Srimad Bhagavad-Gita Chapter-17. Slokam-14.
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Sunday, December 05, 2021. 7:00 PM.
Srimad Bhagavad-Gita
Chapter-17. { Sraddha-traya-vibhaga-yogam }
Slokam-14.
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Gita : Ch-17. Slo-14.
"deva-dwija-guru-prajna- pujanam shaucham arjavam
brahmacharyam ahinsa cha shariram tapa uchyate."BG 17.14:
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Translation :
deva—the Supreme Lord;
dwija—the Brahmins;
guru—the spiritual master;
prājña—the elders;
pūjanam—worship;
śhaucham—cleanliness;
ārjavam—simplicity;
brahmacharyam—celibacy;
ahinsā—non-violence;
cha—and;
śhārīram—of the body;
tapaḥ—austerity;
uchyate—is declared as
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Slokam translation :
"Worship of the Supreme Lord, the Brahmins, the spiritual master, the wise, and the elders—when this is done with the observance of cleanliness, simplicity, celibacy, and non-violence—is declared as the austerity of the body."
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Commentary :
The word tapaḥ means “to heat up,” e.g. by placing on fire. In the process of purification, metals are heated and melted, so that the impurities may rise to the top and be removed. When gold is placed in the fire, its impurities get burnt and its luster increases. Similarly, the Vedas state: atapta tanurnatadā mośhnute (Rig Veda 9.83.1)[v3] “Without purifying the body through austerity, one cannot reach the final state of yog.” By sincerely practicing austerity, human beings can uplift and transform their lives from the mundane to the divine. Such austerity should be performed without show, with pure intent, in a peaceable manner, in conformance with the guidance of the spiritual master and the scriptures.
Shree Krishna now classifies such austerity into three categories—of the body, speech, and mind. In this verse, he talks of the austerity of the body. When the body is dedicated to the service of the pure and saintly, and all sense indulgence in general, and sexual indulgence in particular, is eschewed, it is acclaimed as austerity of the body. Such austerity should be done with cleanliness, simplicity, and care for not hurting others. Here, “Brahmins” does not refer to those who consider themselves Brahmins by birth, but to those endowed with sāttvic qualities, as described in verse 18.42.
Tapah or austerities of the physical body in sattva guna or mode of goodness are worship of the Supreme Lord Krishna or any of His authorized incarnations and expansions as reveled in Vedic scriptures. Worship of the diksa guru the initiating Vaisnava spiritual master and the siksa guru the instructing Vaisnava spiritual master and worship of the brahmanas. External and internal cleanliness, celibacy and nonviolence also are included in sattva guna..
Now in order to explain the three types of austerities incorporated in and corresponding to the three gunas or modes of material nature; Lord Krishna describes their character first as that of bodily austerity, that of verbal austerity and that of mental austerity from each of the three gunas from where tapas manifests. Worship of the Supreme Lord Krishna or any of His authorised incarnations and expansions in their installed deity forms after being duly initiated in the prescribed mantras by the Vaisnava spiritual master, worship of the Vaisnavas and brahmanas, worship of the singular diksa guru the initiating spiritual master and the elevated siksa gurus or instructing spiritual masters. The word saucam means internal and external cleanliness. Arjjavam means no duplicity, the intention of the mind and the action are not different. Brahmacaryam is celibacy the absence of thinking about engaging in sexual relations. Ahimsa is not causing harm to any living entity by thought, word or deed. All these activities constitute austerity of the physical body in sattva guna the mode of goodness.
Now in order to introduce the threefold divisions of austerities Lord Krishna commences with austerities which can be performed by the physical body, verbal speech as well as the mind. The worship of the Supreme Lord Krishna the origin of all creation and any of His authorised incarnations and expansions as revealed in Vedic scriptures who each far excels every other god imaginable such as Brahma and Shiva, as well as far excelling all other gods of other conceptions collectively combined are pre-eminent austerities in sattva guna the mode of goodness. Worship of the Vaisnavas and brahmanas, worship of the diksa guru the initiating spiritual master and the siksa guru the instructing spiritual master, who dispel the darkness of ignorance by revealing the eternal, spiritual truths applicable to all existences in all times and external and internal cleanliness are all in sattva guna the mode of goodness. Arjavam is acting without duplicity in thought, word or deed. Brahmacaryam is celibacy which is abstinence from all sexual activities. The Agni Purana: CCCLXX.IX.XI specifically refers to the eightfold forms of celibacy which is abstinence from all sexual activity and includes: thinking about it, talking about it, suggestively insinuating it, watching others engaging in it, affirming desire for it, wooing another for it, meeting in private for it and finally engaging oneself in it. Ahimsa is non-violence to any creature by thought, word and deed. The particle ca stands to include non-cheating and non- stealing. etc. All these activities are situated in sattva guna the mode of goodness
End.
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