karśayantaḥ śarīra-sthaṁ bhūta-grāmam acetasaḥ māṁ caivāntaḥ-śarīra-sthaṁ tān viddhy āsura-niścayān
"Torturing the elements in their body unreasonably, and also Me dwelling within the body—know them to be of demonic resolve."
What This Means:
These people torture the elements in their body and Me who dwells within. They're senseless about harming the divine presence within themselves. Know such people have demonic determination.
Going Deeper:
'Karśayantaḥ śarīra-stham bhūta-grāmam'—torturing the aggregate of elements in the body. 'Mām ca eva antaḥ śarīra-stham'—and Me dwelling within the body. The body houses God; harming it harms the divine temple. 'Acetasaḥ'—senseless. 'Āsura-niścayān'—of demonic resolve. Self-torture isn't spiritual; it's demonic because God dwells within.
How To Apply This:
Your body is a temple housing the Divine. Excessive fasting, sleep deprivation, or self-harm in the name of spirituality is actually irreligious. Treat your body with the respect due to God's dwelling place.
Key Sanskrit Terms: