Word meanings
- mūḍha
- those with confused notions
- grāheṇa
- with endeavor
- ātmanaḥ
- one’s own self
- yat
- which
- pīḍayā
- torturing
- kriyate
- is performed
- tapaḥ
- austerity
- parasya
- of others
- utsādana-artham
- for harming
- vā
- or
- tat
- that
- tāmasam
- in the mode of ignorance
- udāhṛtam
- is described to be
Translations
That austerity which is practised out of a foolish notion, with self-torture, or for the purpose of destroying another, is declared to be of the Tamasic nature.
Austerity done under delusion, and accompanied with sorcery or the infliction of pain upon oneself or another, may be assumed to spring from ignorance.
That austerity which is undertaken with a foolish intent, causing pain to oneself or for the destruction of others, is said to be born of tamas.
जो तप मूढ़तापूर्वक हठसे अपनेको पीड़ा देकर अथवा दूसरोंको कष्ट देनेके लिये किया जाता है, वह तप तामस कहा गया है।Commentary
Some burn sulphur in a pot and place it on their head. Some thrust hooks of iron into their flesh. Some hang themselves with their head downwards over fire and swallow smoke. Some stand in cold water immersed up to the neck. Some torture the body by lighting fires on the four sides (with the sun as the fifth fire -- this is known as the Panchagni Tapas). Some sit in the centre of a circle of fire. Such austerities are Tamasic. These will not help one to attain knowledge of the Self.