Chapter 17 · Verse 9 · Sraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga
Bhagavad Gita 17.9
Sanskrit
कट्वम्ललवणात्युष्णतीक्ष्णरूक्षविदाहिनः।आहारा राजसस्येष्टा दुःखशोकामयप्रदाः।।17.9।।
Transliteration
kaṭv-amla-lavaṇāty-uṣhṇa- tīkṣhṇa-rūkṣha-vidāhinaḥ āhārā rājasasyeṣhṭā duḥkha-śhokāmaya-pradāḥ
In plain words
You know how anxiety, racing thoughts, and restless anger can feel like they're poisoning you from the inside—like something is literally eating at your peace. Krishna says: what you consume—not just food, but your media, your conversations, your inner talk—becomes the quality of your mind. When you're in pain, you don't need more stimulation or harshness; you need gentleness, clarity, and warmth.
Word by Word
Lord Krishna reveals here a profound truth: the foods we consume are not mere physical substances—they are carriers of consciousness itself. What we eat shapes not just our body, but the very texture of our mind and spirit.
Foods that are bitter, sour, excessively salty, scalding, pungent, and dry—these ignite the rajasic mind, drowning us in restlessness, craving, and the endless cycle of desire and suffering. In our modern age of processed foods, stimulant-laden beverages, and overly spiced convenience meals, we must pause and ask: are we nourishing ourselves, or are we systematically feeding our own agitation?
Listen
Bhagavad Gita 17.9 — BG 17.9
Your Mantra Prescription
This mantra is prescribed for clarity and purpose. Is that what you're going through?
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