Illustration for Bhagavad Gita chapter 17 verse 18
Chapter 17 · Shraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga

Discipline Without Applause · Would It Survive Unnoticed?

सत्कारमानपूजार्थं तपो दम्भेन चैव यत् । क्रियते तदिह प्रोक्तं राजसं चलमध्रुवम् ॥

satkāra-māna-pūjārthaṁ tapo dambhena caiva yat kriyate tad iha proktaṁ rājasaṁ calam adhruvam

Meaning

"Austerity performed for the sake of respect, honor, and reverence, and with ostentation, is called rajasic here; it is unstable and impermanent."

Explanation

Discipline done for applause tends to collapse the moment the applause stops — a reminder to check whether your effort would survive going unnoticed.

Today's Life Lesson

Check today whether your effort in something would hold up even if no one ever noticed or praised it.

More verses to reflect on