mudha-grahenatmano yat pidaya kriyate tapah, parasyotsadanartham va tat tamasam udahritam
Austerity performed out of foolish obstinacy, with self-torture, or for the purpose of ruining another is declared to be tamasic.
- •Tamasic austerity harms the practitioner and others
- •Obstinacy and misguided will distort genuine spiritual effort
- •Any practice aimed at harming others is spiritually degraded