Verse 17.19

Verse 17.19: “When, with silly obstinacy, austerity is practised, for self-torture or to encompass another’s ruin, it is proclaimed as Tamas-dominated. (254)

Commentary called Jnaneshwari by Jnaneshwar:

(Now as regards one practising Tamas austerities). He harbours, Oh Dhananjaya, the wind of foolishness and treats his body as an enemy. He applies the flame of the five sacred fires (pañcāgni) to his person and kindles such internal heat as would bum the body. He bums fragrant gum (gugula) on his head, and pricks his back with iron hooks and burns his body by keeping blazing fire all around himself. He suspends breathing, and in vain observes fasts, and also inhales smoke with head hanging downwards. He stands on the rocky embankment of a river, its (icy) cold water reaching as far as his neck, and tears out his own flesh. In this way he inflicts self-torture in various ways, Oh Dhananjaya, and practises austerities solely for the purpose of causing destruction of others.

A big and heavy boulder getting dislodged from its position crashes down (from a great height), gets broken into fragments, and in addition crushes down whatever comes in its way. In that way he causes torture to the happily abiding soul, and practises austerities for the glory of conquering others. The austerities that emerge out of such dreadful torture of one’s body are called Tamas-austerities, O Kiriti. I have thus made clear to you how the three kinds of austerities classified according to the Sattva and other Gunas take place. Now as the occasion demands I shall tell you the aspects of the three classes of charity. Here also charity is divided into three categories on account of the three Gunas. Hear first about the Sattva-dominated one.