Verse 17.19
Speaker: Krishna
Sanskrit
मूढग्राहेणात्मनो यत्पीडया क्रियते तपः | परस्योत्सादनार्थं वा तत्तामसमुदाहृतम् ||१९||
Transliteration (IAST)
mūḍha-grāheṇātmano yat pīḍayā kriyate tapaḥ | parasyotsādanārthaṁ vā tat tāmasam udāhṛtam ||19||
Word-by-Word Meanings
mūḍha-grāheṇa-with foolish obstinacy
ātmanaḥ-of oneself
pīḍayā-with torture/pain
kriyate-is performed
tapaḥ-austerity
parasya-of another
utsādana-artham-for the purpose of destroying
tāmasam-tamasic
Translation
Austerity that is performed with foolish obstinacy, with self-torture, or for the purpose of destroying another - that is declared to be tamasic.
Commentary
Shankaracharya identifies two forms of tamasic tapas: self-destructive practices born of delusion, and practices aimed at harming others (such as black magic rituals). Ramanuja explains that mūḍha-grāha means clinging to a practice without understanding its purpose, driven by stubbornness rather than wisdom. Both forms violate the fundamental principle of ahiṁsā.
Themes
dharmakarma