In Bhagavad Gita 17.9, Krishna says foods that are bitter, sour, salty, very hot, pungent, dry and burning are dear to the rajasic, and cause pain, grief and disease.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
कट्वम्ललवणात्युष्णत्
ईक्ष्णरूक्षविदाहिनः
आहारा राजसस्येष्टा
दुःखशोकामयप्रदाः ॥ १७-९ ॥
kaṭvamlalavaṇātyuṣṇat
īkṣṇarūkṣavidāhinaḥ
āhārā rājasasyeṣṭā
duḥkhaśokāmayapradāḥ
English transliteration katvamlalavanaatyushnat
eekshnarookshavidaahinah
aahaaraa raajasasyeshtaa
duhkhashokaamayapradaah ॥ 17.9 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Foods that are bitter, sour, salty, excessively hot, pungent, dry and burning are dear to the rajasic. They produce pain, grief and disease.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| कट्वम्ललवणात्युष्णतीक्ष्णरूक्षविदाहिनः kaṭvamlalavaṇātyuṣṇatīkṣṇarūkṣavidāhinaḥ | bitter, sour, salty, excessively hot, pungent, dry and burning kaṭu (bitter) + amla (sour) + lavaṇa (salty) + atyuṣṇa (excessively hot) + tīkṣṇa (pungent) + rūkṣa (dry) + vidāhinaḥ (burning) |
| आहाराः āhārāḥ | foods |
| राजसस्य rājasasya | of the rajasic |
| इष्टाः iṣṭāḥ | dear |
| दुःखशोकामयप्रदाः duḥkhaśokāmayapradāḥ | producing pain, grief and disease duḥkha (pain) + śoka (grief) + āmaya (disease) + pradāḥ (producing) |
Word-wise Chanting
- kaṭ–vam–la–la–va–ṇāt–yuṣ–ṇat– 8 syllables kat-vam-la-la-va-naat-yush-nat-
- īkṣ–ṇa–rū–kṣa–vi–dā–hi–naḥ | 8 syllables eeksh-na-roo-ksha-vi-daa-hi-nah
- ā–hā–rā rā–ja–sas–yeṣ–ṭā 8 syllables aa-haa-raa raa-ja-sas-yesh-taa
- duḥ–kha–śo–kā–ma–yap–ra–dāḥ || 17-9 8 syllables duh-kha-sho-kaa-ma-yap-ra-daah
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 9
Context
Krishna describes the three kinds of food (17.8–17.10).
Meaning
Rajasic foods are excessive in strong tastes: too bitter, sour, salty, hot, sharp, dry or burning. They stimulate and excite, but in the end produce duḥkha, discomfort; śoka, distress; and āmaya, illness.
Overly stimulating food agitates both body and mind. Moderation in strong flavours supports calm.
In Practice
Notice whether strongly spiced or stimulating food affects your mood today.
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.