These three types of austerities viz. of body, speech, and mind if practiced by men of harmonious nature with no attachment for their rewards and with utmost faith and sincerity are called Sattvic type. If these austerities are practiced with a view to gain respect, honor and reverence and with vanity and ostentation they are called Rajasic. Sri Krishna says that such a kind of Tapas is unstable and transitory which will only result in unproductive and painful self denials. Tapas undertaken with a foolish obstinacy involving self torture and not knowing its aim and indulging in destroying others is of the lowest kind. These misconceived, wrongly practiced austerities undertaken by anyone for bringing about sorrow and discomfort to others and to himself is considered as Tamasic.

THREE KINDS OF CHARITY

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Yat, that; tapah, austerity; which is kriyate, undertaken; satkara-mana-pujartham, for earning a name, being honoured and worshipped-for earning a name, (i. e.) for being spoken of thus: ‘This Brahmana, who is given to austerity, is pious’; for being honoured by (others’) standing up respectfully, salutation, etc.; for being worshipped with washing of feet, adoration, feeding, etc.; for these-; ca eva, and also, (that) austerity which is performed dambhena, ostentatiously; tat, that; proktam, is spoken of; as rajasam, born of rajas; iha, belonging to this world; [i. e. yielding fruits only in this world.] calam, uncertain-its result being unpredictable; and adhruvam, transitory.