Bhagwad Gita - Post 206

Chapter 17

THE YOGA OF THE DIVISION OF THE THREE FOLD PATH

(…Continued)

Verse 15

Speech which causes no excitement and is truthful, pleasant and beneficial, the practice of the study of the Vedas, are called austerity of speech.

Verse 16

Serenity of mind, good-heartedness, purity of nature, self-control—this is called mental austerity.

Verse 17

This threefold austerity practised by steadfast men with the utmost faith, desiring no reward, they call Sattwic.

Verse 18

The austerity which is practised with the object of gaining good reception, honor and worship and with hypocrisy, is here said to be Rajasic, unstable and transitory.

Verse 19

The austerity which is practised out of a foolish notion, with self-torture, or for the purpose of destroying another, is declared to be Tamasic.

Verse 20

That gift which is given to one who does nothing in return, knowing it to be a duty to give in a fit place and time to a worthy person, that gift is held to be Sattwic.

Verse 21

And, that gift which is made with a view to receive something in return, or looking for a reward, or given reluctantly, is said to be Rajasic.

Verse 22

The gift which is given at the wrong place and time to unworthy persons, without respect or with insult, is declared to be Tamasic.

Verse 23

“Om Tat Sat”: this has been declared to be the triple designation of Brahman. By that were created formerly the Brahmanas, the Vedas and the sacrifices.

Verse 24

Therefore, with the utterance of “Om” are the acts of gift, sacrifice and austerity as enjoined in the scriptures always begun by the students of Brahman.

Verse 25

Uttering Tat, without aiming at the fruits, are the acts of sacrifice and austerity and the various acts of gift performed by the seekers of liberation.

Verse 26

The word Sat is used in the sense of reality and of goodness; and so also, O Arjuna, it is used in the sense of an auspicious act!

Verse 27

Steadfastness in sacrifice, austerity and gift, is also called Sat, and also action in connection with these (or for the sake of the Supreme) is called Sat.

Verse 28

Whatever is sacrificed, given or performed, and whatever austerity is practised without faith, it is called Asat, O Arjuna! It is naught here or hereafter (after death).

Hari Om Tat Sat

Iti Srimad Bhagavadgeetaasoopanishatsu Brahmavidyaayaam Yogashaastre Sri Krishnaarjunasamvaade Shraddhaatrayavibhaagayogo Naama Saptadasho’dhyaayah

Thus in the Upanishads of the glorious Bhagavad Gita, the science of the Eternal, the scripture of Yoga, the dialogue between Sri Krishna and Arjuna, ends the seventeenth discourse entitled:

“The Yoga of the Division of the Three Fold Path”.

Love.