Srimad Bhagavad Gita : Chapter-17. Slokam-11.

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Monday, November 8, 2021. 8:00.PM.

Srimad Bhagavad Gita

Chapter-17. { Sraddha-traya-vibhaga-yogam }

Slokam-11.

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"Aphalakankshibhiryajnah  vidhidrshto  ya  ijyate,

yashtavyameveti  manah  samadhaya  sa  sattvikah."

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Translation :

aphalakankshibhih  =  devoid of desire for result;

vidhi  drshth  yah  yajnah  =  according   to  rules  and  regulations  of  scientific  direction  of  any  yajnam  ( sacrifice );

yashtavyam  eva  iti  =  thus  assuming  that  certainly  must be performed;

manah  samadhaya   ijyate  =  mind  fixed  in  and  performed;

sa  sattvikah  =  that  yajnam  is  said  to  be  sattvic.

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Slokam explained in one line :

The general tendency is to offer sacrifice with some purpose in mind, but here it is stated that sacrifice should be performed without any such desire.

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Commentary :

 It should be done as a matter of duty. 

Take, for example, the performance of rituals in temples or in churches. 

Generally they are performed with the purpose of material benefit, but that is not in the mode of goodness. 

One should go to a temple or church as a matter of duty, offer respect to the Supreme Personality of Godhead and offer flowers and eatables. 

Everyone thinks that there is no use in going to the temple just to worship God. 

But worship for economic benefit is not recommended in the scriptural injunction. 

One should go simply to offer respect to the Deity. 

That will place one in the mode of goodness. 

It is the duty of every civilized man to obey the injunctions of the scriptures and offer respect to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Lord Krishna explains the three fold nature of yagna or performing rituals of propitiation and worship. 

He begins with sattva guna the mode of goodness. 

The words aphala-akariksibhih means performing yagna to the Supreme Lord without a desire for any reward. 

Vidhi-distah means performing it in accordance with the ordinances and injunctions of the Vedic scriptures. 

Yastavyam eveti means performed as a matter of duty or as bhakti exclusive loving devotion unto the Supreme Lord Krishna or any of His authorised avatars or incarnations and expansions as revealed in Vedic scriptures. 

Such yagnas must be performed by duly initiated Vaisnavas and brahmanas chanting prescribed Vedic mantras for the exclusive satisfaction of the Supreme Lord. 

When such a resolve manifests a yagna into reality in this manner it is to be known as situated in sattva guna.

Now Lord Krishna elaborates on the threefold divisions of yagna or propitiation and worship to the Supreme Lord or any of His authorised incarnations and expansions as revealed in Vedic scriptures. 

The yagna that is performed aphala-akanksibhih meaning with no desire for any fruitive rewards and is ordained by the ordinances and injunctions of the Vedic scriptures. 

Following the prescribed procedures, chanting the prescribed mantras, utilising prescribed ingredients, sanctified by duly initiated Vaisnavas and brahmanas who perform it as either a matter of duty or out of devotion to the Supreme Lord are known as situated in sattva guna or mode of goodness.

Lord Krishna confirms that yagna or propitiation and worship also corresponds to the three gunas or modes of material nature and is threefold. 

That yagna which is performed and offered to the Supreme Lord following the ordinances and injunctions of the Vedic scriptures in the prescribed manner which is compulsory by Vaisnavas and brahmanas for the exclusive satisfaction for the Supreme Lord without any desire for rewards is known to be in sattva guna the mode of goodness. 

How is this enacted one may ask? 

It is performed out of duty for its own sake or out of bhakti which is exclusive loving devotion to Lord Krishna or any of His authorised avatars or incarnations and expansions as revealed in Vedic scriptures.

The nature of yajna also corresponds to the three gunas. Shree Krishna begins by explaining the type of sacrifice in the mode of goodness. Aphalakankshibhiryajnah means that the sacrifice should be performed without expectation of any reward. vidhidrshto means that it must be done according to the injunctions of the Vedic scriptures. yashtavyameveti means that it must be performed only for the sake of worship of the Lord, as required by the scriptures. When yajna is performed in this manner, it is classified in the mode of goodness.

Sacrifice that is performed according to the scriptural injunctions without expectation of rewards, with the firm conviction of the mind that it is a matter of duty is of the nature of goodness.

To be continued  ...

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