Kṛṣṇa condemns unauthorized and extreme penance. He speaks of people who undergo ‘Ghoram’—terrible and painful austerities—that are not recommended in the scriptures. They do this out of hypocrisy and ego, driven by the force of lust and attachment. They are essentially ‘spiritual bullies’ trying to force the universe to give them what they want. This is a warning against religious fanaticism and ego-driven penance. Some people starve themselves for political power, or stand on one leg for years just to be called a ‘saint’. Kṛṣṇa says this is not spiritual; it is just a show of ‘Bala’ or brute force. They are using their bodies as a weapon to feed their pride. True austerity is meant to humble the ego, not to inflate it. It teaches us that ‘harder’ is not always ‘better’ in spiritual life. A simple act of devotion done according to the Gītā is more powerful than a spectacular, painful act done for the sake of ego. We should always check if our discipline is making us more kind and humble, or if it is just making us more proud of our ‘toughness’. God wants our heart, not our suffering.