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Chapter 17
satkaramanapujartham tapo dambhena caiva yat
kriyate tadiha proktam rajasam calamadhruvam
Penance performed, in order to gain respect, honour and reverence and for the sake of ostentation and which yields an uncertain and perishable fruit, is said to be rajasa (passionate).18
Comment:-
Satkaramanapujartham tapah kriyate:- People of rdjasa temperament, perform sacrifice, in order to win respect, honour and reverence, in society. They expect others to respect them, as men of penance, possessing self-control, truth and oon-violence. They perform it, so that people may bow to them, wash their feet, offer flowers and garlands to them, wave lights before them, and touch their forehead with the dust of their feet. During their life, and after death, they may have a funeral procession with grandeur, make monument, and offer flowers, sandalwood paste, water and clothes etc., to monuments.
Dambhena caiva yat:- Though they have no faith in penances, yet they perform these, for the sake of show. They sit cross-legged, start counting the beads of a rosary and worshipping God, by way of ostentation.
Tadiha proktam rajasam calamadhruvam:- The fruit of rajasa penance, is said to be uncertain and perishable. It means, that a penance which is performed in order to win respect, honour and reverence bears perishable fruit, while penance which is performed for ostentation, may bear fruit or not, and the ostentation may be, a success or not.
The expression 'Iha proktam; means that a person gets the reward of the rajasika penance, here in the world. Sattvika people, go to higher regions- heaven etc., the tamasika, descend to lower regions - hell etc., while the rajasika, remain in the middle regions[1]. Therefore, rajasika penance, bears fruit here, in the form of respect, honour and praise.
Can a rajasika person perform penance of the body, mind and speech? He can worship the gods, by expecting a reward. He can be gentle and can study scriptures. But he cannot observe celibacy and non-violence. He cannot be placid and cheerful, because projection and distraction of the mind, disturb him, because of his desire. Moreover, how can his nature be pure, when he performs penance, in order to win respect, honour and reverence? So a rajasika person, cannot perform, the threefold penance fully.
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