Shraddha-Traya Vibhaga Yoga
The Yoga of the Divisions of the Threefold Faith
17:1: Arjuna inquired: Those who abandon scriptural ordinances, yetendowed with faith sacrifice, O Krishna, are they situated in thequality of goodness, passion or ignorance?
17:2, 3: The Blessed One said: The faith of the embodied beingsare of three kinds: that which is born of the material quality ofgoodness, passion and ignorance. Hear about these from Me.
O descendent of Bharata, all faith develops in accordance with one'sown nature. This integral faith determines the faith and nature of theliving entity.
17:4: Those in the quality of goodness worship the gods; those inthe quality of passion worship the Yaksas and Raksasas and those in thequality of ignorance worship the Pretas and the hosts of Bhutas.
17:5, 6: People who practice severe austerities which are notordained by the scriptures practice them out of religious hypocrisy.They are yoked by false ego and impelled by the forces of desire andattachment.
Abiding in the body yet torturing the combined material elementsthereof, they have no consciousness of Me, although I am abiding withintheir bodies. Know their resolve to be demonic.
17:7: There are also three kinds of food which are dear, so toowith sacrifices, austerities and charities; hear of their differences.
17:8: Foods which promote life, vitality, strength, health,happiness and satisfaction, and which are juicy, fatty, firm andagreeable are dear to one who is in the quality of goodness.
17:9: Foods which are bitter, sour, salty, excessively hot,pungent, dry, burning and which promote suffering, lamentation anddisease are liked by one in the quality of passion.
17:10: Foods which are eaten three hours or more after beingcooked, are tasteless, putrid, decayed, are the remnants of another'smeal and which are unfit for sacrificing, such foods are dear to one inthe quality of ignorance.
17:11: That sacrifice which is performed without desire forfruitive results, which is in accordance with the scriptural ordinances,which is performed and indeed ought to be performed, with the mindfixed, is in the quality of goodness.
17:12: That sacrifice which has fruitive results as its aim byreason of pride and which is therefore performed, O leader of theBharatas, know to be in the quality of passion.
17:13: That sacrifice which is performed without regard forscriptural ordinances, in which no food is distributed and no sacredmantras are uttered, nor proper gifts given, and which is devoid offaith, is said to be in the quality of ignorance.
17:14: The austerities of the body include worship of the devas,brahmanas, spiritual preceptors, and those who have transcendentalwisdom; they practice purity, uprightness, celibacy and non-violence.
17:15: The austerities of speech are said to be truthful wordswhich are dear, beneficial and cause no agitation, as well as theregular recitation and constant study of the scriptures.
17:16: The austerities of the mind are said to be mental tranquility, kindness, silence, self-control and emotional purity.
17:17: This supreme threefold austerity, which is faithfullypracticed by those who have no desire for fruitive results and who arethereby yoked, is called austerity in the quality of goodness.
17:18: That austerity which is hypocritically practiced in orderto gain respect, honor and worship in this world is called austerity inthe quality of ignorance. It is both mutable and transitory.
17:19: That austerity which is practiced out of a foolishperception of the self, to torment oneself, or which is performed forthe purpose of destroying another, is said to be austerity in thequality of ignorance.
17:20: That charity is considered to be in the quality ofgoodness which is rightly given and is devoid of any expectation ofrepayment, is given in an appropriate place and time, and is offered toone who is worthy to relieve it.
17:21: That charity is considered to be in the quality of passionwhich is given with the intent of recompense, which aims at achievingsome fruitive result or which is given grudgingly.
17:22: That charity is said to be in the quality of ignorancewhich is given at an improper place and time, is given to one who isunworthy to relieve gifts, or which is given disrespectfully or withcontempt.
17: 23: The threefold particularization of Brahman as 'om tatsat' was ordained from ancient times for use by the brahmanas in theVedic literatures and sacrifices.
17:24: Therefore the omkara ['om'] is always uttered by those whoexplicate Brahman when performing sacrifices, charities or austeritiesas enjoined in the scriptures.
7:25: 'Tat' is likewise uttered by those who do not desirefruitive results from their sacrifices, austerities, activities orcharities; their activities being performed solely due to their desirefor liberation.
17:26, 27: The sound vibration 'sat' is employed in the sense of'real' or 'excellent'. 'Sat' is thus used to describe activities whichare praiseworthy, O child of Partha.
Therefore 'sat' is resolutely uttered in sacrifices, austerities andcharities. Activities which belong to 'sat' are therefore described.
17:28: Sacrifices which are offered, gifts which are given andausterities which are practiced without faith are called 'asat', Ochild of Partha. They are useless here and in the hereafter.
Here Ends Chapter Seventeen
Go to: Chapter Eighteen.
Go to: Notes and References.
Go to: Cover Page.
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