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.
