BHAGAVAD GITA - CHAPTER 17 - SRADDHAA THRAYA VIBHAGA YOGA

 

BHAGAVAD GITA

CHAPTER 17

SRADDHAA THRAYA VIBHAGA  YOGA

 

Bhagavad Gita is Lord Krishna's advice to the Confused Arjuna on the Battle field of Kurukshetra.

Each chapter of Bhagavad Gita is designated as a YOGA.

Here is a summary of Chapter 17. Sraddhaa Thraya Vibhaga Yoga. There are totally 28 Slokas in it and I have given here a faithful description of what each Sloka says.

Overall, it is a description of - (i) what type of food is preferred by which type of people; (ii) how Yajna, Dana , tapas and all other Karmas must be performed (iii) how these Karmas are characterised in to three types of Sraddhaas, based on how these actions are performed and (iv) what are the results of the three types of mindsets (Sraddhas) adopted in performing the various Karmas.

Now, let us look at the sloka-wise description :

Arjuna starts by asking his doubts and seeks clarifications from Lord Krishna, at the beginning of this chapter :

1. O Krishna !There are people who do not know or otherwise ignore the dictates of Sastra but they also serve the divine, with great devotion (Sraddha). What type of discipline (Nishta) is theirs - is it Sathva? or Rajas? Or Tamas?

Lord Krishna replies to this question as follows :

2. The Sraddha (devotion,reverence) born of the human nature - is of three types : Saathvika, Rajasika and Taamasika. Now, I shall explain them. Listen.

3. For all people, their own individual type of Sraddha (devotion) does exist. Every person possesses some type of Sraddha. So, every person follows the type of Sraddha that exists within him.

4.Saathvika people devote themselves to Divine Gods (Devas); Rajasic type of people devote to Yakshas and Rakshasas (Opposed to Devas); Tamasic type of people devote to  Prethas and Bhuthas (Ghosts and Demons)

5. Some are people filled with Pride and self importance and endless desires. They are proud of their physical strength. They also perform very difficult penances and ascetic practices that arise in their minds, which are totally against the prescriptions of the Sastras.

6. Some people perform fearsome Penances and ascetic practices which  are against the Sastra Prescriptions - and being (i) fuelled by their Self importance and pride, (ii)supported by their desires, by their own likes and dislikes and their own physical strength.

They go on tormenting not only the sense organs of their bodies  but also me who is residing within them.

They lack wisdom and intelligence (achetasah) and are possesses by Demoniacal (aasura) characteristics.

7. The food that people love to eat also is of three types.

Likewise, the Yajnas, the Tapas and the charity(Daanam) that they perform also are of three types. Know this, O Arjuna!

8. Know now the food preferred by the Sathvikas : (i) The food that enhances  longevity of life; (ii) foods that gives strength and Health, (iii) foods that enhance mental ease(Sukha and preethi) and happiness, (iv) foods that have liquid content, (v) foods that are smooth in moving through the body (snigdha), (vi) foods that give long term benefit and (vii) foods that are liked by the Heart.

These are all sathvika foods.

9. People with Rajoguna love the foods which are - (i) Pungent (Katu), (ii) sour(amla), (iii) saltish, (iv) very hot, (v) very bitter(theeksha), (vi) without liquid content(Rooksha), (vii)creating thirst and (viii) giving sorrow and sadness.

10. People with tamasik nature love these foods : (i) foods cooked before one yaamam( 3 hours period); (ii) foods that are dry and without liquid content (Gatha rasam); (iii)  foul-smelling foods(poothi); (iv) foods stored for one day or more(paryushitham); (v) left over foods after eaten by others(vucchishtam); and (vi) impure foods(amedhyam);

11. What are Sathvika Yajnas?

(i) Those which are approved by Sasthras; (ii) Those which we understand as our bounden duty; (iii) Those, for doing which, we have no desire for any return or benefit.

If these conditions are satisfied , such a Yajna is a sathvik Yajna.

12. What are Rajasic Yajnas?

(i) When a Yajna is done with the intention of getting some return benefit from it; (ii) When a Yajna is done for becoming famous or (iii) when it is done for self importance or pride;

Such Yajnas are Rajasic Yajnas.

13. What are Tamasic Yajnas?

(i) Yajnas done without following the prescribed procedure; (ii) Yajnas in which there is no Anna danam or distribution of food; (iii) Yajnas in which the prescribed Mantras are not Chanted: (iv) Yajnas in which no Dakshinas (donations to Retviks and others are given, as laid down in prescribed procedures); (v) Yajnas done without respect and care (Sraddha);

Such Yajnas are Tamasik Yajnas.

14. What is physical Penance or physical ascetic practice (Daihika Tapas)?

(i) Serving and praying to Devas (divine beings), Dvijas(Brahmanas), Gurus and Pandithas (Wise, learned men);

(ii) cleanliness and purity;

(iii) honesty and truthfulness (Aarjavam);

(iv) Brahmacharyam(Ceibacy and adopting the path of Brahman);

(v) Non-violence in life;

These are  the ascetic practices or Penances done physically.

15. What are Oral or verbal ascetic practices (vachika Tapas)?

(i) Uttering words and sentences which - (a) do not create mental tensions; (b) are full of truth; (c) are pleasing; and (iv) are intended to be helpful;

(ii) study of self and Vedas (Swadhyaya);

These are said to be the oral ascetic practices / penances (Vachika Tapas)

16. What are the purely mental ascetic practices or Manasic Tapas?

(i) Keeping a peaceful mind;

(ii) Keeping a pleasant mind;

(iii) Keeping silence;

(iv) control over the self;

(v) Control over emotions;

These are said to be the mental ascetic practices (Manasic Tapas).

17.What are the three types of Sathvik Tapas?

(i) Tapas done without hankering for return or for some result/fruit;

(ii)Tapas done by Yogis

(iii) Tapas done by people with great Sraddha (with devotion).

These three are Said to be Sathvik Tapas. All these three can again be Physical, verbal or mental.

18. What is a Rajasik Tapas?

(i) That which is done for name and fame;

(ii) That which is done for being decorated;

(iii) That which is done for being revered by others;

(iv)That which is done for self importance and pride -

Such a Tapas is Rajasic Tapas. It is neither permanent nor firm in this world.

19. What are Tamasic ascetic practices (Tamasic Tapas)?

(i) That which is done with foolish stubbornness; (ii) That which is done because of tormenting inner self;

(iii) That which is done for destroying or harming others;

These are Tamasic ascetic practices.

20.What are Satvic charities?(Sathvika daanam)?

(i) Charity that is appropriate for the place, time and Person;

(ii) charity towards a person who cannot reciprocate;

(iii) Charity which is justified and properly given -

Such Charity - is Sathvic Daanam or Sathvic charity.

21.What is Rajasik Daanam or Rajasic Charity?

(i) What charity is done expecting a return favour;

(ii) What is done with some return benefit  in view;

(iii) what is given with great hesitation or under pressure;

Such charity is said to be Rajasik Charity.

22.What is Tamasic Charity?

(i) That Daanam or Charity which is inappropriate for the place, time and person who is unfit for it; (ii) which is given as a harmful act;

(iii) which is given carelessly;

These are said to be Tamasic charity or Tamasic Danam.

23. Om -Thath - Sath - are the three names designated for the Brahman.

From this Brahman only, from the most ancient beginning, Brahmanas, Vedas and Yajnas have been formed.

24. Those who adopt and follow the mandates of Brahman, start  the chanting of Vedas, and perform the ascetic practices laid down in vedas - by first chanting the syllable of "OM".

25. Different Yajnas, Ascetic practices (Tapas), and Danas (Charities) are performed by those who aim for Moksha or liberation and not for any benefits or fruits in return -  by chanting the sound of "Thath"

26. The sound of "Sath" is chanted when the mindset of Sath and non violence (Sadhu bhava) exists.

Likewise, when doing actions which are beneficial to all, the Chanting of Sath is done.

27. Sath exists in Yajna, Tapas, Daanam and in the existence itself.

Any Karma or action which are intended for any of the above (part of the above) - are also to be understood as "Sath".

28. Without Sraddha (devotion and respect), whatever Homa(Yajna), Dana(Charity), Tapas (ascetic practice) - are done - they are said to be "Asath".

They do not give the doer any benefit or fruit in this world or in the worlds above (during life and after death).

Conclusion : Here ends the Seventeenth chapter called Sraddhaa Thraya Vibhaga Yogah - in the Yoga Sasthra, which is a Part of the Brahma Vidya, in the Upanishad of Bhagavad Gita.

It is a part of the Dialogue between Lord Sri Krishna and Arjuna.

It describes three types of Sraddha following the three types of gunas of Sathva, Rajas and Tamas - in performing various actions like - Eating, tapas(ascetic practices), daanam(charity), Yajnam, Homam or any other Karma in this world.

It also describes the result of these actions performed with different types of Sraddha.