People who perform harsh austerities without scriptural guidance, driven by vanity, ego, desire, attachment, and stubbornness, are not purified by them.
— Krishna
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Bhagavad Gita · 17.5
Hindi · हिन्दी
जो मनुष्य शास्त्रविधिसे रहित घोर तप करते हैं जो दम्भ और अहङ्कारसे अच्छी तरह युक्त हैं जो भोगपदार्थ, आसक्ति और हठसे युक्त हैं जो शरीरमें स्थित पाँच भूतोंको अर्थात् पाञ्चभौतिक शरीरको तथा अन्तःकरणमें स्थित मुझ परमात्माको भी कृश करनेवाले हैं उन अज्ञानियोंको तू आसुर निश्चयवाले आसुरी सम्पदावाले समझ ॥
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Hover a word to focus on it.
अशास्त्रविहितम्not laid down by scriptureघोरम्severe, terribleतप्यन्तेthey practice austerityयेwhoतपःausterityजनाःpeopleदम्भ-अहङ्कार-संयुक्ताःjoined with hypocrisy and egoकाम-राग-बल-अन्विताःendowed with desire, attachment, and forceful stubbornness
Read literallynot laid down by scripture · severe, terrible · they practice austerity · who · austerity · people · joined with hypocrisy and ego · endowed with desire, attachment, and forceful stubbornness
Understanding the verse
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It warns you to examine motive before praising endurance. A hard practice can still strengthen the wrong parts of you.
Severe self-punishment without right guidance, mixed with pride and craving, does not make a person better.
02
On the battlefield
Context & commentary
On the Kurukshetra battlefield, Arjuna is frozen, and Krishna is explaining the difference between real discipline and distorted effort. Here he describes people who force harsh austerity without guidance, driven by vanity, ego, desire, and stubbornness.
03
In your life
Why this verse still matters
Someone bragging about a brutal detox, sleep deprivation, or punishing routine may look committed, but the hidden motive is still control and self-display.
The takeaway
“Not every hard practice is cleansing. Struggle can still feed ego.”
Explore related themes: tapas(22 verses), ahankara(10 verses)
Common questions
What does Bhagavad Gita 17.5 mean?
Severe self-punishment without right guidance, mixed with pride and craving, does not make a person better.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 17.5?
Krishna speaks this verse, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, in the chapter titled "Shraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga" (The Three Kinds of Faith).
Which chapter of the Bhagavad Gita contains verse 17.5?
Verse 5 sits in Chapter 17 of the Bhagavad Gita — Shraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga, "The Three Kinds of Faith". The chapter has 28 verses in total.
Why does Bhagavad Gita 17.5 matter today?
Someone bragging about a brutal detox, sleep deprivation, or punishing routine may look committed, but the hidden motive is still control and self-display.
It warns you to examine motive before praising endurance. A hard practice can still strengthen the wrong parts of you.
What this verse means
Severe self-punishment without right guidance, mixed with pride and craving, does not make a person better.
Context & commentary
On the Kurukshetra battlefield, Arjuna is frozen, and Krishna is explaining the difference between real discipline and distorted effort. Here he describes people who force harsh austerity without guidance, driven by vanity, ego, desire, and stubbornness.
Why this verse still matters
Someone bragging about a brutal detox, sleep deprivation, or punishing routine may look committed, but the hidden motive is still control and self-display.
“Not every hard practice is cleansing. Struggle can still feed ego.”
Explore related themes: tapas (22 verses), ahankara (10 verses)