Srimad Bhagavad Gita -Ramanujacharya 513

Srimad Bhagavad Gita -Ramanujacharya

Chapter-17 Śraddhā-traya-vibhāga Yogaḥ

The Threefold Classification of Food Now, Sri Krishna, resuming the topic under discussion, elaborates on the categorisation of sacrifices and other works enjoined by the Scriptures according to the Gunas. To begin with, He categorises food into three kinds because food is the basis for the development of Sattva, Rajas and Tamas as declared by the Scriptures:— 'For the mind my dear, consists of food' and 'when the food is pure, the mind becomes pure' . āhāras-tvapi sarvasya trividho bhavati priyaḥ | yajñās tapas tathā dānaṃ teṣāṃ bhedam imaṃ śṛṇu || 7 || 7. The food which is preferred by each, is threefold, as are the sacrifices, self-discipline and philanthropy. Now listen to their differentiation.