Discipline that harms

mūḍhagrāheṇātmano yatpīḍayā kriyate tapaḥparasyotsādanārthaṃ vā tattāmasamudāhṛtam

Discipline done from foolish stubbornness, through self-torture, or to bring harm to another, is called heavy.

What it means

Krishna describes tamasic tapas, the darkest kind. Discipline driven by stubborn confusion. Practice that tortures oneself. Or worse, discipline used to harm someone else. This isn't spirituality at all. Anything that wounds you or others has lost its way.

The story

Krishna has seen people punish themselves out of guilt, and others use spiritual power for revenge. He calls both a dead end.

In your life

Imagine someone starving themselves to feel in control. That isn't discipline. It's pain. If anything like that is part of your life, please talk to someone you trust or a doctor this week.