Contents
Shri Sankara's Gita Bhashya
(Sri Sankaracharya's Commentary on the Gita)
CHAPTER -3
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The virtuous, eating i.e. habituated to partaking of, the remnants, called 'ambrosia' (amrta), of food left after the completion of yajñas, sacrifices to gods etc.[1], are freed from all sins-those occuring at the five places of slaughter[1], such as the fire-place, as also other sins arising from injury, etc., committed through inadver tence[1]; but they, the others, the selfish, who cook (only) for them selves, i.e. prepare food (to feed) their own persons, those being them selves wretches, eat sin. For the following reason as well, action should be performed by him who has that duty. Action is indeed what causes the movement of the universe-cycle. How? The answer follows :
14. From food come forth beings; from rain food is produced from yajña arises rain; yajña is born of Karma. From food which has been eaten and been converted into blood and semen, directly come forth beings; from rain food is produced; from yajiia arises rain, as taught in the Smrti- |
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References and Context
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 The five places of slaughter in a household are at the llre-placci the wooden mortar in which corn or grain is threshed, the grindstone, the broom, and the water-pot. In these places, injury to life is knowingly caused. Injury is also caused to creatures, through inadvertence, such as by treading on them with the foot. Sin also arises by inadvertently coming into contact with impure objects. All sins arc wiped away by the performance of the Ave mahū yajnas (great sacrifices) -to the gods, to the pitrs (manes), to men, to Bhūtas (all created beings) and to the rsis (Brahma-yafna'). (A)