Bhagavad Gita Chapter 17, Verse 18

सत्कारमानपूजार्थं तपो दम्भेन चैव यत् | क्रियते तदिह प्रोक्तं राजसं चलमध्रुवम् ||

satkāra-māna-pūjārthaṁ tapo dambhena caiva yat kriyate tad iha proktaṁ rājasaṁ calam adhruvam

That austerity which is performed for the sake of respect, honor, and worship, and with hypocrisy—that is declared here to be rajasic, unstable, and impermanent.

Krishna describes rajasic austerity—austerity that is rajasic. 'Satkāra-māna-pūjārthaṁ tapo dambhena caiva yat kriyate'—that austerity (tapas) which is performed (kriyate) for the sake of respect (satkāra), honor (māna), and worship (pūjā), and with hypocrisy (dambhena). 'Tad iha proktaṁ rājasaṁ calam adhruvam'—that is declared (proktam) here (iha) to be rajasic (rājasam), unstable (calam), and impermanent (adhruvam). Rajasic austerity is performed for recognition and show, driven by desire for respect and honor. It's unstable and impermanent because it depends on external validation. Understanding this helps you recognize rajasic austerity and move toward sattvic austerity.