Bhagavad-gita As It Is - Macmillan 1972 Edition -- Prabhupada Books (114 page)

SYNONYMS

abhisandhāya-
desiring;
tu-
but;
phalam-
the result;
dambha-
pride;
artham-
material benefits;
api-
also;
ca-
and;
eva-
certainly;
yat
-that which;
ijyate-
worship;
bharata-śreṣṭha
-O chief of the Bhāratas;
tam-
that;
yajñam
-sacrifice;
viddhi-
know;
rājasam
-in the mode of passion.

TRANSLATION

But that sacrifice performed for some material end or benefit or performed ostentatiously, out of pride, is of the nature of passion, O chief of the Bhāratas.

PURPORT

Sometimes sacrifices and rituals are performed for elevation to the heavenly kingdom or for some material benefits in this world. Such sacrifices or ritualistic performances are considered to be in the mode of passion.

Bg 17.13

TEXT 13

TEXT

vidhi-hīnam asṛṣṭānnaṁ

mantra-hīnam adakṣiṇam

śraddhā-virahitaṁ yajñaṁ

tāmasaṁ paricakṣate

SYNONYMS

vidhi-hīnam-
without scriptural direction;
asṛṣṭa-annam
-without distribution of
prasādam; mantra-hīnam
-with no chanting of the Vedic hymns;
adakṣiṇam-
with no remunerations to the priests;
śraddhā-
faith;
virahitam
-without;
yajñam
-sacrifice;
tāmasam
-in the mode of ignorance;
paricakṣate-
is to be considered.

TRANSLATION

And that sacrifice performed in defiance of scriptural injunctions, in which no spiritual food is distributed, no hymns are chanted and no remunerations are made to the priests, and which is faithless-that sacrifice is of the nature of ignorance.

PURPORT

Faith in the mode of darkness or ignorance is actually faithlessness. Sometimes people worship some demigod just to make money and then spend the money for recreation, ignoring the scriptural injunctions. Such ceremonial shows of religiosity are not accepted as genuine. They are all in the mode of darkness; they produce a demoniac mentality and do not benefit human society.

Bg 17.14

TEXT 14

TEXT

deva-dvija-guru-prājña-

pūjanaṁ śaucam ārjavam

brahmacaryam ahiṁsā ca

śārīraṁ tapa ucyate

SYNONYMS

deva-
the Supreme Lord;
dvija-
the
brāhmaṇa; guru-
the spiritual master;
prājña-
worshipable personalities;
pūjanam
-worship;
śaucam
-cleanliness;
ārjavam
-simplicity;
brahma-caryam
-celibacy;
ahiṁsā-
nonviolence;
ca-
also;
śārīram
-pertaining to the body;
tapaḥ
-austerity;
ucyate
-is said to be.

TRANSLATION

The austerity of the body consists in this: worship of the Supreme Lord, the brāhmaṇas, the spiritual master, and superiors like the father and mother. Cleanliness, simplicity, celibacy and nonviolence are also austerities of the body.

PURPORT

The Supreme Godhead here explains the different kinds of austerity and penance. First He explains the austerities and penances practiced by the body. One should offer, or learn to offer, respect to God or to the demigods, the perfect, qualified
brāhmaṇas
and the spiritual master and superiors like father, mother or any person who is conversant with Vedic knowledge. These should be given proper respect. One should practice cleansing oneself externally and internally, and he should learn to become simple in behavior. He should not do anything which is not sanctioned by the scriptural injunction. He should not indulge in sex outside of married life, for sex is sanctioned in the scripture only in marriage, not otherwise. This is called celibacy. These are penances and austerities as far as the body is concerned.

Bg 17.15

TEXT 15

TEXT

anudvega-karaṁ vākyaṁ

satyaṁ priya-hitaṁ ca yat

svādhyāyābhyasanaṁ caiva

vāṅ-mayaṁ tapa ucyate

SYNONYMS

anudvega-
not agitating;
karam-
producing;
vākyam-
words;
satyam-
truthful;
priya-
dear;
hitam
-beneficial;
ca-
also;
yat
-which;
svādhyāya-
Vedic study;
abhyasanam-
practice;
ca-
also;
eva-
certainly;
vāṅmayaṁ-
of the voice;
tapaḥ-
austerity;
ucyate-
is said to be.

TRANSLATION

Austerity of speech consists in speaking truthfully and beneficially and in avoiding speech that offends. One should also recite the Vedas regularly.

PURPORT

One should not speak in such a way as to agitate the minds of others. Of course, when a teacher speaks, he can speak the truth for the instruction of his students, but such a teacher should not speak to others who are not his students if he will agitate their minds. This is penance as far as talking is concerned. Besides that, one should not talk nonsense. When speaking in spiritual circles, one's statements must be upheld by the scriptures. One should at once quote from scriptural authority to back up what he is saying. At the same time, such talk should be very pleasurable to the ear. By such discussions, one may derive the highest benefit and elevate human society. There is a limitless stock of Vedic literature, and one should study this. This is called penance of speech.

Bg 17.16

TEXT 16

TEXT

manaḥ-prasādaḥ saumyatvaṁ

maunam ātma-vinigrahaḥ

bhāva-saṁśuddhir ity etat

tapo mānasam ucyate

SYNONYMS

manaḥ-prasādaḥ-
satisfaction of the mind;
saumyatvam-
without duplicity towards others;
maunam-
gravity;
ātma-
self;
vinigrahaḥ-
control;
bhāva-
nature;
saṁśuddhiḥ-
purification;
iti-
thus;
etat-
that is;
tapaḥ-
austerity;
mānasam-
of the mind;
ucyate-
is said to be.

TRANSLATION

And serenity, simplicity, gravity, self-control and purity of thought are the austerities of the mind.

PURPORT

To make the mind austere is to detach it from sense gratification. It should be so trained that it can be always thinking of doing good for others
.
The best training for the mind is gravity in thought. One should not deviate from Kṛṣṇa consciousness and must always avoid sense gratification. To purify one's nature is to become Kṛṣṇa conscious. Satisfaction of the mind can be obtained only by taking the mind away from thoughts of sense enjoyment. The more we think of sense enjoyment, the more the mind becomes dissatisfied. In the present age we unnecessarily engage the mind in so many different ways for sense gratification, and so there is no possibility of the mind's becoming satisfied. The best course is to divert the mind to the Vedic literature, which is full of satisfying stories, as in the
Purāṇas
and the
Mahābhārata
. One can take advantage of this knowledge and thus become purified. The mind should be devoid of duplicity, and one should think of the welfare of all. Silence means that one is always thinking of self-realization. The person in Kṛṣṇa consciousness observes perfect silence in this sense. Control of the mind means detaching the mind from sense enjoyment. One should be straightforward in his dealing and thereby purify his existence. All these qualities together constitute austerity in mental activities.

Bg 17.17

TEXT 17

TEXT

śraddhayā parayā taptaṁ

tapas tat tri-vidhaṁ naraiḥ

aphalākāṅkṣibhir yuktaiḥ

sāttvikaṁ paricakṣate

SYNONYMS

śraddhayā
-with faith;
parayā
-transcendental;
taptam
-executed;
tapaḥ
-austerity;
tat
-that;
tri-vidham
-three kinds;
naraiḥ
-by men;
aphala-ākāṅkṣibhiḥ
-without desires for fruits;
yuktaiḥ
-engaged;
sāttvikam
-in the mode of goodness;
pari-cakṣate
-is called.

TRANSLATION

This threefold austerity, practiced by men whose aim is not to benefit themselves materially but to please the Supreme, is of the nature of goodness.

Bg 17.18

TEXT 18

TEXT

satkāra-māna-pūjārthaṁ

tapo dambhena caiva yat

kriyate tad iha proktaṁ

rājasaṁ calam adhruvam

SYNONYMS

satkāra-
respect;
māna-
honor;
pūjā-artham
-for worship;
tapaḥ
-austerity;
dambhena-
with pride;
ca-
also;
eva-
certainly;
yat
-which is;
kriyate
-performed;
tat
-that;
iha-
in this world;
proktam
-is said;
rājasam
-in the mode of passion;
calam-
flickering;
adhruvam-
temporary.

TRANSLATION

Those ostentatious penances and austerities which are performed in order to gain respect, honor and reverence are said to be in the mode of passion. They are neither stable nor permanent.

PURPORT

Sometimes penance and austerity are executed to attract people and receive honor, respect and worship from others. Persons in the mode of passion arrange to be worshiped by subordinates and let them wash their feet and offer riches. Such arrangements artificially made by the performance of penances are considered to be in the mode of passion. The results are temporary; they can be continued for some time, but they are not permanent.

Bg 17.19

TEXT 19

TEXT

mūḍha-grāheṇātmano yat

pīḍayā kriyate tapaḥ

parasyotsādanārthaṁ vā

tat tāmasam udāhṛtam

SYNONYMS

mūḍha-
foolish;
grāheṇa-
with endeavor;
ātmanaḥ-
of one's own self;
yat
-which;
pīḍayā
-by torture;
kriyate
-is performed;
tapaḥ-
penance;
parasya-
to others;
utsādanārtham-
causing annihilation;
vā
-or;
tat-
that;
tāmasam-
in the mode of darkness;
udāhṛtam-
is said to be.

TRANSLATION

And those penances and austerities which are performed foolishly by means of obstinant self-torture, or to destroy or injure others, are said to be in the mode of ignorance.

PURPORT

There are instances of foolish penance undertaken by demons like Hiraṇyakaśipu, who performed austere penances to become immortal and kill the demigods. He prayed to Brahmā for such things, but ultimately he was killed by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. To undergo penances for something which is impossible is certainly in the mode of ignorance.

Bg 17.20

TEXT 20

TEXT

dātavyam iti yad dānaṁ

dīyate 'nupakāriṇe

deśe kāle ca pātre ca

tad dānaṁ sāttvikaṁ smṛtam

SYNONYMS

dātavyam-
worth giving;
iti-
thus;
yat-
that which;
dānam-
charity;
dīyate-
given;
anupakāriṇe-
to any person irrespective of doing good;
dese-
in place;
kāle-
in time;
ca-
also;
pātre-
suitable person;
ca-
and;
tat-
that;
dānam-
charity;
sāttvikam-
in the mode of goodness;
smṛtam-
consider.

TRANSLATION

That gift which is given out of duty, at the proper time and place, to a worthy person, and without expectation of return, is considered to be charity in the mode of goodness.

PURPORT

In the Vedic literature, charity given to a person engaged in spiritual activities is recommended. There is no recommendation for giving charity indiscriminately. Spiritual perfection is always a consideration. Therefore charity is recommended to be given at a place of pilgrimage and at lunar or solar eclipses or at the end of the month or to a qualified
brāhmaṇa
or a Vaiṣṇava (devotee) or in temples. Such charities should be given without any consideration of return. Charity to the poor is sometimes given out of compassion, but if a poor man is not worth giving charity to, then there is no spiritual advancement. In other words, indiscriminate charity is not recommended in the Vedic literature.

Bg 17.21

TEXT 21

TEXT

yat tu pratyupakārārthaṁ

phalam uddiśya vā punaḥ

dīyate ca parikliṣṭaṁ

tad dānaṁ rājasaṁ smṛtam

SYNONYMS

yat-
that which;
tu-
but;
prati-upakāra-artham-
for the sake of getting some return;
phalam-
result;
uddiśya-
desiring;
vā
-or;
punaḥ-
again;
dīyate-
is given in charity;
ca-
also;
parikliṣṭam-
grudgingly;
tat-
that;
dānam-
charity;
rājasam-
in the mode of passion;
smṛtam-
is understood to be.