In Bhagavad Gita 17.18, Krishna says austerity performed for respect, honour and reverence, or with hypocrisy, is called rajasic; it is unstable and fleeting.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
सत्कारमानपूजार्थं
तपो दम्भेन चैव यत्
क्रियते तदिह प्रोक्तं
राजसं चलमध्रुवम् ॥ १७-१८ ॥
satkāramānapūjārthaṃ
tapo dambhena caiva yat
kriyate tadiha proktaṃ
rājasaṃ calamadhruvam
English transliteration satkaaramaanapoojaartham
tapo dambhena chaiva yat
kriyate tadiha proktam
raajasam chalamadhruvam ॥ 17.18 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Austerity performed to gain respect, honour and reverence, or out of hypocrisy, is said here to be rajasic. It is unstable and impermanent.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| सत्कारमानपूजार्थम् satkāramānapūjārtham | to gain respect, honour and reverence satkāra (respect) + māna (honour) + pūjā (reverence) + artham (for the sake of) |
| तपः tapaḥ | austerity |
| दम्भेन dambhena | out of hypocrisy |
| च ca | and |
| एव eva | also |
| यत् yat | which |
| क्रियते kriyate | is performed |
| तत् tat | that |
| इह iha | here |
| प्रोक्तम् proktam | is said |
| राजसम् rājasam | rajasic |
| चलम् calam | unstable |
| अध्रुवम् adhruvam | impermanent |
Word-wise Chanting
- sat–kā–ra–mā–na–pū–jār–thaṃ 8 syllables sat-kaa-ra-maa-na-poo-jaar-tham
- ta–po dam–bhe–na cai–va yat | 8 syllables ta-po dam-bhe-na chai-va yat
- kri–ya–te ta–di–ha prok–taṃ 8 syllables kri-ya-te ta-di-ha prok-tam
- rā–ja–saṃ ca–la–madh–ru–vam || 17-18 8 syllables raa-ja-sam cha-la-madh-ru-vam
How to read this
How to chant: each line is one pāda (quarter-verse); chant it in one breath. The hyphen (-) divides the syllables, inside a word and across a sandhi join, so every pāda shows its 8 syllables (11 in triṣṭubh verses). A consonant cluster is divided after its first consonant (kar-ma, vet-ti): that syllable is held longer. Mark above a syllable: guru, long (two beats); laghu, short (one beat). | closes the half-verse, || the verse; the number is the syllable count of the pāda.
Deeper Explanation – Chapter 17 Verse 18
Context
Krishna describes the three kinds of austerity by quality (17.17–17.19).
Meaning
Rajasic austerity seeks satkāra, māna and pūjā, respect, honour and worship from others, or is done with dambha, hypocrisy. Its results are cala, unstable, and adhruva, short-lived, like the approval it seeks.
Discipline done for recognition is fragile. When the applause stops, the discipline collapses.
In Practice
Notice if any of your disciplines depend on others’ approval, and rededicate them to the Divine.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 17: Shraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga (The Threefold Nature of Faith). Read the chapter overview, browse every verse of the Gita, or return to the chapter-by-chapter guide. For a reading plan, see how to study the Bhagavad Gita and the study resources.