BG 17.18 (1972)
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
TEXT 18
- सत्कारमानपूजार्थं तपो दम्भेन चैव यत् ।
- क्रियते तदिह प्रोक्तं राजसं चलमध्रुवम् ॥१८॥
- satkāra-māna-pūjārthaṁ
- tapo dambhena caiva yat
- kriyate tad iha proktaṁ
- rājasaṁ calam adhruvam
SYNONYMS
satkāra—respect; māna—honor; pūjā-artham—for worship; tapaḥ—austerity; dambhena—with pride; ca—also; eva—certainly; yat—which is; kriyate—performed; tat—that; iha—in this world; proktam—is said; rājasam—in the mode of passion; calam—flickering; adhruvam—temporary.
TRANSLATION
Those ostentatious penances and austerities which are performed in order to gain respect, honor and reverence are said to be in the mode of passion. They are neither stable nor permanent.
PURPORT
Sometimes penance and austerity are executed to attract people and receive honor, respect and worship from others. Persons in the mode of passion arrange to be worshiped by subordinates and let them wash their feet and offer riches. Such arrangements artificially made by the performance of penances are considered to be in the mode of passion. The results are temporary; they can be continued for some time, but they are not permanent.