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Chapter 17 · The Divisions of Faith · 28 verses

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Character & ethicsChapter 17 · The Divisions of Faith
17.1817.20

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 17.19

Austerities of body, speech and mind

मूढग्राहेणात्मनो यत्पीडया क्रियते तप: ।

परस्योत्सादनार्थं वा तत्तामसमुदाहृतम् ॥ १९ ॥

mūḍha-grāheṇātmano yat

pīḍayā kriyate tapaḥ

parasyotsādanārthaṁ vā

tat tāmasam udāhṛtam

Translation

Penance performed out of foolishness, with self-torture or to destroy or injure others, is said to be in the mode of ignorance.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

What this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.

Penance in Ignorance

  1. 1Foolish penance involving self-torture or harm to others is in the mode of ignorance.
  2. 2Hiraṇyakaśipu performed penance to become immortal, but the Supreme Personality of Godhead ultimately killed him.
  3. 3Avoid penance meant to harm yourself or others, or to achieve something impossible.

Where we are

In the story

Chapter 17, The Divisions of Faith: austerities of body, speech and mind.

What it teaches

Theme summary

Cultivate divine qualities in character.

2

Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Key ideas: daivī-sampat, dharma.

3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 17.19 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to character & ethics?

Practice

Choose one virtue to practice consciously today.

4

The story behind it

Mahābhārata episodes and stories from the purports that shed light on this verse.

All stories for chapter 17 ›
5

Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

BG 17.14Austerities of body, speech and mindBG 17.15Austerities of body, speech and mindBG 12.13Qualities of a devotee dear to KrishnaBG 16.21Lust, anger and greed lead toward degradation.

Study notes are editorial summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport.

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Back to step 3The key ideasNext · Step 5 of 7 · 5 minLive the teachingsBring it into your day with a practice and a question, straight from Prabhupāda's purports.