Gita essays 31
In chapter 17, Lord Krishna takes up
for analysis the topic of Yajna, after the classification of faith and
food into three categories as satvic, rajasic and tamasic. In the words of Dr. Radhakrishnan “The Yajna
of the Gita is not the same as the ceremonial sacrifice of the Vedas. It is
sacrificial action without expectation of any reward by which man dedicates his
wealth and deeds to the service of the ‘One Life’ in all.” So it includes the varieties
of karmas prescribed by the scriptures for human benefit as well, because in
all these karmas worship of the Lord is involved, directly or indirectly. Now let us look into Lord’s classification of Yajna
in verses 11, 12 & 13 which runs as:
“That Yajna
which is perfomed by one without desire for reward and as enjoined by the
scriptures, with a firm faith that the performance of Yajna is a duty,
is satvic Yajna”. (17-11)
“The Yajna
which is performed seeking a reward and for ostentation, know that to be a rajasic
Yajna, O Arjuna”. (17-12)
“That Yajna is called tamasic
which is performed contrary to the scriptural injunctions, without food cooked
(for distribution), without proper mantras, without proper dakhshina and
without faith”.(17-13)
Summing up:
Satvic Yajna - That which is sincerely done according to
the scriptural injunctions, without expecting any personal gain or reward.
Rajasic
Yajna
- That which is done as a show and for the sake of reward or personal gain.
Tamasic
Yajna
- That which is done without observance of rules, and without proper faith, mantra, dakṣiṇā, and
food-distribution.
Lord Krishna next takes up
the topic of Tapas. Tapas has two
meanings, one general and the second specific.
The specific meaning is wilful self-denial, which is not the one
employed here. The general meaning of
any form of religious or spiritual discipline is used here. Further the topic is dicussed in two ways. One
is based on the instrument with which it is practiced i.e physical, verbal and
mental. The second is based on guna;
satva, rajas or tamas. Let us first see karana drishtya tapas
(classification based on instrument) i.e kayika tapas, vachika tapas and
manasa tapas in Lord’s words, as discussed in verses 14,15 and16:
Worship of the Gods, the brahmins, the
teachers and the wise men; purity, straightforwardness, celibacy and non-injury
- these are called the austerities of the body (kayika tapas). (17-14)
The speech which does not give offence to
anyone, which is truthful, pleasant and beneficial, and the regular practice of
the study of scriptures is called austerity of speech (vachika tapas). (17-15)
Serenity of mind, good-heartedness, silence,
purity of nature, self-control, together is called mental austerity (manasa
tapas). (17-16)
Devotion and
reverence to people living a vedic way of life and teachers of scriptures is as
much an act of worship as the worship of Gods. Such external acts and
observance of purity, internal and external, straightforwardness in relations
with others, keeping free of sense attractions and avoidance of all acts of
injuring others are all called austerities of the body, kayika tapas. Speech or the spoken words which cause no disturbances
in others, which are true, sincere, agreeable and beneficial to others,
diligent study and reflection of the scriptures are all called austerity in
speech, vachika tapas. Here we
can recall the words of Manu smrithi which says “One should speak what is true;
one should speak what is pleasant; one should not speak what is true if it is
not pleasant, nor what is pleasant if it is false”. Serenity
of mind that is the result of one’s healthy relationship with outside world, a
feeling of warmth towards all, an inward
calmness without agitating desires or emotions,
control of one’s lower nature within, honesty of motive – with the
motivating factor for any action being noble and divine, constitute austerity
of mind, manasa tapas
In verses 17, 18 and 19 guna
drishtya tapas (guna-wise division) i.e. satvika, rajasa, and tamasa tapaha is discussed as
follows:
This threefold austerity which is practised
with great faith by those people who are disciplined and are not desirous of
any reward is called satvic. (17-17)
That austerity which is performed with
hypocrisy for the sake of praise, honour and worship is said to be rajasic,
whose result is temporary and unstable. (17-18)
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. (17-19)
The
three –fold austerity viz. of body, speech, and mind, practiced by men of
self-discipline with no attachment for the rewards and with utmost faith and
sincerity is called satvic tapas. When this three-fold austerity
is practiced with a view to gain respect and honour and with vanity
and ostentation it is called rajasic tapas. Such a kind of tapas is unstable and
transitory and will only result in unproductive and painful self-denials. Tapas
undertaken with a foolish obstinacy involving self-torture or with the aim of
destroying others is of the lowest kind and is called tamasic tapas.
Lord
discusses daanam (charity) as the fourth topic in verses 20,21 &22
thus:
Daanam which is made (with an attitude) that
giving is a duty, to a person who may not reciprocate (and which is given) at
the proper place, at the proper time and to a proper person is considered to be
satvic daanam. (17-20)
That
daanam which is reluctantly made for the sake of something in return, or
expecting a result, is considered to be rajasic daanam. (17-21)
That daanam which is made at the wrong place and
time to unworthy people, without respect or with insult, is said be tamasic
daanam. (17-22)
That
charity which is made to someone out of conviction that it is an act that has
to be done is the right kind of charity. Even if the recipient of the charity
can offer no service in return, the giver of charity should not hesitate while
making the gift. Charity comes from within and out of one's heart and should
not be considered as an investment. That danam which is given with
respect to the right person, at the right place and right time considering
other’s requirement is called a satvic daanam. That charity which is made with the hope of
getting some benefit in return or looking forward to some reward or given with a
heavy heart is of rajasic type. Gifts which are made at the wrong place
and time to an unworthy person with contempt and with no respect are said to be
of tamasic type.
Summing up:
Satvic
daanam
- Daanam that is sincerely made to a deserving person at the proper time
and place without expectation of any kind of return.
Rajasic
daanam
- Daanam which is reluctantly made or with the expectation of a future
benefit or reward in return.
Tamasic
daanam
– Daanam which is made with contempt and disrespect to an undeserving
person at an improper time and place.
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