Book Title: Bhagwad Gita
Author(s): Sivananda Swami
Publisher: Divine Life Society

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Page 140
________________ THE YOGA OF THE DIVISION OF THE THREEFOLD FAITH Devadwijagurupraajna poojanam shauchamaarjavam; Brahmacharyamahimsaa cha shaareeram tapa uchyate. 14. Worship of the gods, the twice-born, the teachers and the wise, purity, straightforwardness, celibacy and non-injury—these are called the austerities of the body. Anudwegakaram vaakyam satyam priyahitam cha yat; Swaadhyaayaabhyasanam chaiva vaangmayam tapa uchyate. 15. Speech which causes no excitement and is truthful, pleasant and beneficial, the practice of the study of the Vedas, are called austerity of speech. COMMENTARY: It is said in the Manu Smriti: "One should speak what is true; one should speak what is pleasant; one should not speak what is true if it is not pleasant, nor what is pleasant if it is false. This is the ancient Dharma". To be an austerity speech should combine all the attributes mentioned in the above verse. Manahprasaadah saumyatwam maunamaatmavinigrahah; Bhaavasamshuddhirityetat tapo maanasamuchyate. 16. Serenity of mind, good-heartedness, purity of nature, self-control—this is called mental austerity. Shraddhayaa parayaa taptam tapastattrividham naraih; Aphalaakaangkshibhiryuktaih saattwikam parichakshate. 17. This threefold austerity practised by steadfast men with the utmost faith, desiring no reward, they call Sattwic. Satkaaramaanapoojaartham tapo dambhena chaiva yat; Kriyate tadiha proktam raajasam chalamadhruvam. 18. The austerity which is practised with the object of gaining good reception, honour and worship and with hypocrisy, is here said to be Rajasic, unstable and transitory. Moodhagraahenaatmano yat peedayaa kriyate tapah; Parasyotsaadanaartham vaa tattaamasamudaahritam. 19. The austerity which is practised out of a foolish notion, with self-torture, or for the purpose of destroying another, is declared to be Tamasic. Daatavyamiti yaddaanam deeyate 'nupakaarine; Deshe kaale cha paatre cha taddaanam saattwikam smritam. 20. That gift which is given to one who does nothing in return, knowing it to be a duty to give in a fit place and time to a worthy person, that gift is held to be Sattwic. 122

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