Chapter 17: Śraddhā-traya-vibhāga-yoga:: Verse 19
मूढग्राहेणात्मनो यत्पीडया क्रियते तप: ।
परस्योत्सादनार्थं वा तत्तामसमुदाहृतम् ॥
mūḍha-grāheṇātmano yatpīḍayā
kriyate tapa:
parasyotsādanārthaṃ vā
tat-tāmasam-udāhṛtam – 17.19
Austerity done with foolish and deluded notions, to torture oneself or destroy another, is held to be tāmasa.
Chapter 17: Śraddhā-traya-vibhāga-yoga: - Verse 19
Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha
As different from the effects of rajo-guna, tamo-guna activates utter delusion and foolishness in people. Propelled by it, the performer imposes severe torture or suffering on himself as well as others by his austerities. In the worst case, one takes to austerities only to harm or destroy others, which by no means is justified, and brings downfall to himself.
Viveka, discrimination, is the watchword for all human actions. Devotional, religious and spiritual actions are no exception to this. To hurt or harm another is detestable and inexcusable. The entire code of ethics is condensed as: “Do not do to others, what you will not like to be done to you.”
Thus hurting another is not permissible at all, as none will like it to be done to himself. Yet this travesty is not uncommon. The reason is tamo-guna. Collective thoughts and evaluation should therefore be encouraged, so that individuals may be rightly guided.
