THE BHAGAVD GITAACCORDING TO

GANDHIT K G NAMBOODHIRI

THIRUVALLA, KERALAPresentation adapted from

The Bhagavad Gita According to Gandhi, Orient Paperbacks,2011

T K G Namboodhiri

THE BHAGAVD GITAACCORDING TO

GANDHI

T K G Namboodhiri

CHAPTER 17

SHRADDHA THRAYA VIBHAGA YOGA

THE BHAGAVD GITAACCORDING TO

GANDHICHAPTER 17 - Introduction

In this Chapter, Shraddha Thraya Vibhaga Yoga, Lord Krishna talks about the threefold faith of men, sattvik, rajasik & tamasik. One’s faith is moulded by his basic nature. The Lord then describes the three types of worship, austerity, food, Yajna, & gifts.

T K G Namboodhiri

THE BHAGAVD GITAACCORDING TO

GANDHIVerse 17.1

Arjuna inquires:What, then, O Krishna, is the position of those who forsake the rule of Shastra & yet worship with faith? Do they act from sattva or rajas or tamas?Arjuna had this doubt: what is the situation of those who worship disregarding the manner explained in the shastras, by disregarding the shishtachara, or, without the guidance of a guru, but with faith & humility.

T K G Namboodhiri

THE BHAGAVD GITAACCORDING TO

GANDHIVerses 17.2 & 17.3

Sri Krishna replies:Threefold is the faith of men, an expression of their nature in each case; it is sattvik, rajas or tamas. Hear thou of it.The faith of every man is in accord with his innate character, man is made up of faith, whatever his object of faith, even so it be.Sri Krishna assumes that a person may disregard the manner enjoined in the shastras, & explains what kind of faith such a person has—whether it is sattvik or rajasik or tamasik?Faith can be enlightening. Everyone needs faith, provided one is not misguided by it. The faith of a person is influenced by the gunas or modes of material nature which one has.

T K G Namboodhiri

THE BHAGAVD GITAACCORDING TO

GANDHIVerses 17.4 to 17.6

Sattvik persons worship the gods, (those of) rajasik nature worship the Yakshas & Rakshasas, & others—men of tamas– worship manes & spirits.Those men who, wedded to pretentiousness & arrogance, possessed by the violence of lust & passion, practise fierce austerity not ordained by Shastra.They, whilst they torture the several elements that make-up their bodies, torture Me too dwelling in them, know them to be of unholy resolves.Those who do not abide by the rules enjoined by Shastras but their pride & ego, impelled by lust & attachment, follow their self-chosen way fall into such a demonic state.

T K G Namboodhiri

THE BHAGAVD GITAACCORDING TO

GANDHIVerses 17.7 to 17.10

Of three kinds again is the food that is dear to each; so also are sacrifice, austerity, & charity. Hear how they differ.Victuals that add to one’s years, vitality, strength, health, happiness & appetite; are savoury, rich, substantial & inviting are dear to the sattvik.Victuals that are bitter, sour, salty, over hot, spicy, dry, burning & causing pain, bitterness & disease, are dear to the rajas.Food which has become cold, insipid, putrid, stale, discarded & unfit for sacrifice, is dear to the tamas.This classification, valid for the times of Arjuna & Krishna, may not be strictly applicable to the present times. Now we try to restrict salt, sugar & oils in our food, which are all classified as sattvik here.

T K G Namboodhiri

THE BHAGAVD GITAACCORDING TO

GANDHIVerses 17.11 to 17.13

That sacrifice is sattvik which is willingly offered as a duty, without desire for fruit & according to the rule.But when sacrifice is offered with an eye to fruit & for vain glory, know, O Bharatarshabha, that it is rajas.Sacrifice which is contrary to the rule, which produces no food, which lacks the sacred text, which involves no giving up & which is devoid of faith is said to be tamas.For example, performing of a Yajna without dakshina, meaning without some gifts to the poor, is tamas, born of ignorance. It is performed for selfish reasons.

T K G Namboodhiri

THE BHAGAVD GITAACCORDING TO

GANDHIVerses 17.14 & 17.15

Homage to the gods, to Brahmins, to gurus & to wise men; cleanliness, uprightness, brahmacharya & non-violence--- these constitute austerity (tapas) of the body.Words that cause no hurt, that are true, loving & helpful, & spiritual study constitute austerity of speech.Now Sri Krishna talks about the three types of austerity (tapas). Austerity of body & austerity of speech are described here. Both are sattvik.

T K G Namboodhiri

THE BHAGAVD GITAACCORDING TO

GANDHIVerses 17.16 & 17.17

Serenity, benignity, silence, self-restraint & purity of the spirit– these constitute austerity of the mind.This threefold austerity, (of body, speech & mind), practised in perfect faith by men not desirous of fruit, &disciplined, is said to be sattvik.Sattvik austerity, of body, mind & speech, purify the mind & leads to spiritual progress.

T K G Namboodhiri

THE BHAGAVD GITAACCORDING TO

GANDHIVerses 17.18 & 17.19

Now the Lord talks about austerity of the rajasik & tamasik types.Austerity which is practised with an eye to gain praise, honour & homage & for ostentation is said to be rajas; it is fleeting & unstable.Austerity which is practised from any foolish obsession, either to torture oneself or to procure another’s ruin is called tamas.Rajasik & tamasik austerities are performed with selfish motives & are of little value to the spiritual upliftment of the person.

T K G Namboodhiri

THE BHAGAVD GITAACCORDING TO

GANDHIVerses 17.20 to 17.22

Shri Krishna now talks about charity:Charity given as a matter of duty, without expectation of any return, at the right place & time, to the right person is said to be sattvik.Charity which is given either in the hope of receiving in return, or with a view to winning merit, or grudgingly, is declared to be rajas.Charity given at the wrong place & time, & to an undeserving recipient, disrespectfully & with contempt, is declared to be tamas.Charity rightly given in certain circumstances may not be right in other circumstances. This is also true about recipients.

T K G Namboodhiri

THE BHAGAVD GITAACCORDING TO

GANDHIVerses 17.23 & 17.24

Aum Tat Sat has been declared to be the threefold name of Brahman & by that name were created of old, the Brahmanas, the Vedas & Sacrifices.Therefore, with Aum ever on their lips, all the rites of sacrifice, charity & austerity, proceed always according to the rule, by Brahmavadins.From the beginning of creation, the three words Om Tat Sat were used to indicate the Supreme Absolute Truth. Those who seek knowledge of the Brahman dedicate all their Yajnas, gifts & tapas to the Lord with these words on their lips.

T K G Namboodhiri

THE BHAGAVD GITAACCORDING TO

GANDHIVerses 17.25 to 17.27

With utterance of Tat & without desire for fruit are the several rites of sacrifice, austerity & charity performed by those seeking freedom.Sat is employed in the sense of ‘real’ & ‘good’; O Partha, Sat is also applied to beautiful deeds.Constancy in sacrifice, austerity & charity, is called Sat, & all work for these purpose is also Sat.Aum comes first in all these actions. Sat signifies the process of their performance, & also stands for Hari.

T K G Namboodhiri

THE BHAGAVD GITAACCORDING TO

GANDHIVerse 17.28

Whatever is done, O Partha, by way of sacrifice, charity or austerity or any other work, is called Asat if done without faith. It counts for naught hereafter as here.The Lord concludes this chapter with this verse where He stresses the need for faith in whatever you do. AUM TAT SAT means all that exists is Aum, that “I” is unreal, that God alone is & nothing is & nothing else is real. Aum Tat Sat is a vow of humility. It teaches us to realize our utter insignificance, to be completely free from egotism.This chapter emphasizes that the reign of the three gunas prevails throughout the universe. Existing apart from the three gunas is God. We have to merge in Him.

End of Chapter 17.T K G Namboodhiri