Gyaneshwari -Sant Gyaneshwar
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Chapter-17
Three Kinds of Faith
19. The austerity, which is practiced under a wrong notion with self-torture, or the destruction of others, is said to be of ‘tamas’ quality. O Archer, some persons out of foolishness, treat their body as an enemy and perform sacrifices in the following way. Some apply the flame of the five sacred fires (panchagni) and scorch the body like firewood (251-255). Some keep a pan on their head and burn fragrant gum in it, or pierce their backs with iron hooks or scorch their bodies by keeping blazing fire around themselves. They suspend breathing and observe fasts, or with heads hanging downwards, they inhale smoke or remain standing in water as cold as ice upto their neck or tear out their own flesh, sitting on a rock or a bank. O Dhananjaya, they perform austerities through self-torture for causing harm to others. A big and heavy boulder dislodged from its position from a mountain, rolls down with a crash, gets broken into smithereens and crushes whatever comes in the way (256-260). In the same way, they carry on austerities by tormenting the body, in order to outdo persons who are happy and prominent. O Arjuna, that, which is evil and full of self-torture is tamasic austerity. Thus, I have explained to you, the austerities of three kinds, based on the three gunas. I shall tell you, as the occasion demands, how charity is also of three kinds because of the three gunas. Now hear about the sattvic charity. (261-265) |
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