In Bhagavad Gita 17.19, Krishna says austerity performed with foolish obstinacy, through self-torture, or to harm another, is called tamasic.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
मूढग्राहेणात्मनो यत्
पीडया क्रियते तपः
परस्योत्सादनार्थं वा
तत्तामसमुदाहृतम् ॥ १७-१९ ॥
mūḍhagrāheṇātmano yat
pīḍayā kriyate tapaḥ
parasyotsādanārthaṃ vā
tattāmasamudāhṛtam
English transliteration moodhagraahenaatmano yat
peedayaa kriyate tapah
parasyotsaadanaartham vaa
tattaamasamudaahritam ॥ 17.19 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Austerity performed with foolish obstinacy, by torturing oneself, or for the purpose of harming another, is declared to be tamasic.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| मूढग्राहेण mūḍhagrāheṇa | with foolish obstinacy mūḍha (foolish) + grāheṇa (obstinacy) |
| आत्मनः ātmanaḥ | of oneself |
| यत् yat | which |
| पीडया pīḍayā | by torturing |
| क्रियते kriyate | is performed |
| तपः tapaḥ | austerity |
| परस्य parasya | of another |
| उत्सादनार्थम् utsādanārtham | for the purpose of harming utsādana (harming) + artham (purpose) |
| वा vā | or |
| तत् tat | that |
| तामसम् tāmasam | tamasic |
| उदाहृतम् udāhṛtam | is declared |
Word-wise Chanting
- mū–ḍhag–rā–he–ṇāt–ma–no yat– 8 syllables moo-dhag-raa-he-naat-ma-no yat-
- pī–ḍa–yā kri–ya–te ta–paḥ | 8 syllables pee-da-yaa kri-ya-te ta-pah
- pa–ras–yot–sā–da–nār–thaṃ vā 8 syllables pa-ras-yot-saa-da-naar-tham vaa
- tat–tā–ma–sa–mu–dā–hṛ–tam || 17-19 8 syllables tat-taa-ma-sa-mu-daa-hri-tam
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 19
Context
Krishna describes the three kinds of austerity by quality (17.17–17.19).
Meaning
Tamasic austerity arises from mūḍha-grāha, deluded stubbornness. It involves pīḍā, self-torture, or is even aimed at parasya utsādana, harming others. It is the darkest form of discipline.
Discipline used to harm oneself or others is a perversion of spirituality.
In Practice
Make sure that every discipline you practise is life-giving, not harmful to yourself or others.
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.