Speaker: Śrī Kṛṣṇa
सत्कारमानपूजार्थं तपो दम्भेन चैव यत् ।
क्रियते तदिह प्रोक्तं राजसं चलमध्रुवम् ॥१८॥
satkāra-māna-pūjārthaṁ
tapo dambhena caiva yat
kriyate tad iha proktaṁ
rājasaṁ calam adhruvam
Word for word (synonyms)
- satkāra
- respect
- māna
- honor
- pūjā-artham
- for worship
- tapaḥ
- austerity
- dambhena
- with pride
- ca
- also
- eva
- certainly
- yat
- which is
- kriyate
- performed
- tat
- that
- iha
- in this world
- proktam
- is said
- rājasam
- in the mode of passion
- calam
- flickering
- adhruvam
- temporary
Translation
Those ostentatious penances and austerities which are performed in order to gain respect, honor and reverence are said to be in the mode of passion. They are neither stable nor permanent.
Defined in the Gītā
Austerity
What is austerity of body, speech and mind?
The austerity of the body consists in this: worship of the Supreme Lord, the brāhmaṇas, the spiritual master, and superiors like the father and mother. Cleanliness, simplicity, celibacy and nonviolence are also austerities of the body.
Purport
Sometimes penance and austerity are executed to attract people and receive honor, respect and worship from others. Persons in the mode of passion arrange to be worshiped by subordinates and let them wash their feet and offer riches. Such arrangements artificially made by the performance of penances are considered to be in the mode of passion. The results are temporary; they can be continued for some time, but they are not permanent.
What this verse teaches
The study note for this verse is in editorial review.
- Section
- Austerity in three modes
Bhagavad-gītā As It Is by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda © The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International.