BHAGAVAD GITA FOR BUSY PEOPLE

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PRIYA BHAGAVAT BANDUVULLARA!

BHAGAVAD GITA FOR BUSY PEOPLE

CHAPTER: SEVENTEEN

THE YOGA OF THE THREE FOLD FAITH

SRADDHA-TRAYA-VIBHAGA YOGA

 

Arjuna said: " Those who setting aside the ordinances of the

scriptures perform sacrifice with faith-what faith is theirs? Is it

Sattva or Rajas or Tamas (Is it purity or passion or darkness)? " (1).

The Blessed Lord said: " Threefold is the faith of the embodied,

which is inherent in their nature—Sattvic (pure), Rajassic

(passionate) and Tamasic (darkness). Do thou here of these (2).

The faith of each is in accordance with his nature. O Bharata! The

man consists of his faith, as a man's faith is, so is he (3).

" Those men who perform terrible austerities not enjoined by the

scriptures, given to hypocrisy and egoism, impelled by the force of

their desires and passions, torture, senseless as they are, the

aggregated elements forming the body, and Me also, who dwells in the

body within, know thou these to be of demoniac resolves (5-6).

" The foods which increase vitality, energy, strength, health, joy

and cheerfulness, which are savory oleaginous, substantial and

agreeable, are dear to the Sattvic. (8). The foods like foods that

are bitter, sour, saline, excessively hot, pungent, dry and burning,

and which cause pain, grief and diseases, are dear to the Rajassic

(9). That which is stale, tasteless, putrid, rotten, refused and

impure, is dear to the Tamasic (10).

" The sacrifice that is offered by men without desire for fruit as

enjoined by ordinance, with a fixed resolve in the mind that they

should do the sacrifice as duty is pure (11).

That which is offered with a view to obtain fruit and for

ostentation, O best of Bharatas, knows it to be a Rajassic Yajna

(12). The sacrifice performed contrary to the ordinances in which

no food is distributed, which is destitute of Mantras, gifts and

faith is said to be Tamasic (13).

" Worship of the gods, the twice-born, the Gurus and the wise, purity

straightforwardness, continence and non-injury are called the

austerity of the body (14). Speech which causes no annoyance and is

true, as also pleasant and beneficial and also study of the

scriptures are called in the austerity of the speech (15). Serenity

of the mind, equanimity, silence, self-control, purity of nature—

this is called the mental austerity (16)

" This threefold austerity, practiced by steadfast men with the

utmost faith, without desire for fruit is said to be Sattvic (pure)

(17). That austerity which is practiced with the object of gaining

good reception, honor and worship and with ostentation is here (in

this

World) said to be Rajassic, unstable and transitory (18). That

austerity which is practiced out of a foolish notion with self-

tortures, or for the purpose of running another is declared Tamasic

(19).

" That alms (gift) which is given –knowing it to be a duty to give –

to one who does no service in return, in a fit place and time, to a

worthy person, that alms is said to be Sattvic (20). That gift

which is given with a view to receiving in return or looking for the

fruit or again reluctantly that gift is held to be Rajasic (21).

That gift given at a wrong place or time, to unworthy persons,

without respect and with insult, that is declared to be Tamasic "

(22).