Verse 17.18
Speaker: Krishna
Sanskrit
सत्कारमानपूजार्थं तपो दम्भेन चैव यत् | क्रियते तदिह प्रोक्तं राजसं चलमध्रुवम् ||१८||
Transliteration (IAST)
satkāra-māna-pūjārthaṁ tapo dambhena caiva yat | kriyate tad iha proktaṁ rājasaṁ calam adhruvam ||18||
Word-by-Word Meanings
satkāra-respect/hospitality
māna-honor
pūjā-artham-for the sake of worship/adoration
tapaḥ-austerity
dambhena-with hypocrisy
rājasam-rajasic
calam-unstable
adhruvam-impermanent
Translation
Austerity that is performed with hypocrisy, for the sake of gaining respect, honor, and adoration - that is declared to be rajasic, unstable, and impermanent.
Commentary
Shankaracharya explains that rajasic tapas is motivated by social recognition rather than spiritual growth. Its results are calam (unstable) because they depend on others' opinions, and adhruvam (impermanent) because worldly honor is fleeting. Madhva notes that the practitioner may deceive even themselves about their true motivation.
Themes
karmadharma