1 Gita Sloka Every Day - Chapter 17 - Shraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga - Sloka 14

The entire content of this mail is from Shri V N Gopala Desikan's  Srimad Bhagavad Gita, published by Vishishtadvaita Research Centre, Chennai and The Bhagavad Gita by Swami Chidbhavananda published by Ramakrishna Mission

The Three Fold Austerity 14-19

1 Gita Sloka  Every Day - Chapter 17 - Shraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga - Sloka 14

Ramanuja at Tirumala

Deva dvija guru prajna puajanam shaucham arjavam I

Brahmacharyam ahimsa cha shariram tapa uchyate II sloka 14

देव द्विज गुरु प्राज्ञ  पूजनं शौचं आर्जवं I 
ब्रह्मचर्यं अहिंसा च शरीरं तप उच्यते II श्लोक 14

Worship of the gods, of the twice born, of teachers and of the wise; purity, uprightness, continence, and non-injury - these are said to be the austerity of the body.

Tapah means showing proper respect and honouring devas, brahmins, acharyas and men of great wisdom; purity, by such acts as bathing in sacred waters; oneness of action by body and mind; (like, not prostrating before somebody, while inwardly hating and cursing him); being free from activities like looking at women, with lust; not injuring other living beings. 

Useful metals are extracted from melting ores. Old and scrap metals are renewed by the same process of melting. The life of a man can similarly be  renewed and rejuvenated by tapas and austerity. It is a boon with which man is endowed so that he may reform and recreate himself into a higher order of existence. Blessed is the man who applies himself to this spiritual means so that he may emerge from manhood into godhood. Man is constituted of the body, speech and mind. When these three components  are modified by tapas, man automatically changes for the better. 

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