Chapter XVII · Śloka 18
Śrī Kṛṣṇa uvāca
सत्कारमानपूजार्थं तपो दम्भेन चैव यत् |
क्रियते तदिह प्रोक्तं राजसं चलमध्रुवम् ||
क्रियते तदिह प्रोक्तं राजसं चलमध्रुवम् ||
satkāra-māna-pūjārthaṃ tapo dambhena caiva yat |
kriyate tad iha proktaṃ rājasaṃ calam adhruvam ||
kriyate tad iha proktaṃ rājasaṃ calam adhruvam ||
That austerity performed for the sake of respect, honor, and worship — and with hypocrisy — is here declared to be rājasika: unstable and impermanent.
Rājasika tapas is restless at its root because it depends on the recognition of others. It rises when admired and collapses when ignored. Built on the shifting ground of opinion, it cannot hold. Calam adhruvam — wavering, not lasting.