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Chapter XVII |  |
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Chapters
arjuna uvaca ye sastra-vidhim utsrjya Arjuna said: 1. What is the nature of the devotion of those, O Krishna, who though disregarding the ordinance of the Sastras, perform sacrifice with Sraddha [faith]? Is it one of Sattva [goodness], Rajas [passion] or Tamas [ignorance]? sri-bhagavan uvaca tri-vidha bhavati sraddha The Blessed Lord said: 2. The Sraddha of the embodied is of three kinds, born of their nature - the Sattvika, the Rajasika and the Tamasika. Hear now about it. sattvanurupa sarvasya 3. The Sraddha [faith] of every man, O Bharata, is in accordance with his natural disposition. Man is of the nature of his Sraddha; what his Sraddha is, that verily he is. yajante sattvika devan 4. Sattvika men worship the Devas [demigods]; Rajasika, the Yakshas and the Rakshasas [demons]; the others-the Tamasika men - the Pretas [spirits] and the hosts of Bhutas [ghosts]. asastra-vihitam ghoram karsayantah sarira-stham 5. Those men who practice violent austerities not enjoined by the scriptures, given to hypocrisy and egoism, impelled by the force of lust and attachment, 6. Fools that they are, they torture their bodily organs, and Me, who dwell within the body - know that they are Asurika [demons] in their resolve. aharas tv api sarvasya 7. The food also that is dear to all is of three kinds. So are the Yajnas, austerities and gifts. Hear now of the distinction of these. ayuh-sattva-balarogya- 8. The Sattvika likes the foods that augment vitality, energy, vigor, health, joy and cheerfulness, which are juicy, fatty, substantial and pleasing to the heart. katv-amla-lavanaty-usna- 9. The foods that are bitter, sour, saline, over-hot, pungent, dry and burning are liked by the Rajasika, and are productive of pain, grief and disease. yata-yamam gata-rasam 10. That which is stale, tasteless, stinking, cooked overnight, refuse and impure is the food like by the Tamasika. aphalakanksibhir yajno 11. That Yajna [sacrifice] is Sattvika which is performed by men desiring no fruit, as enjoined by ordinance [duty], with their mind fixed on the Yajna only, for its own sake. abhisandhaya tu phalam 12. That which is performed, O best of the Bharatas, in expectation of reward or for self-glorification, know it to be a Rajasika Yajna. vidhi-hinam asrstannam 13. They declare that Yajna to be Tamasika which is contrary to the ordinances, in which no food [prasadam] is distributed, which is devoid of Mantras, gifts and Sraddha. deva-dvija-guru-prajna- 14. Worship of the gods, of the twice-born, of teachers and of the wise; purity, simplicity, celibacy and non-violence - these are said to be the austerity of the body. anudvega-karam vakyam 15. The speech which causes no excitement, which is truthful, pleasant and beneficial, and also the practice of sacred recitation - these are said to form the austerity of speech. manah-prasadah saumyatvam 16. Serenity of mind, gentleness, silence, self-control and purity of disposition - this is called the mental austerity. sraddhaya paraya taptam 17. This threefold austerity practiced by steadfast men with the utmost Sraddha, desiring no fruit, they call Sattvika. satkara-mana-pujartham 18. The austerity, which is practiced with the object of gaining respect, honor and reverence, and with ostentation, is here said to be Rajasika; it is unstable and transitory. mudha-grahenatmano yat 19. That austerity which is practiced with a foolish obstinacy, with self-torture or for the purpose of destroying another, is declared to be Tamasika. datavyam iti yad danam 20. That charity which is made to one without expectation of return, with the feeling that it is one's duty to give, and which is given at the right place and time and to a worthy person, that charity or gift is held Sattvika. yat tu Pratyupakarartham 21. And that charity, which is given with a view to receive in return, or looking for the fruit, or again grudgingly, is accounted as Rajasika. adesa-kale yad danam 22. The charity that is given at a wrong place or time, to unworthy persons, without respect or with insult that is declared to be Tamasika. om tat sad iti nirdeso 23. "Om Tat Sat," this has been declared to be the triple designation of Brahman. These three symbolic representations were made by the Brahmanas while chanting the Vedas and during the Yajnas [sacrifices]. tasmad om ity udahrtya 24. Therefore, with the utterance of "Om," are the acts of sacrifice, charity and austerity, as enjoined in the scriptures, always undertaken by the followers of the Vedas. tad ity anabhisandhaya 25. Uttering, "Tat" without aiming at the fruits, are the acts of sacrifice and austerity and the various acts of charity performed by the seekers of Moksha. sad-bhave sadhu-bhave ca 26. The word "Sat" is used in the sense of reality and of goodness; and so also, O Partha, the word "Sat" is used in the sense of an auspicious act. yajne tapasi dane ca 27. Steadfastness in sacrifice, austerity and charity is also called "Sat" and action for the state of the Lord is also called "Sat". asraddhaya hutam dattam 28. Whatever is sacrificed, given or performed and whatever austerity is practiced without Sraddha, it is called Asat, O Partha. It is of no account here or hereafter [both in this life and the next]. In the Upanishad of the Bhagavad Gita, the knowledge of Brahman, the Supreme, the science of Yoga and the dialogue between Sri Krishna and Arjuna, this is the seventeenth discourse designated: THE YOGA OF THE THREEFOLD SRADDHA
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