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श्री
ह्रीं
क्लीं
गं
ऐं
क्रीं
हूं
सौं
दुं
ॐ तत् सत्
ॐ ऐं ह्रीं क्लीं चामुण्डायै विच्चे
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु शक्तिरूपेण संस्थिता
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः

Aligning Consciousness

Ch 17Verse 18
Adhyāya 17 Shloka 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 || 18 ||

"Penance performed out of pride and for the sake of gaining respect, honor and worship is said to be in the mode of passion. It is neither stable nor permanent."

Historical Context

The Direct Meaning

Austerity performed in the mode of passion (rājasam) is highly theatrical. It is done out of pride and hypocrisy (dambhena) specifically for the sake of gaining respect (satkāra), honor (māna), and public worship/adoration (pūjārthaṁ). Krishna warns that the results of such ego-driven penance are highly unstable (calam) and temporary (adhruvam).

Translated from the original Sanskrit text

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