Friday, April 20, 2007

CHAPTER 17 SRADDHA TRAYA VIBHAGA YOGA

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BHAGAVADGITA CHAPTER 17
17. S`RADDHAA TRAYA VIBHAAGA YOOGA
Three-fold classification
of interests and sincerity


STVY 01
yee s`aastravidhim utsrujya
yajamtee s`raddhayaanvitaa:
teeshaam nisht`haa tu kaa krushn`a
sattvam aahoo rajas tama:


What is S`hraddha or (S`raddha)?
S`raddha according to dictionary by Shri Vaman Shivram Apte has seven meanings.
1. Belief, confidence, faith, trust.
2. Belief in divine revelation, religious faith.
3. Sedateness, composure of mind.
4. Intimacy, familiarity.
5. Respect, reverance.
6. Strong, vehement desire.
7. The longing of a pregnant woman.
What is Nisht`ha?
15 meanings for Nisht`ha:
1. Being in or situated on.
2. Depending on or resting on.
3. Devoted or attached to.
4. Devotion or application, close attachment.
5. Believing in.
Nisht`haa (long vowel)
6. Position, condition.
7. Fixedness, steadiness.
8. Devotion or application/
9. Belief, firm adherence, faith.
10. Excellence, perfection, proficiency, skill
11. Conclusion, end, termination.
12. The catastrophe or end of a drama.
13. Accomplishment, culmination, culmination point.
14. Death, destruction, disappearance from the world at a fixed time.
15. Fixed or certain knowledge, certainty.
16. Begging
17. Anxiety, distress, suffering, trouble.

Arjuna said:
Krishna! What will be the position of those who perform sacrifices (ritual worships) with faith? Is it tolestrong, Kingthrust, or Ignodorma? (THREE ADHERENCES 1).


STVY 2s`riibhagavaan uvaacha
trividhaa bhavati s`raddhaa deehinaam saa svabhaavajaa
saattvikii raajasii ca iva taamasii cheeti taam s`run`u
STVY 03
sattvaanuruupaa sarvasya s`raddhaa bhavati bhaarata
s`raddhaamayoo ayam purushoo yoo yachchhraddha: sa eeva sa:
STVY 04
yajamtee saattvikaa deevaan yaksharakshaamsi raajasaa:
preetaan bhuutagan`aams` ca anyee yajamtee taamasaa janaa:
STVY 05
as`aastravihitam ghooram tapyamtee yee tapoo janaa:
dambhaahamkaarasamyuktaa: kaamaraagabalaanvitaa:
STVY 06
kars`ayamta: s`ariirastham bhuutagraamam acheetasa:
maam ca ivaamta:s`ariirastham taan viddhi aasuranis`chayaan
STVY 07
aahaaras tv api sarvasya trividhoo bhavati priya:
yagnas tapas tathaa daanam teeshaam bheedam imam s`run`u
STVY 08
aayu:sattvabalaaroogyasukhapriitivivardhanaa:
rasyaa: snigdhaa: sthiraa hrudyaa aahaaraa: saattvikapriyaa:
STVY 09
kat`vamlalavan`aatyushn`atiikshn`aruukshavidaahina:
aahaaraa raajasasyeesht`aa du:khas`ookaamayapradaa:
S`RADDHAA TRAYA 10
yaatayaamam gatarasam puuti paryushitam ca yat
uchchhisht`am api ca ameedhyam bhoojanam taamasapriyam


The Lord said:
The faith and steadiness of a living soul is of three types: 1. Tolestrong 2. Kingthrust 3. Ignodorma. It accrues from the remnants of the previous births. Listen that. (THREE ADHERENCES 2)
Every person's faith and adherence will depend on the inner consciousness. The Supreme Spirit is full of fath and adherence. The intellectual personality trait of a person depends on his sincerity towards the target of worship. (THREE ADHERENCES 3).
The tolestrong will worship the Heavenly Gods. The Kingthrusts will worship the lower Gods and demons. The ignodorma worship the ghosts etc. (THREE ADHERENCES 4).
Some people do an extremely painful penance using methods not prescribed by scriptures. Their penance is filled with hypocrisy, pride and strong in desire and attachment. (THREE ADHERENCES 5).
They hurt the body, the five elements (earth, water, fire, wind and sky), and ME (Supreme Person) present in them. Such persons are following the demoniacal practices. (THREE ADHERENCES 6).
Food taken by all is of three types: 1. Sacrificial 2. Penance (ascetic) 3. Charity. Here are the differences among them. Listen. (THREE ADHERENCES 7).
Satvic Food
The tolestrong prefer and relish the following foods: 1. Those which increase longevity, stamina, strength, health, comfort, and affection. 2. Those which are juicy (succulent), oily, stable, and heartening. (THREE ADHERENCES 8).
Rajasic Food
The Kingthrusts prefer and relish the following foods: 1. hot and pungent, 2. salty 3. high temperature 4. caustic 5. dry 6. inflammatory and thirst generating, and cause distress and miserty. (THREE ADHERENCES 9).
Tamasic Food
The Ignodorma prefer and relish 1. food cooked prior two and half hours earlier, 2. devoid of juice and succulance, 3. oozing bad odours, 4. stale, 5. left out by others, 6. and not sacred. (THREE ADHERENCES 10).


STVY 11
aphalaakaamkshibhir yagnoo vidhidrusht`oo ya ijyatee
yasht`avyam eeveeti mana: samaadhaaya sa saattvika:
STVY 12
abhisamdhaaya tu phalam dambhaartham api ca iva yat
ijyatee bharatas`reesht`ha tam yagnam viddhi raajasam
STVY 13
vidhihiinam asrusht`aannam mamtrahiinam adakshin`am
s`raddhaavirahitam yagnam taamasam parichakshatee
STVY 14
deevadvijagurupraagnapuujanam s`aucham aarjavam
brahmacharyam ahimsaa ca s`aariiram tapa uchyatee
STVY 15
anudveegakaram vaakyam satyam priyahitam ca yat
svaadhyaayaabhyasanam ca iva vaammayam tapa uchyatee
STVY 16
mana:prasaada: saumyatvam maunam aatmavinigraha:
bhaavasams`uddhir iti eetat tapoo maanasam uchyatee
STVY 17
s`raddhayaa parayaa taptam tapas tat trividham narai:
aphalaakaamkshibhir yuktai: saattvikam parichakshatee
STVY 18
satkaaramaanapuujaartham tapoo dambheena ca iva yat
kriyatee tad iha prooktam raajasam ca lam adhruvam
STVY 19
muud`hagraaheen`aatmanoo yat piid`ayaa kriyatee tapa:
parasyootsaadanaartham vaa tat taamasam udaahrutam
STVY 20
daatavyam iti yad daanam diiyatee anupakaarin`ee
dees`ee kaalee ca paatree ca tad daanam saattvikam smrutam

The Tolestrong perform sacrifices without attachment to results. They consider the performing sacrifices as a duty. They perform the sacrifices by adhering to the methods stipulated by the scriptures. (THREE ADHERENCES 11).
The Kingthrusts perform sacrifices 1. anticipating results; 2. to show their grandeur. (THREE ADHERENCES 12).
It is said that the IgnoDorma perform sacrifices 1. without following the prescribed methods, 2. without distributing food, 3. without the Vedic Chants, 4. without the remuneration to the Priests. (THREE ADHERENCES 13).
It is said that the penance performed by the body (physical penance) consists of 1. worship of Gods, Preceptor, and Scholars 2. clean and simple 3. celibasy 4. non-violence. (THREE ADHERENCES 14).
It is said that the verbal penance consists of 1. speech not frightening others 2. speech which is true, pleasing and benevolent 3. speech which is related to study of Vedas. (THREE ADHERENCES 15).
It is said that the mental (inner) penance consists of: 1. Filled with sincerity, simplicity, silence, self-control and honest dealing etc. (THREE ADHERENCES 16).
It is said that a ToleStrong penance consists of all the three types (physical penance, verbal penance, and mental penance) when it is performed by persons who have relinquished their desire for results, (THREE ADHERENCES 17).
The KingThrust penance is aimed at obtaining felicitation, honor and worship and is hypocritical. The penance is indefinite and ephemeral. (Does not last long.) (THREE ADHERENCES 18).
The IgnoDorma penance consists of self inflicting injuries to one's own body and pain to mind, or intended to destroy others. (THREE ADHERENCES 19).
The ToleStrong Charity consists of offerings to a person who is a virtuous scholar, who is not capable of doing something in return. It is given at the right place, right time and to the fittest person. (THREE ADHERENCES 20).

STVY 21
yat tu prati upakaara artham phalam uddis`ya vaa puna:
diiyatee ca pariklisht`am tat daanam raajasam smrutam
STVY 22
adees`akaalee yad daanam apaatreebhyas` ca diiyatee
asatkrutam avagnaatam tat taamasam udaahrutam
STVY 23
oom tat sad iti nirdees`oo brahman`as trividha: smruta:
braahman`aas teena veedaas` ca yagnaas` ca vihitaa: puraa
STVY 24
tasmaad oom iti udaahrutya yagna daana tapa: kriyaa:
pravartamtee vidhaana uktaa: satatam brahma vaadinaam
STVY 25
tad iti anabhisamdhaaya phalam yagnatapa:kriyaa:
daana kriyaas` ca vividhaa: kriyamtee mooksha kaamkshibhi:
STVY 26
sad bhaavee saadhu bhaavee ca sad iti eetat prayujyatee
pras`astee karman`i tathaa sachchhabda: paartha yujyatee
STVY 27
yagnee tapasi daanee ca sthiti: sad iti choochyatee
karma ca iva tadarthiiyam sad iti eevaabhidhiiyatee
STVY 28
as`raddhayaa hutam dattam tapas taptam krutam ca yat
asad iti uchyatee paartha na ca tat preetya noo iha


The KingThrust Charity consists of offerings intended to obtain something in return, or expecting Heaven. (THREE ADHERENCES 21).
The IgnoDorma Charity consists of offerings given at unclean places, unclean times and situations, and to undeserving persons who are devoid of refined ideas. The offerings are made with contempt. (THREE ADHERENCES 23).
According to the Scriptures, the three names "Om, Tat, Sat" indicate the Supreme Spirit. In the ancient times, these three names were created to represent the Priests, Vedas (Scriptures) and the Sacrifices". (Comment: Literally, Om is a divine sound representing the God. Tat= that. Sat= All that is good.) (THREE ADHERENCES 23).
Hence the worshippers of the Supreme Spirit first chant the sacred sound 'Om' and then start performing the functions of sacrifice, charity and penance. (THREE ADHERENCES 24).
The seekers of deliverance perform the sacrifices, penance and charity after chanting the sacred sound "Tat". (THREE ADHERENCES 25)..
The sacred sound "Sat" is used in all auspicious functions. The sound is indicative of the Supreme Spirit. The words Sat-bhaava (Sadbhava) = Noble idea, Saadhu Bhaava = Gentle Idea consist of the sound "Sat".
(THREE ADHERENCES 26).
The sound "Sat" is used in respect of Sacrifice, Penance and Charity. Other actions and functions which are directed towards the three are also treated as "Sat". (THREE ADHERENCES 27).
It is said that the Sacrifices, Penance, and Charity and all other actions and functions which are done without sincerity, are called "Asat" (Not righteous). (THREE ADHERENCES 28).

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