In Bhagavad Gita 17.5, Krishna says some practise terrible austerities not prescribed by scripture, driven by hypocrisy, ego, desire, attachment and force.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
अशास्त्रविहितं घोरं
तप्यन्ते ये तपो जनाः
दम्भाहङ्कारसंयुक्ताः
कामरागबलान्विताः ॥ १७-५ ॥
aśāstravihitaṃ ghoraṃ
tapyante ye tapo janāḥ
dambhāhaṅkārasaṃyuktāḥ
kāmarāgabalānvitāḥ
English transliteration ashaastravihitam ghoram
tapyante ye tapo janaah
dambhaahankaarasamyuktaah
kaamaraagabalaanvitaah ॥ 17.5 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Those people who practise terrible austerities not prescribed by scripture, driven by hypocrisy and egoism, impelled by the force of desire and attachment,
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| अशास्त्रविहितम् aśāstravihitam | not prescribed by scripture a (not) + śāstra (scripture) + vihitam (prescribed) |
| घोरम् ghoram | terrible |
| तप्यन्ते tapyante | practise |
| ये ye | who |
| तपः tapaḥ | austerities |
| जनाः janāḥ | people |
| दम्भाहङ्कारसंयुक्ताः dambhāhaṅkārasaṃyuktāḥ | driven by hypocrisy and egoism dambha (hypocrisy) + ahaṅkāra (egoism) + saṃyuktāḥ (driven) |
| कामरागबलान्विताः kāmarāgabalānvitāḥ | impelled by the force of desire and attachment kāma (desire) + rāga (attachment) + bala (force) + anvitāḥ (impelled) |
Word-wise Chanting
- a–śās–tra–vi–hi–taṃ gho–raṃ 8 syllables a-shaas-tra-vi-hi-tam gho-ram
- tap–yan–te ye ta–po ja–nāḥ | 8 syllables tap-yan-te ye ta-po ja-naah
- dam–bhā–haṅ–kā–ra–saṃ–yuk–tāḥ 8 syllables dam-bhaa-han-kaa-ra-sam-yuk-taah
- kā–ma–rā–ga–ba–lān–vi–tāḥ || 17-5 8 syllables kaa-ma-raa-ga-ba-laan-vi-taah
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 5
Context
Krishna describes misguided austerity; the sentence continues into 17.6.
Meaning
Some people practise ghora tapas, extreme self-torture, that scripture does not recommend. Their motive is dambha, display; ahaṅkāra, ego; and the force of desire and attachment. Their austerity is not spiritual but egoistic.
The Gita warns against extremes. Spiritual discipline should purify, not harm. Self-torture driven by ego is a distortion.
In Practice
Examine any harsh discipline you impose on yourself. Is it born of love or of ego?
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.