Kṛṣṇa describes austerity in the mode of Passion (Rajas). This is discipline done ‘Satkāra-māna-pūjārthaṁ’—for the sake of getting respect, honor, and being worshipped by others. It is often performed with pride and hypocrisy. Kṛṣṇa warns that such austerity is ‘Calam’ and ‘Adhruvam’—it is flickering and its results are completely temporary. A politician who fasts to get votes, or a religious leader who acts holy just to have followers bow down, is performing Rajasic austerity. They are using their ‘discipline’ as a marketing tool. As soon as the crowd leaves, their austerity vanishes. It has no internal substance. Because it is done for the ego, it results only in more stress and pride, not in any real spiritual progress. It teaches us the danger of ‘Performative Holiness’. If we are only disciplined when people are watching, we are in the mode of passion. Real growth happens in the dark, when nobody is watching. We should ensure that our spiritual vows are for our own heart’s benefit, not for our social media profile. Genuine ‘Tapas’ should be stable and deep, not loud and temporary.