Over-enthusiasm can produce only a physical exhaustion, and an inward fatigue. No spiritual unfoldment can be expected from unintelligent expenditure of energy in wrong channels merely because it is undertaken in the name of religion. The majority of seekers mis-apply their energies and come to suffer. Therefore, Krishna considers it easier to paint the picture of the false seekers and ridicule their unintelligent methods.

Physical restraints and self-denials are, no doubt, sometimes prescribed for some sturdily-built types, for some limited period. At the same time it is not proper or correct to believe that any kind of self-denial would constitute an austerity, and that by following it, creative unfoldment of the inner personality-structure could be successfully brought about. The austerities must be scientific, and therefore, not against the injunctions laid down in the sacred books that discuss this subject.

Some people generally undertake severe austerities only as a show. Men ‘GIVEN TO OSTENTATION AND EGOISM’ are not fit for austerity. They remain mentally unfit for Tapas as long as they are lusty and extremely attached to the world-of-objects around. Such individuals cannot practice austerities.

Even when such people practise austerities and develop some inward dynamism as a result of their tapas, their intentions being gross, they will only misuse the new-found strength in wrong channels, and in the end, bring about their own self-destruction — the famous examples of Rakshasas in the Puranas are illustrative enough. Such people, practising austerities, regardless of the correct injunction of the Shastras, belong to the Asuric type.

ME, DWELLING IN THE BODY — Such unintelligent austerities not only oppress the elements constituting the physical frame but also the Sacred and the Divine Lord within. Life gets choked as it were in such an individual — meaning, Life cannot express its fullest beauty through such a broken form. Extreme tapas is stupid and is condemned here. Intelligent control is tapas, not cruel self-torture!

THE THREE KINDS — THE SATTWIC, THE RAJASIC, AND THE TAMASIC — OF FOOD, OF WORSHIP, OF AUSTERITY, AND OF GIFT ARE DISCUSSED IN THE FOLLOWING STANZAS:

(And who,) acetasah, being non-discriminating; karsayantah, torture; bhuta-gramam, all the organs; sarirastham, in the body, ca, as also; torture eva, even; mam, Me; antah-sarira-stham, who reside in the body as the witness of its actions and intellect-non-adherence to My injunctions itself is ‘torturing Me’; viddhi, know; tan, them; asura-niscayan, as possessed of demoniacal convictions. Know them so that they may be avoided. This is an instruction. The liking of persons possessing the alities of sattva, rajas and tamas for foods that are divided into three groups, viz succulent, oleaginous, etc., is respectively being shown here so that, by knowing the presence of the alities of sattva, rajas and tamas (in oneself) from the indications of the degree of one’s preference for particular foods as are succulent, oleaginous, etc., one may avoid foods having the characteristics of rajas and tamas, and accept food with the characteristics of sattva. Similarly, sacrifices etc. also are being explained here under three categories according to the distinguishing ality of sattva etc. So that one may reject those known to be born of rajas and tamas, and undertake only those born of sattva.