Gita Verse 17.18

Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 17, Verse 18

Sanskrit Verse

सत्कारमानपूजार्थं तपो दम्भेन चैव यत्।क्रियते तदिह प्रोक्तं राजसं चलमध्रुवम्।।17.18।।

Transliteration

satkāra-māna-pūjārthaṁ tapo dambhena chaiva yat

kriyate tad iha proktaṁ rājasaṁ chalam adhruvam

Word meanings

sat-kāra—respect; māna—honor; pūjā—adoration; artham—for the sake of; tapaḥ—austerity; dambhena—with ostentation; cha—also; eva—certainly; yat—which; kriyate—is performed; tat—that; iha—in this world; proktam—is said; rājasam—in the mode of passion; chalam—flickering; adhruvam—temporary

Swami Sivananda's translation

The austerity that is practiced with the aim of gaining good reception, honor, and worship, and with hypocrisy, is said to be Rajasic, unstable, and transient.

Chapter link: Gita Chapter 17

Related Gunas: Rajas