BHAGAVAD-GITA 17:7

[Guest guest]

BHAGAVAD-GITA 17:7

 

aharas tv api sarvasya

tri-vidho bhavati priyah

yajnas tapas tatha danam

tesam bhedam imam srnu

 

WORD FOR WORD

 

aharah--eating; tu--certainly; api--also; sarvasya--of everyone;

tri-vidhah--of three kinds; bhavati--there is; priyah--dear;

yajnah--sacrifice; tapah--austerity; tatha--also; danam--charity;

tesam--of them; bhedam--the differences; imam--this; srnu--hear.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Even the food each person prefers is of three kinds, according to the

three modes of material nature. The same is true of sacrifices,

austerities and charity. Now hear of the distinctions between them.

 

PURPORT

 

In terms of different situations in the modes of material nature,

there are differences in the manner of eating and performing

sacrifices, austerities and charities. They are not all conducted on

the same level. Those who can understand analytically what kind of

performances are in what modes of material nature are actually wise;

those who consider all kinds of sacrifice or food or charity to be the

same cannot discriminate, and they are foolish. There are missionary

workers who advocate that one can do whatever he likes and attain

perfection. But these foolish guides are not acting according to the

direction of the scripture. They are manufacturing ways and misleading

the people in general.

 

Copyright 1983 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International. Used with

permission.