Gita 17.5
Shraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga
अशास्त्रविहितं घोरं तप्यन्ते ये तपो जनाः | दम्भाहंकारसंयुक्ताः कामरागबलान्विताः ||५||
aśāstra-vihitaṁ ghoraṁ tapyante ye tapo janāḥ | dambhāhaṅkāra-saṁyuktāḥ kāma-rāga-balānvitāḥ ||5||
In essence: Krishna describes spiritual malpractice: those who perform terrible austerities not sanctioned by scripture, driven by hypocrisy, ego, desire, and attachment - a warning against self-torture masquerading as spirituality.
A conversation between a seeker and guide to help you feel this verse deeply
Sadhak-Guru Dialogue
Sadhak: "I've heard stories of great sages performing extreme tapas - standing in rivers, sitting in fire. Were they doing something wrong?"
Guru: "Context and motivation are everything. When Dhruva performed intense tapas with pure aspiration for the Divine, it was legitimate. When someone performs similar austerities to gain powers, impress others, or force outcomes - that is what Krishna condemns here. The same external practice can be sattvic or tamasic depending on who does it and why."
Sadhak: "But how can we distinguish genuine tapas from ego-driven self-torture?"
Guru: "Several markers: Genuine tapas is usually prescribed by a qualified teacher, graduated to one's capacity, and brings increasing peace and clarity. Ego-driven tapas is self-chosen, often extreme, and is accompanied by pride about performing it. The genuine aspirant becomes quieter; the ego-driven practitioner wants recognition."
Sadhak: "I sometimes push myself hard in spiritual practice. Is that wrong?"
Guru: "Pushing past comfort is natural and necessary. The question is: are you pushing toward freedom or toward ego? Does your practice make you humbler or prouder? More flexible or more rigid? Check your motivation honestly. Healthy tapas leaves you more open; corrupt tapas leaves you more contracted around your specialness."
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🌅 Daily Practice
Examine your spiritual practices for ego-infection. Are there practices you do partly because they make you feel special or disciplined? This isn't reason to stop, but to purify motivation. Set intention to practice from love of truth, not pride in self-image.
Notice if you ever mention your spiritual practices to others for subtle recognition. Notice if you compare your discipline to others' laxity. These are signs of 'dambha' (ostentation). Practice in secret when possible; let results speak rather than claims.
Before sleep, honestly assess: has today's spiritual practice made me humbler and more open, or prouder and more contracted? Am I using spirituality to transcend ego or to build a 'spiritual ego'? This nightly honesty prevents the corruption Krishna describes.