice
Those who practice terrible austerities not prescribed by scripture, given to hypocrisy and egoism, driven by the force of desire and passion —
A modern analogy
Someone who fasts publicly, posts about it, and secretly feels superior to those who don't — their 'austerity' is energized by dambha (display) and ahaṃkāra (ego-pride). The body suffers but the ego grows. This verse describes that paradox: the more extreme the outward practice, the more entrenched the inner āsurī (un-divine) drives.
Public-domain translations (4) compare all →
Those men who practise terrific austerities not enjoined by the scripture, given to hypocrisy and egotism, endued with the strength of lust and passion; [1]
Those men who practise terrific austerities not enjoined by the scriptures, given to hypocrisy and egoism, endued with the strength of lust and passion; [4]
Those men who practise terrific austerities not enjoined by scripture, given to hypocrisy and egoism, endued with strength of desire and passion; [9]
Those people who practice severe ascetic austerities not ordained by the scriptures, are given up to hypocrisy and pride, and endued with desire of attachment and violence. [13]
This verse speaks to
Where this thread continues
They torture their body's elements AND Me who dwell within — know these fools to be of āsurī resolve.
Sāttvic dāna: given with 'this must be given,' to one expecting no return, at right place, time, and recipient.
OṀ Tat Sat: triple name of Brahman — by which brāhmaṇas, Vedas, and yajñas were ordained in the beginning.
Whatever is sacrificed, given, done, or tapas practiced without śraddhā — that is asat: naught here or hereafter.
Driven by insatiable kāma, hypocrisy, pride and arrogance, gripping false notions through moha — impure resolves.
Rājasic yajña: performed targeting fruit and for ostentation — know this, O best of Bharatas.
Verse 5 of 28 · back to Chapter 17