Bhagavad-Gita Chapter 17, Verse 5 - 6

[manikantan]

Chapter 17: The Divisions of Faith

Verse: 5 Verses 5-6  asastra-vihitam ghoram  tapyante ye tapo janah  dambhahankara-samyuktah  kama-raga-balanvitah  karshayantah sarira-stham  bhuta-gramam acetasah  mam caivantah sarira-stham  tan viddhy asura-niscayan

Translation: 
Those who undergo severe austerities and penances not recommended in the scriptures, performing them out of pride and egoism, who are impelled by lust and attachment, who are foolish and who torture the material elements of the body as well as the Supersoul dwelling within, are to be known as demons. 

Explanation:
In the previous verse the Lord had said that those who do not follow the scriptures are never freed of lower birth. This is confirmed in these two verses. In these verses Krishna answers Arjuna's question about 'What is the position of those who, giving up the rules of scripture but with faith, without enjoyment of objects, perform worship?' 
Such people perform austerities which are harmful to themselves and other living entities. These austerities may also include other acts such a japa and sacrifice as well. They may perform all these acts with faith and without the desire for enjoyment, but against the rules of scriptures. Because of this, the acts are condemned. One may wonder that motivates such people? They are endowed with false-ego and pride, because without those two, they would not transgress the rules of scripture. Like Hiranyakasipu, Ravana and others, they are filled with desire for eternal youth, eternal life, kingdom, attachment to their particular austerity, and ability to perform the austerity. Endowed with these qualities, they starve or cause suffering to all material elements of the body. They also inflict pain on the soul by taking it away from its constitutional position of serving Krishna, and cause pain to the Supersoul, by loosing its mercy. 

Srila Prabhupada comments, "One should always remember the ultimate end of the demoniac people, as described in the previous chapter. The Lord forces them to take birth in the wombs of demoniac persons. Consequently they will live by demoniac principles life after life without knowing their relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead." 

These verses emphasize the importance of following the scriptural injunctions. Acts of penance, charity, austerity are all glorified in the Vedas as being in the mode of goodness. But they should be followed as per the injunctions. It is far superior to act according to the lower modes of passion and ignorance and follow the Vedas than to reject them and act whimsically in the mode of goodness. This is because, built into all the Vedic injunctions, whether they are in sattva, rajas or tamo guna, is the purificatory process to reach Krishna. It is this process that makes all and every act glorious. Acts which are done whimsically will lack this path to Krishna and thus becomes asuric. 

Please read the Sanskrit Verse and the Prabhupada's Purport.

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One's memory of Krishna is revived by chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra. By this practice of chanting and hearing the sound vibration of the Supreme Lord, one's ear, tongue and mind are engaged. This mystic meditation is very easy to practice, and it helps one attain the Supreme Lord.

Chant:

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare