Gita Rahasya -Tilak 933

Srimad Bhagavadgita-Rahasya OR Karma-Yoga-Sastra -Bal Gangadhar Tilak

CHAPTER 16 SRIMAD BHAGAVADGITA Description:-[Although the meaning of this stanza is clear, 'there is a great deal of difference of opinion about the inter- pretation of the words used in it. In my opinion, this is a description of the opinions of atheists like Carvaka and others, who disputed both the Vedanta and Samkhya doctrines relating to the construction of the world; and therefore, the words used in these stanzas refer to a doctrine contrary to both the Samkhya and the Vedanta doctrines. The Vedantist looks upon this world as perishable, and looks for the Imperishable Reality— "satyasya satyam" — in it; and looks upon that Real Element as the fundamental support or 'pratistha'—"brahmapuccam pratistha"- of it But the demoniac persons believe that this world is 'a-satyam', that is, not containing 'satya' ; and that it is, therefore, 'a-pratistham', that is, not having a pratistha or support. But, a doubt may be raised that although the Imperceptible Parabrahman of the Vedantists may in this; way be not acceptable to demoniac persons, they may be accepting the Perceptible Isvara, Who is worshipped in the Path of Devotion. Therefore, the third word 'anisvara' has been used in this stanza, in order to make it perfectly clear that such demoniac persons do not even accept the existence of an Isvara in the world. When once the fundamental foundation of the world hag thus been denied, one is also compelled to deny the explanation of the order of creation of the world contained in the Upanisadic words : "atman akasah sambhutah I akasad vayuh I vayor agnih I agner apah l adbhyah prthivi I prthivya osadhayah I osadhibhyah annam I annat purusah I" ; as also in the Samkhya doctrine, which looks upon Prakrti and Purusa as two independent Fundamental Elements, and looks upon all perceptible objects as being the result of the mutual support, that is, of the intermixture, of the sattva, rajas, and tamas constituents.