Chapter 17, Verse 19
Chapter 17 · jnana-yoga
Shloka
मूढग्राहेणात्मनो यत्पीडया क्रियते तपः | परस्योत्सादनार्थं वा तत्तामसमुदाहृतम् ||१७-१९||
mūḍhagrāheṇātmano yatpīḍayā kriyate tapaḥ . parasyotsādanārthaṃ vā tattāmasamudāhṛtam ||17-19||
English Meaning
English Meaning
That austerity which is practised out of a foolish notion, with self-torture, or for the purpose of destroying another, is declared to be Tamasic.
Hindi Meaning
जो तप मूढ़तापूर्वक स्वयं को पीड़ित करते हुए अथवा अन्य लोगों के नाश के लिए किया जाता है, वह तप तामस कहा गया है।।
Russian Meaning
Та аскеза, которая практикуется по глупому замыслу, с самоистязанием или с целью уничтожения другого, объявляется тамасической.
Spanish Meaning
Aquella austeridad que se practica por una noción tonta, con auto-tortura o con el propósito de destruir a otro, se declara tamásica.
Commentary
Some burn sulphur in a pot and place it on their head. Some thrust hooks of iron into their flesh. Some hang themselves with their head downwards over fire and swallow smoke. Some stand in cold water immersed up to the neck. Some torture the body by lighting fires on the four sides (with the sun as the fifth fire -- this is known as the Panchagni Tapas). Some sit in the centre of a circle of fire. Such austerities are Tamasic. These will not help one to attain knowledge of the Self.