In this chapter Lord Krishna tells about the three kinds of faith, the three kinds of food, the three kinds of penance and austerity, and the three kinds of charity, in keeping with the three attributes of nature. He also tells about the three words Aum, Tat and Sat.
CHAPTER
Arjuna asks Lord Krishna : Lord, those people who do not follow the tenets of the scriptures, yet who perform sacrifices with full faith, what is their situation? Is their faith Sattvik, Rajasik or Tamasik?
Lord Krishna explains : Listen Partha, the faith of beings is according to their nature, Sattvik, Rajask or Tamasik. As is the person, so is his faith. Listen to this in detail.
The Sattvik people worship the different forms of God, the Rajasik worship the gods of power and wealth, while the Tamasik worship the spirits and ghosts.
People who love ostentation and showing off, who are full of arrogance and lust, and who perform severe austerities motivated only by the desire to acquire things, and who do penance that is not approved by the scriptures, such people on account of their folly, not only trouble the collection of elements in their own bodies, they also trouble Me, residing in them. Consider such people to be of demonic nature.
The food that every person eats is also of three types : Sattvik, Rajasik and Tamasik, as are Sacrifice, Austerity and Charity. I will now tell you about them in detail.
The foods that increase the lifespan, the life force, health, bliss, love, affection and enthusiasm, such foods are Sattvik, and they are dear to the Sattvik natured.
The foods that are bitter, astringent, sharp, salty, very hot, spicy and dry, that cause heartburn and result in sorrow, grief and illness, such foods are Rajasik, and they are liked by the Rajasik natured.
The foods that are undigestible, that are spoiled, that are rotten, that are stale, tasteless and impure, such foods are Tamasik, and they are dear to the Tamasik natured.
Now I will tell you about Sacrifice, Austerity and Charity.
The Sacrifice that is in accordance with the tenets of the Scriptures, that is performed by those who do not expect any reward, and which is done with the belief that performing sacrifices is an ordained and rightful duty, such Sacrifice is Sattvik.
The Sacrifice performed with expectation of reward, or for the sake of show, such Sacrifice is Rajasik.
And the Sacrifice that is performed without faith and without following the rules, where no chants are recited, where no food is distributed, and where the presiding priest is not paid, such Sacrifice is Tamasik.
Worship of the Devas, respect and honour for the Gurus, for the teachers, for the seekers of Brahm, and for other learned ones; purity, simplicity, celibacy and non violence; this is known as austerity of the body, the penance of the body.
Peace of mind, gentleness, silence, purity of nature, self control, and control of the mind, this is known as austerity of the mind, penance of the mind.
Speaking words that are true, loving and soothing, and not speaking words that hurt or offend others, or words others dislike, and regular reading and study of the Scriptures, this is known as the austerity of speech, the penance of speech.
If all these three austerities, these three penances, that is : austerity of the body, austerity of the mind, and austerity of speech, if all these three are done with full faith, and without expectation of any reward, by a person of balanced mind, then that austerity, that penance is Sattvik, it is stable and long lasting.
If the penance or austerity is done to gain honour, recognition, fame or done for show, then such penance, such austerity is Rajasik, it is unstable and temporary, and it is not long lasting.
And if the penance or austerity is done with bad intentions, in a foolish way, by putting oneself to a great deal of trouble, and which is done for causing harm to others, such penance, such austerity is Tamasik, dark and impure.
The Charity that is given to such a person from whom there is no expectation of return, which is given from the heart with the feeling that giving Charity is an ordained and bounden duty; and the Charity is given to a deserving person, at the proper time, and at a proper place, such Charity is Sattvik, it is pure and pristine.
The Charity that is given with expectation, or in the hope of future gain, and the giving of which causes trouble and suffering, such Charity is Rajasik, it is passionate and with blemish.
The Charity given to an undeserving person, at an inappropriate time, at an improper place, without much thought, and with contempt, such Charity is Tamasik, it is impure and useless.
AUM, TAT, SAT, these three words are understood to be the symbols of Brahm, the Absolute. From times immemorial, the Vedas, the seekers of Brahm, and sacrifices have been ordained by these.
Therefore, the knowers of Brahm always started the activities of sacrifice, penance and charity, as ordained in the scriptures, by uttering the syllable AUM.
Without expectation of reward, desiring salvation, people completed and ended the various activities of sacrifice, penance and charity by uttering the word TAT.
The word SAT stands for truth, and is used for truth, goodwill and goodness, and also for authentic, authoritative and outstanding works and actions.
Remaining firm, strong and steady in sacrifice, austerity and charity, is also called SAT, and in the same way, any of these activities, and any activity done for God, is also called SAT.
However, any sacrifice done without faith, any penance or austerity done without faith, any activity or action done without faith, any charity given without faith; in fact all these, and also anything else, done without faith, all these are called ASAT, Untruth. And Asat, Untruth, gives no benefit at all in this life, in this world, in the after world or, for that matter, in any other world.
End of Chapter Seventeen
OM SHANTI SHANTI SHANTI OM
CHAPTER
Arjuna asks Lord Krishna : Lord, those people who do not follow the tenets of the scriptures, yet who perform sacrifices with full faith, what is their situation? Is their faith Sattvik, Rajasik or Tamasik?
Lord Krishna explains : Listen Partha, the faith of beings is according to their nature, Sattvik, Rajask or Tamasik. As is the person, so is his faith. Listen to this in detail.
The Sattvik people worship the different forms of God, the Rajasik worship the gods of power and wealth, while the Tamasik worship the spirits and ghosts.
People who love ostentation and showing off, who are full of arrogance and lust, and who perform severe austerities motivated only by the desire to acquire things, and who do penance that is not approved by the scriptures, such people on account of their folly, not only trouble the collection of elements in their own bodies, they also trouble Me, residing in them. Consider such people to be of demonic nature.
The food that every person eats is also of three types : Sattvik, Rajasik and Tamasik, as are Sacrifice, Austerity and Charity. I will now tell you about them in detail.
The foods that increase the lifespan, the life force, health, bliss, love, affection and enthusiasm, such foods are Sattvik, and they are dear to the Sattvik natured.
The foods that are bitter, astringent, sharp, salty, very hot, spicy and dry, that cause heartburn and result in sorrow, grief and illness, such foods are Rajasik, and they are liked by the Rajasik natured.
The foods that are undigestible, that are spoiled, that are rotten, that are stale, tasteless and impure, such foods are Tamasik, and they are dear to the Tamasik natured.
Now I will tell you about Sacrifice, Austerity and Charity.
The Sacrifice that is in accordance with the tenets of the Scriptures, that is performed by those who do not expect any reward, and which is done with the belief that performing sacrifices is an ordained and rightful duty, such Sacrifice is Sattvik.
The Sacrifice performed with expectation of reward, or for the sake of show, such Sacrifice is Rajasik.
And the Sacrifice that is performed without faith and without following the rules, where no chants are recited, where no food is distributed, and where the presiding priest is not paid, such Sacrifice is Tamasik.
Worship of the Devas, respect and honour for the Gurus, for the teachers, for the seekers of Brahm, and for other learned ones; purity, simplicity, celibacy and non violence; this is known as austerity of the body, the penance of the body.
Peace of mind, gentleness, silence, purity of nature, self control, and control of the mind, this is known as austerity of the mind, penance of the mind.
Speaking words that are true, loving and soothing, and not speaking words that hurt or offend others, or words others dislike, and regular reading and study of the Scriptures, this is known as the austerity of speech, the penance of speech.
If all these three austerities, these three penances, that is : austerity of the body, austerity of the mind, and austerity of speech, if all these three are done with full faith, and without expectation of any reward, by a person of balanced mind, then that austerity, that penance is Sattvik, it is stable and long lasting.
If the penance or austerity is done to gain honour, recognition, fame or done for show, then such penance, such austerity is Rajasik, it is unstable and temporary, and it is not long lasting.
And if the penance or austerity is done with bad intentions, in a foolish way, by putting oneself to a great deal of trouble, and which is done for causing harm to others, such penance, such austerity is Tamasik, dark and impure.
The Charity that is given to such a person from whom there is no expectation of return, which is given from the heart with the feeling that giving Charity is an ordained and bounden duty; and the Charity is given to a deserving person, at the proper time, and at a proper place, such Charity is Sattvik, it is pure and pristine.
The Charity that is given with expectation, or in the hope of future gain, and the giving of which causes trouble and suffering, such Charity is Rajasik, it is passionate and with blemish.
The Charity given to an undeserving person, at an inappropriate time, at an improper place, without much thought, and with contempt, such Charity is Tamasik, it is impure and useless.
AUM, TAT, SAT, these three words are understood to be the symbols of Brahm, the Absolute. From times immemorial, the Vedas, the seekers of Brahm, and sacrifices have been ordained by these.
Therefore, the knowers of Brahm always started the activities of sacrifice, penance and charity, as ordained in the scriptures, by uttering the syllable AUM.
Without expectation of reward, desiring salvation, people completed and ended the various activities of sacrifice, penance and charity by uttering the word TAT.
The word SAT stands for truth, and is used for truth, goodwill and goodness, and also for authentic, authoritative and outstanding works and actions.
Remaining firm, strong and steady in sacrifice, austerity and charity, is also called SAT, and in the same way, any of these activities, and any activity done for God, is also called SAT.
However, any sacrifice done without faith, any penance or austerity done without faith, any activity or action done without faith, any charity given without faith; in fact all these, and also anything else, done without faith, all these are called ASAT, Untruth. And Asat, Untruth, gives no benefit at all in this life, in this world, in the after world or, for that matter, in any other world.
End of Chapter Seventeen
OM SHANTI SHANTI SHANTI OM
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