Verse 17.6 : Sraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga "Three Divisions of Faith"
Verse 6 of 28
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The Translation
“Senselessly torturing the elements of their own physical bodies and Me who dwells within the body—know them to be of demoniac resolve.”
Commentary & Insights
Krishna explains why extreme, ego-driven self-mortification is spiritually invalid. In Vedic philosophy, the body is not an evil prison to be destroyed, but devalaya—the temple of the Divine, where the Lord resides as the inner witness (Antaryamin).
Practical Application
1
Treat your physical body with respect today by feeding it nourishing food and avoiding self-punishing habits.
Reflections & Notes
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Self-Reflection Prompts
- If your physical body is a vessel for the Divine (the Atman), how should this affect your attitude toward health, nutrition, and self-care?
- How can we identify if our disciplines are building our spiritual strength or merely torturing our mind and body?
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17.6
कर्षयन्तः शरीरस्थं भूतग्राममचेतसः
Shankara comments that the physical body is composed of the five elements (earth, water, etc.). Starving or mutilating the body weakens these elements, preventing the performace of spiritual duties. The Lord, as the witness of all actions, is distressed when the body is treated with hatred, because the body is the instrument of realization.