Bhagavad Gita · 17.9

Chapter 17, Verse 9

Sraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga — Sanskrit shloka, transliteration, word meanings, English translation, and commentary.

Original Sanskrit verse

कट्वम्ललवणात्युष्णतीक्ष्णरूक्षविदाहिनः।आहारा राजसस्येष्टा दुःखशोकामयप्रदाः।।17.9।।

Transliteration

kaṭv-amla-lavaṇāty-uṣhṇa- tīkṣhṇa-rūkṣha-vidāhinaḥ āhārā rājasasyeṣhṭā duḥkha-śhokāmaya-pradāḥ

Word meanings

kaṭu—bitter; amla—sour; lavaṇa—salty; ati-uṣhṇa—very hot; tīkṣhṇa—pungent; rūkṣha—dry; vidāhinaḥ—chiliful; āhārāḥ—food; rājasasya—to persons in the mode of passion; iṣhṭāḥ—dear; duḥkha—pain; śhoka—grief; āmaya—disease; pradāḥ—produce

English translation

The foods that are bitter, sour, salty, overly hot, pungent, dry, and burning are liked by the Rajasic and are productive of pain, grief, and disease.

— Swami Sivananda

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Commentary

Excessively This alification should be taken to apply to each of the seven qualities -- thus; excessively saline; and so on. Food of a passionate nature produces restlessness in the mind; evil thoughts; excitement; craving now for one thing and then for another; pain; trouble and disease. The Rajasic man always plans to prepare various kinds of preparations to satisfy his palate. He takes salt; chillies; mustard; cloves; condiments; pungent pickles; etc.; in excess. Tears flow from his eyes and water dribbles from his nose and yet he will not leave the hot and pungent articles. The palate remains unsatisfied until the stomach is completely filled with pungent things; till the tongue is burnt with chillies. Ladysfinger; Puri; Kachori; pungent condiments; meat; fish; eggs; sweets; potato; fried bread; curd; brinjal; carrots; blackgram; onions; garlic; lemon; Masur; tea; coffee; betels; tobacco are Rajasic artciles of food.

Commentary by Swami Sivananda

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