Gyaneshwari -Sant Gyaneshwar
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Chapter-17
Three Kinds of Faith
In this way, the tamasic person is rude to the person who begs and dismisses him unceremoniously like a debtor, by placing something on his palm, addressing him rudely (301- 305). Whatever he gives, he gives after counting it and gets rid of him by talking to him in a humiliating and insulting tone. Charity given in this way which results only in expense, is called tamasic charity. I have thus explained to you the characteristics of sattvic, rajasic and tamasic charity. O Arjuna, if only sattvic actions can free one from the bonds of worldly existence, you may raise a doubt and ask as to why I have described to you the faulty actions (306-310). But one cannot get hold of a buried treasure, without driving away the goblin sitting on it or one cannot kindle the fire without suffering smoke to start with. In the same way what is wrong if I remove the veil of rajas and tamas quality obscuring the sattva quality? I have mentioned in the last verses, that the actions from faith to charities are all pervaded by the three gunas. While in fact, I had not thought of mentioning the other two gunas, I had to do so to show the sattva quality clearly. When a thing occurs along with two other things, it can be seen clearly. When the two are eliminated, as evening becomes clear after the close of the day and before night-fall (311-315), so when the rajas and tamas qualities are avoided, sattva quality alone is attained, in its noblest aspect. So I had to mention the characteristics of rajas and tamas qualities in order to show you clearly, the sattva quality. |
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