—json {

  "name":"Bg. 17.19",
  "h1":"Bg. 17.19",
  "label":"Text 19",
  "title":"Bhagavad-gītā As It Is 17.19",
  "description":"And those penances and austerities which are performed foolishly by means of obstinant self-torture, or to destroy or injure others, are said to be in the mode of ignorance."

} —

Bg. 17.19

मूढग्राहेणात्मनो यत्पीडया क्रियते तपः ।
परस्योत्सादनार्थं वा तत्तामसमुदाहृतम् ॥१९॥

Text

mūḍha-grāheṇātmano yat
pīḍayā kriyate tapaḥ
parasyotsādanārthaṁ vā
tat tāmasam udāhṛtam

Synonyms

mūḍha—foolish; grāheṇa—with endeavor; ātmanaḥ—of one's own self; yat—which; pīḍayā—by torture; kriyate—is performed; tapaḥ—penance; parasya—to others; utsādanārtham—causing annihilation; vā—or; tat—that; tāmasam—in the mode of darkness; udāhṛtam—is said to be.

Translation

And those penances and austerities which are performed foolishly by means of obstinant self-torture, or to destroy or injure others, are said to be in the mode of ignorance.

Purport

There are instances of foolish penance undertaken by demons like Hiraṇyakaśipu, who performed austere penances to become immortal and kill the demigods. He prayed to Brahmā for such things, but ultimately he was killed by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. To undergo penances for something which is impossible is certainly in the mode of ignorance.