Bhagavad Gita · Chapter 17 · Shraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga
Bhagavad Gita 17.9 कट्वम्ललवणात्युष्णतीक्ष्णरूक्षविदाहिनः
श्लोक 17.9
कट्वम्ललवणात्युष्णतीक्ष्णरूक्षविदाहिनः ।
आहारा राजसस्येष्टा दुःखशोकामयप्रदाः ॥
kaṭvamlalavaṇātyuṣṇatīkṣṇarūkṣavidāhinaḥ |
āhārā rājasasyeṣṭā duḥkhaśokāmayapradāḥ ||
हिन्दी अर्थ
कड़वे, खट्टे, अधिक नमकीन, बहुत गरम, तीखे, रूखे और जलन पैदा करने वाले भोजन राजसी लोगों को प्रिय होते हैं, जो दुःख, शोक और रोग देते हैं।
Meaning in English
Foods that are bitter, sour, salty, very hot, pungent, dry and burning are liked by rajasic people; they bring pain, grief and disease.
Bhagavad Gita 17.9 — word by word
| Word | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| कटु | kaṭu | bitter, pungent |
| अम्ल | amla | sour |
| लवण | lavaṇa | salty |
| अत्युष्ण | ati-uṣṇa | excessively hot |
| तीक्ष्ण | tīkṣṇa | sharp, spicy |
| रूक्ष | rūkṣa | dry |
| विदाहिनः | vidāhinaḥ | burning (these form one compound) |
| आहाराः | āhārāḥ | foods |
| राजसस्य | rājasasya | to the rajasic |
| इष्टाः | iṣṭāḥ | liked |
| दुःखशोकामयप्रदाः | duḥkha-śoka-āmaya-pradāḥ | causing pain, grief and disease |
Explanation
Foods that are bitter, sour, salty, excessively hot, pungent, dry and burning are liked by rajasic people; they bring pain, sorrow and sickness. Krishna describes food that overstimulates the senses. It excites in the moment but leaves discomfort and imbalance behind, mirroring the restless nature of rajas itself.
Shankara glosses ati as applying to each item in the list: excessively bitter, excessively sour and so on. This is an important nuance, since the problem is excess rather than any taste as such. The effects listed, duḥkha, śoka and āmaya, cover immediate discomfort, later distress and illness. Commentators link the verse to the nature of rajas described in 14.7 and 14.12, as craving and restless activity. Rajasic food both expresses and feeds that restlessness.
भावार्थ
बहुत कड़वे, खट्टे, नमकीन, बहुत गरम, तीखे, रूखे और जलन पैदा करने वाले भोजन राजसी लोगों को प्रिय होते हैं। ये दुःख, शोक और रोग देने वाले होते हैं। समस्या स्वाद में नहीं, अति में है।
Living it today
Strong flavours are fine in moderation, but if you constantly crave intensity, notice whether your mind is similarly restless and overstimulated.
Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of Bhagavad Gita 17.9?
Foods that are bitter, sour, salty, excessively hot, pungent, dry and burning are liked by rajasic people; they bring pain, sorrow and sickness. Krishna describes food that overstimulates the senses. It excites in the moment but leaves discomfort and imbalance behind, mirroring the restless nature of rajas itself.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 17.9?
Sri Krishna speaks this verse, in Chapter 17 (Shraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga) of the Bhagavad Gita.
How can I apply Bhagavad Gita 17.9 in daily life?
Strong flavours are fine in moderation, but if you constantly crave intensity, notice whether your mind is similarly restless and overstimulated.
Reflected on verse 17.9?
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