Shraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga
श्रद्धात्रय विभाग योग
अशास्त्रविहितं घोरं तप्यन्ते ये तपो जनाः। दम्भाहंकारसंयुक्ताः कामरागबलान्विताः ॥ 17:5॥
अ-शास्त्र-वि-हितम् घोरम् तप्यन्ते ये तपः जनाः, दम्भ-अहङ्कार-संयुक्ताः काम-राग-बल-अन्विताः;
ये (जो) जनाः (मनुष्य) अ-शास्त्र-वि-हितम् (शास्त्र द्वारा विहित न किए गए) घोरम् (घोर) तपः (तप) तप्यन्ते (करते हैं), दम्भ-अहङ्कार-संयुक्ताः (दंभ और अहंकार से युक्त), काम-राग-बल-अन्विताः (कामना, आसक्ति और बल से युक्त हैं);
Hindi
जो लोग शास्त्रविधि से रहित घोर तप करते हैं तथा दंभ, अहंकार, काम और राग (आसक्ति) से भी युक्त होते हैं,
English
Those who are full of arrogance, ego, carnal desires, worldly attachment, and {pride of their} might and practice extreme austerities without following the prescriptions of scriptures, (17:5)
English
Arjuna's question in the first verse of this chapter was: "O Krishna! What about those individuals who, keeping aside the scripture, engage in yajna, and worship with sincere faith? In doing so, do their actions reflect a disposition characterized by the Noble (Sāttvic) Mode, the Passional (Rājasic) Mode, or the Dark (Tāmasic) Mode?" Why, then, does Bhagawān Krishna bring in scriptures into the discourse, in this verse? Here the Lord is addressing an issue that touches upon the query of Arjuna, even though it is not fully or directly related to his question. Yet, the point should be understood. While it is possible to bypass the scriptures. it is useful to listen to them in many matters that do not relate to a simple heart-to-heart connection with God. Practicing "extreme austerities" is not a simple heart-to-heart connection with God, where scriptures lose their significance. The Lord's answer contained in this verse hints that in most maters scriptures to hold a relevance.