Chapter 17, Verse 9 (Bhagavad Gita 17.9)
Chapter 17: Śhraddhā Traya Vibhāg Yog – Yoga through Discerning the Three Divisions of Faith
Sanskrit Shloka
कट्वम्ललवणात्युष्णतीक्ष्णरूक्षविदाहिनः।आहारा राजसस्येष्टा दुःखशोकामयप्रदाः
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
Translation
Foods that are bitter, sour, salty, overly hot, pungent, dry, and burning are dear to those in the mode of passion (Rajas); such foods cause pain, grief, and disease.
Meaning & Commentary
In this verse, Bhagwan Shri Krishna reveals to Arjuna the profound connection between our consumption and our consciousness. The Supreme Lord explains that food is not merely fuel for the body, but a carrier of Gunas that shape the quality of the mind and spirit. By choosing foods driven by Rajasic desires, a seeker binds themselves to the cycle of agitation, physical ailment, and emotional turbulence, which ultimately hinders the journey toward liberation. Shri Krishna lovingly warns His devotee that to attain spiritual purity and peace, one must consciously transcend such worldly cravings. True wisdom lies in understanding that what we offer to the body directly impacts our ability to perceive the eternal, divine presence of Lord Krishna within.