"Sradhha-By Lord Krishna in Bhagavadgeeta"

 

 

1. O! Krishna, what is the basis of the priorities and values of people who perform rituals according the scripture? Is it the three gunas?

2,3. Sri Bhagavan said: People’s priorities and values depend on whether their minds are sattvic, rajasic or tamasic. People are little more than their priorities and values.

4. People in whom sattva predominates worship for knowledge of God and the purification of the mind. Rajasic people worship to gain certain things in the world. Tamasic people worship out of fear or to achieve ignoble ends.

5,6. Those of sunless dispositions are riddled with pretension and self importance, motivated by passion and longing, lack discrimination and perform physically harmful religious disciplines not enjoined by the scriptures. Not only do they violate the dharmas of the body they injure themselves spiritually.

7. The way one eats, performs religious rituals, disciplines one’s self and gives charity depends on the predominance of a particular guna.

8. Foods, which increase longevity, mental clarity, strength and health and are pleasing to taste and look at are loved by sattvic people.

9. Bitter, sour, salty, hot, pungent, astringent, and burning foods that give pain and regret and cause health problems are sought after by rajasic people.

10. Leftovers, putrid and inadequately cooked food from which the energy has gone and is unfit as an offering is preferred by tamasic people.

11. Rituals enjoined by the scripture performed dutifully without expectation of a result other than the feeling of purity they engender is sattvic.

12. Rituals offered to gain something in this world or to proclaim one’s religiosity are rajasic.

13. Rituals not sanctioned by the scripture whose mantras are not properly recited and do not involve the distribution of food and wealth are tamasic.

14. Physical discipline involves serving wise spiritual teachers, keeping the body clean and healthy, and non-injury to others.

15. Speech which does not cause agitation to oneself and others, which is true, pleasing and beneficial…including daily repetition of one's own Veda…comprise speech discipline.

16. Cheerfulness, lack of a compulsion to speak, mastery of the mind through observation, and straightforward intent are called mental discipline.

17. Self discipline that is observed by those who expect no result other than mental purity is called sattvic.

18. Inconsistent and short-lived self discipline or discipline done ostentatiously to obtain the high opinion of others is rajasic.

19. Discipline done from a deluded state of mind that involves bodily affliction or whose intent is to destroy another is tamasic.

20. Charity dutifully given at the appropriate place and time to a worthy recipient without expectation of return is sattvic.

21. Charity that is painful to give and is intended to benefit oneself is rajasic.

22. Charity given contemptuously at inappropriate times and places to unworthy recipients is tamasic.

23. `Om tat sat,' are three words uttered in the beginning by the Creator that reveal the Self and created the Vedas and their ritual sacrifices.

24. Therefore Vedic rituals, charities, and religious disciplines always begin with Om.

25. After saying ‘tat’ rituals, religious disciplines and charitable activities are performed by those who want liberation without the expectation of any result other than a pure mind.

26. The word `sat' is used to help create a righteous life and sanctify one’s karma.

27. Performance of ritual, religious discipline, and giving is called `sat,' and actions done for the sake of the Self are also called `sat.'

28. ‘Asat’ refers to rituals, disciplines and charity performed without faith that produce no results now or later.

 

Srimad Bhagavad Geeta : Chapter-17, Slokam- 1 to 28, Sradhha traya vibhaga yogam :