Bhagavad Gita Chapter 17, Verse 18

English Translation

That austerity which is undertaken for earning a name, being honoured and worshipped, and also ostentatiously,-that is spoken of as born of rajas, belonging to this world, uncertain and transitory.

Detailed Commentary

Tapas performed for honor (*satkar*), prestige (*maan*), and adoration (*puja*) is called *Rajasic Tapa*. Such individuals believe that wherever they go, people will revere them as ascetics (*Tapasvis*). In villages, respectful processions will be taken out for them. People will greet them with warmth everywhere and speak sweetly. They will be presented with felicitation letters and honored through outward gestures. People will respect them from the heart, believing them to be self-controlled (*samyami*), truthful (*satyavadi*), and non-violent (*ahimsak*). People will wash their feet, garland them, perform *Arati*, and after their passing, monuments will be erected in their name, upon which flowers, *chandan*, and other offerings will be made with reverence (*shraddha*). When *tapas* is performed with ostentation (*dambha*), lacking genuine faith (*shraddha*) and inner sentiment (*bhava*), and one merely begins chanting with rosary beads or performing worship for show, it is nothing but an external display. The fruit of *Rajasic Tapa* is said to be unstable (*asthir*) and transient (*nashvan*). That *tapas* which is performed solely for honor, prestige, and adoration yields perishable results here in this world. The fruit of *tapas* done for show remains uncertain. This type of *Rajasic Tapa* mostly bears fruit in this very world (*lok*); therefore, its result is neither *svarga* (heaven) nor *narak* (hell), but rather it culminates solely in worldly glory here itself. Rajasic individuals may perform *tapas* with body, speech, and mind, but their worship is driven by desire. They may possess simplicity (*saralta*), yet the observance of *Brahmacharya* (continence) and *Ahimsa* (non-violence) becomes difficult for them. Their mind cannot always remain cheerful (*prasanna*), and gentleness (*saumyata*) is also rare. Their desires constantly bring forth mental agitation (*sankalpa-vikalpa*). They perform *tapas* for honor (*satkar*), prestige (*maan*), adoration (*puja*), and display, thus their inner sentiments (*bhava*) cannot be pure. Hence, Rajasic individuals cannot fully adhere to the three types of *tapas*.