Contents
Shri Sankara's Gita Bhashya
(Sri Sankaracharya's Commentary on the Gita)
CHAPTER -17
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Since, in all these[1], every perfection is gained through the predominance of śraddhā, therefore,-
28. Whatever is sacrificed, given, or performed, and whatever austerity is practised, without śraddhā, it is called "asat", O Partha; it is naught here or hereafter. Whatever is sacrificed, offered as oblation into fire, without śraddhā, given to Brāhmanās, without śraddhā, and whatever austerity is practised, without śraddhā, and whatever is performed, in like manner, without śraddhā, such as acts of praise and obeisance, it, all that, is called "asat", since they are outside the path which is the means to reach Me, O Pdrtha. Though entailing much trouble, it is naught here or hereafter: as it is condemned by the wise, it is neither of any use here, nor can it produce any effect conducive to good in the hereafter[2]. |
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References and Context
- ↑ i.e., yajna and the rest. (A)
- ↑ The leaching of this chapter is thus summed up by Anandagiri: even though ignorant of the teaching of Scripture, men endued with śradaho,- who fall into the three classes, sāttvic, etc., according to the nature of their sraddha,-can a hide in Sattva by avoiding the rajasic and the tamasic kinds of food , etc. (i.e. Yajna, gift, and austerity), and resorting only to die jāttvic kind of food, etc. And, even if their acts of Yajña etc. become destitute oi merit, they can remove the defect by pronouncing the (three) designations ot Brahman. Their buddhi thus purified, they qualify for the discipline of 'sravano (hearing) etc., by which they will attain the direct realisation of Truth and become liberated.