Gyaneshwari -Sant Gyaneshwar
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Chapter-18
Release
24. But action, which is done with much effort by one who desires some gain from it or by one who is moved by egoism, that action is said to be of rajas quality. He (a rajasic doer) is like a fool, who never talks sweetly to his parents but is courteous to others (591-595). He is like one, who does not sprinkle water on the basil (Tulsi) plant but pours milk over the grape vine. He does not even get up from his seat to perform the obligatory actions, but if he undertakes work with a selfish motive, he does not feel any strain, even if he has to labour hard. He is not satisfied even if he sows large quantities of seed in the field or if he invests large amounts in the business of money-lending. Just as one who has acquired a philosopher’s stone spends all his riches in the purchase of iron and becomes prosperous (596-600), so this rajasic doer, with an eye on their fruit, performs laborious works, but does not feel that he has undertaken enough work. He performs well, in anticipation of their fruits, a number of actions with a selfish motive and as laid down by the scriptures, but he blows his trumpet of having done so and gives gifts to earn the reputation of being a pious person. Puffed up by the works undertaken by him, he does not show proper respect to his parents or his preceptor, just as typhus fever is defiant of medicine. Then whatever actions he undertakes with an egoistic feeling and with the desire for their fruit, he exerts himself to perform them, like an acrobat who performs feats to earn his livelihood. A rat scoops up a mountain to gain one grain, a frog stirs up the sea for moss or the snake-charmer carries the burden of snakes though he gets nothing more than paltry alms. What a pity that such persons find pleasure in exertions of this kind! Like the white ant which digs the ground up to the nether world for the sake of a grain of corn, they labour hard to gain the celestial pleasures. Such laborious action, which is reward-oriented is rajasic action. Now hear the characteristics of tamasic action. |
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