सत्कारमानपूजार्थं तपो दम्भेन चैव यत् | क्रियते तदिह प्रोक्तं राजसं चलमध्रुवम् ||
satkāra-māna-pūjārthaṁ tapo dambhena caiva yat kriyate tad iha proktaṁ rājasaṁ calam adhruvam
Translation
Austerity performed for the sake of respect, honor, and worship, and with ostentation — that is declared to be rajasic; it is unsteady and impermanent.
Interpretation
Rajasic tapas: performed to gain respect (satkara), honor (mana), and worship (puja) from others, and practiced with ostentation (dambhena — with display). Such austerity is 'chalam adhruvam' — unsteady and impermanent. It lasts only as long as the social recognition lasts, only as long as others are watching. The moment the audience disappears, the motivation disappears too. Spiritual practice done for reputation is not spiritual practice but social performance, and it produces no lasting transformation — only the fleeting satisfaction of ego-gratification.