कट्वम्ललवणात्युष्णतीक्ष्णरूक्षविदाहिनः ।
आहारा राजसस्येष्टा दुःखशोकामयप्रदाः ॥ १७.९ ॥

kaṭv-amla-lavaṇāty-uṣṇa-tīkṣṇa-rūkṣa-vidāhinaḥ |
āhārā rājasasyeṣṭā duḥkha-śokāmaya-pradāḥ || 17.9 ||

Krishna then describes the contrasting characteristics of rājasika and tāmasika food. Bitter, acidic, salty, hot, pungent, dry and burning – giving rise to discomfort, grief and disease – such are the qualities of rājasika food. People who generally take such food, foster and develop rājasika tendencies and temperament.