Austerity

Dravya-yajnas tapo-yajna yoga-yajnas tathapare, svadhyaya-jnana-yajnas ca yatayah samsita-vratah

Some offer material possessions as sacrifice; others offer austerity or yoga practice; still others who have taken strict vows offer the study of scriptures and knowledge as their sacrifice.

Punyo gandhah prithivyam ca tejas casmi vibhavasau, jivanam sarva-bhutesu tapas casmi tapasvishu

I am the pure fragrance of the earth, the brightness in fire. I am the life in all living beings and the austerity in ascetics. Krishna continues enumerating His divine manifestations in the natural world, showing how the Divine pervades all sensory and vital experiences.

Ahimsa samata tushtis tapo danam yasho 'yashaha, bhavanti bhava bhutanam matta eva prithag-vidhah

Non-violence, equanimity, contentment, austerity, charity, fame, and infamy — all the various states of beings arise from Me alone. The catalogue of divine vibhutis continues, encompassing both celebrated and inglorious conditions, all arising from the one infinite source.

asastra-vihitam ghoram tapyante ye tapo janah, dambhahankara-samyuktah kama-raga-balanvitah

Those who perform severe austerities not prescribed by scripture, driven by hypocrisy, ego, desire, and passion, are described here as acting against divine wisdom.

karsayantah sarira-stham bhuta-gramam acetasah, mam caivantah sarira-stham tan viddhy asura-niscayan

Those who torture the elements of the body and the divine presence within — know them to be of demoniac resolve. Such extreme self-mortification harms both the body and the indwelling soul.

aharas tv api sarvasya tri-vidho bhavati priyah, yajnas tapas tatha danam tesam bhedam imam srinu

Food, sacrifice, austerity, and charity are each dear to people in different ways according to their nature. Krishna introduces the threefold classification of these four important spiritual activities.

Deva-dwija-guru-prājña-pūjanaṁ śhaucham ārjavam, brahmacharyam ahinsā cha śhārīraṁ tapa uchyate

Worship of the deities, the twice-born, teachers, and the wise; purity, straightforwardness, celibacy, and non-violence—these are said to be austerity of the body.

Anudvega-karam vakyam satyam priya-hitam cha yat, svadhyayabhyasanam chaiva van-mayam tapa ucyate

Speech that does not cause distress, is truthful, pleasant, beneficial, and includes the regular recitation of scriptures—this is said to be austerity of speech.

Manaḥ-prasādaḥ saumyatvaṁ maunam ātma-vinigrahaḥ, bhāva-saṁśhuddhir ity etat tapo mānasam uchyate

Serenity of thought, gentleness, silence, self-control, and purity of purpose—these are called austerity of the mind.

tasmad om ity udahritya yajna-dana-tapah-kriyah, pravartante vidhanoktah satatam brahma-vadinam

Therefore, acts of sacrifice, charity, and austerity as prescribed by scripture are always begun with the utterance of 'Om' by those who study the Brahman.

yajne tapasi dane ca sthitih sad iti cocyate, karma caiva tad-arthiyam sad ity evabhidhiyate

Steadfastness in sacrifice, austerity, and charity is also called Sat. And any action performed for the sake of the Supreme is likewise called Sat.

Yajna-dana-tapah-karma na tyajyam karyam eva tat, yajno danam tapash chaiva pavanani manishinam

Acts of sacrifice, charity, and austerity should not be abandoned, but should indeed be performed, for sacrifice, charity, and austerity are purifying for the wise.

idam te natapaskaya nabhaktaya kadacana na casusrusave vacyam na ca mam yo 'bhyasuyati

This teaching should never be spoken to one who is without austerity, without devotion, without the desire to hear, or who speaks ill of Krishna. The Gita's supreme knowledge is to be shared only with those who are genuinely receptive and sincere.