Bhagavad Gita 17.5 · Krishna
Extreme isn't holy
अशास्त्रविहितं घोरं तप्यन्ते ये तपो जनाः।
दम्भाहंकारसंयुक्ताः कामरागबलान्विताः॥
aśāstravihitaṃ ghoraṃ tapyante ye tapo janāḥdambhāhaṃkārasaṃyuktāḥ kāmarāgabalānvitāḥ
Those who practise harsh austerities that scripture never taught, full of show and ego, driven by desire, passion and force...
Words
- tapas
What it means
Krishna warns about extreme tapas, discipline taken too far. Some people punish their bodies in ways no wise teaching asks for. Not from devotion, but from ego, show, desire and stubborn force. Real discipline strengthens. Extreme self-punishment usually feeds the ego it claims to defeat.
The story
Arjuna has seen ascetics starve themselves to impress others. Krishna, who loves balance, says plainly that isn't the way.
In your life
Imagine someone who trained so hard for a marathon they injured themselves, mostly to prove something. Choose a discipline today that strengthens you, not one that punishes you.
Discipline should strengthen, not punish.