Bhagavad-gita As It Is - Macmillan 1972 Edition -- Prabhupada Books (115 page)

TRANSLATION

But charity performed with the expectation of some return, or with a desire for fruitive results, or in a grudging mood, is said to be charity in the mode of passion.

PURPORT

Charity is sometimes performed for elevation to the heavenly kingdom and sometimes with great trouble and with repentance afterwards. "Why have I spent so much in this way?" Charity is also sometimes made under some obligation, at the request of a superior. These kinds of charity are said to be made in the mode of passion.

There are many charitable foundations which offer their gifts to institutions where sense gratification goes on. Such charities are not recommended in the Vedic scripture. Only charity in the mode of goodness is recommended.

Bg 17.22

TEXT 22

TEXT

adeśa-kāle yad dānam

apātrebhyaś ca dīyate

asat-kṛtam avajñātaṁ

tat tāmasam udāhṛtam

SYNONYMS

adesa-
unpurified place;
kāle-
unpurified time;
yat
-that which is;
dānam
-charity;
apātrebhyaḥ
-to unworthy persons;
ca-
also;
dīyate
-is given;
asatkṛtam
-without respect;
avajñātam
-without proper attention;
tat
-that;
tāmasam
-in the mode of darkness;
udāhṛtam-
is said to be.

TRANSLATION

And charity performed at an improper place and time and given to unworthy persons without respect and with contempt is charity in the mode of ignorance.

PURPORT

Contributions for indulgence in intoxication and gambling are not encouraged here. That sort of contribution is in the mode of ignorance. Such charity is not beneficial; rather, sinful persons are encouraged. Similarly, if a person gives charity to a suitable person without respect and without attention, that sort of charity is also said to be in the mode of darkness.

Bg 17.23

TEXT 23

TEXT

oṁ tat sad iti nirdeśo

brahmaṇas tri-vidhaḥ smṛtaḥ

brāhmaṇās tena vedāś ca

yajñāś ca vihitāḥ purā

SYNONYMS

om-
indication of the Supreme;
tat-
that;
sat-
eternal;
iti-
that;
nirdeśaḥ-
indication;
brāhmaṇāḥ-
of the Supreme;
tri-vidhaḥ-
three kinds;
smṛtaḥ-
consider;
brahmaṇaḥ-
the
brāhmaṇas; tena-
therefore;
vedāḥ-
the Vedic literature;
ca-
also;
yajñāḥ-
sacrifice;
ca-
also;
vihitāḥ-
sacrifice;
purā-
formerly.

TRANSLATION

From the beginning of creation, the three syllables-om tat sat-have been used to indicate the Supreme Absolute Truth [Brahman]. They were uttered by brāhmaṇas while chanting Vedic hymns and during sacrifices, for the satisfaction of the Supreme.

PURPORT

It has been explained that penance, sacrifice, charity and foods are divided into three categories: the modes of goodness, passion and ignorance. But whether first class, second class or third class, they are all conditioned, contaminated by the material modes of nature. When they are aimed at the Supreme-
om tat sat,
the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the eternal-they become means for spiritual elevation. In the scriptural injunctions such an objective is indicated. These three words,
om tat sat,
particularly indicate the Absolute Truth, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In the Vedic hymns, the word
om
is always found.

One who acts without following the regulations of the scriptures will not attain the Absolute Truth. He will get some temporary result, but not the ultimate end of life. The conclusion is that the performance of charities, sacrifice and penance must be done in the mode of goodness. Performed in the modes of passion or ignorance, they are certainly inferior in quality. The three words
om tat sat
are uttered in conjunction with the holy name of the Supreme Lord, e.g.,
om tad viṣṇoḥ.
Whenever a Vedic hymn or the holy name of the Supreme Lord is uttered,
om
is added. This is the indication of Vedic literature. These three words are taken from Vedic hymns.
Om ity etad brahmaṇo nediṣṭaṁ nāma
indicates the first goal. Then
tattvamasi
indicates the second goal. And
sad eva saumya
indicates the third goal. Combined they become
om tat sat.
Formerly when Brahmā, the first created living entity, performed sacrifices, he spoke these three names of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The same principle holds by disciplic succession. So this hymn has great significance.
Bhagavad-gītā
recommends, therefore, that any work done should be done for
om tat sat,
or for the Supreme Personality of Godhead. When one performs penance, charity, and sacrifice with these three words, he is acting in Krṣna consciousness. Kṛṣṇa consciousness is a scientific execution of transcendental activities which enables one to return home, back to Godhead. There is no loss of energy in acting in such a transcendental way.

Bg 17.24

TEXT 24

TEXT

tasmād oṁ ity udāhṛtya

yajña-dāna-tapaḥ-kriyāḥ

pravartante vidhānoktāḥ

satataṁ brahma-vādinām

SYNONYMS

tasmāt-
therefore;
om-
beginning with
om; iti-
thus;
udāhṛtya-
indicating;
yajña-
sacrifice;
dāna-
charity;
tapaḥ-
penance;
kriyāḥ-
performances;
pravartante-
begins;
vidhāna-uktāḥ-
according to scriptural regulation;
satatam-
always;
brahma-vādinām-
of the transcendentalists.

TRANSLATION

Thus the transcendentalists undertake sacrifices, charities, and penances, beginning always with om, to attain the Supreme.

PURPORT

Om tad viṣṇoḥ paramaṁ padam.
The lotus feet of Viṣṇu are the supreme devotional platform. The performance of everything on behalf of the Supreme Personality of Godhead assures the perfection of all activity.

Bg 17.25

TEXT 25

TEXT

tad ity anabhisandhāya

phalaṁ yajña-tapaḥ-kriyāḥ

dāna-kriyāś ca vividhāḥ

kriyante mokṣa-kāṅkṣibhiḥ

SYNONYMS

tat-
that;
iti-
they;
anabhisandhāya-
without fruitive result;
phalam-
result of sacrifice;
yajña-
sacrifice;
tapaḥ-
penance;
kriyāḥ-
activities;
dāna-
charity;
kriyāḥ-
activities;
ca-
also;
vividhāḥ-
varieties;
kriyante-
done;
mokṣa-kāṅkṣibhiḥ-
those who actually desire liberation.

TRANSLATION

One should perform sacrifice, penance and charity with the word tat. The purpose of such transcendental activities is to get free from the material entanglement.

PURPORT

To be elevated to the spiritual position, one should not act for any material gain. Acts should be performed for the ultimate gain of being transferred to the spiritual kingdom, back to home, back to Godhead.

Bg 17.26, Bg 17.27, Bg 17.26-27

TEXTS 26-27

TEXT

sad-bhāve sādhu-bhāve ca

sad ity etat prayujyate

praśaste karmaṇi tathā

sac-chabdaḥ pārtha yujyate

sthitiḥ sad iti cocyate

karma caiva tad-arthīyaṁ

sad ity evābhidhīyate

SYNONYMS

sat-bhāve-
in the sense of the nature of the Supreme;
sādhu-bhāve-
in the sense of the nature of devotion;
ca-
also;
sat-
the Supreme;
iti-
thus;
etat-
this;
prayujyate-
is used;
praśaste-
bona fide;
karmaṇi-
activities;
tathā-
also;
sat-śabdaḥ-
sound;
pārtha
-O son of Pṛthā;
yujyate-
is used;
yajñe-
sacrifice;
tapasi-
in penance;
dāne-
charity;
ca-
also;
sthitiḥ-
situated;
sat-
the Supreme;
iti-
thus;
ca-
and;
ucyate-
pronounced;
karma-
work;
ca-
also;
eva-
certainly;
tat-
that;
arthīyam-
are meant;
sat-
Supreme;
iti-
thus;
eva-
certainly;
abhidhīyate-
is practiced.

TRANSLATION

The Absolute Truth is the objective of devotional sacrifice, and it is indicated by the word sat. These works of sacrifice, of penance and of charity, true to the absolute nature, are performed to please the Supreme Person, O son of Pṛthā.

PURPORT

The words
praśaste karmaṇi,
or prescribed duties, indicate that there are many activities prescribed in the Vedic literature which are purificatory processes beginning from parental care up to the end of one's life. Such purificatory processes are adopted for the ultimate liberation of the living entity. In all such activities it is recommended that one should vibrate
om tat sat.
The words
sad-bhāve
and
sādhu-bhāve
indicate the transcendental situation. One who is acting in Kṛṣṇa consciousness is called
sattva,
and one who is fully conscious of activities in Kṛṣṇa consciousness is called
svarūpa.
In the
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam
it is said that the transcendental subject matter becomes clear in the association of the devotees. Without good association, one cannot achieve transcendental knowledge. When initiating a person or offering the sacred thread, one vibrates the words
om tat sat.
Similarly, in all kinds of yogic performances, the supreme object,
om tat sat
is invoked. These words
om tat sat
are used to perfect all activities. This supreme
om tat sat
makes everything complete.

Bg 17.28

TEXT 28

TEXT

aśraddhayā hutaṁ dattaṁ

tapas taptaṁ kṛtaṁ ca yat

asad ity ucyate pārtha

na ca tat pretya no iha

SYNONYMS

aśraddhayā-
without faith;
hutam
-performed;
dattam
-given;
tapaḥ
-penance;
taptam
-executed;
kṛtam
-performed;
ca
-also;
yat
-that which;
asat
-falls;
iti-
thus;
ucyate
-is said to be;
pārtha-
O son of Pṛthā;
na
-never;
ca
-also;
tat
-that;
pretya
-after death;
no
-nor;
iha-
in this life.

TRANSLATION

But sacrifices, austerities and charities performed without faith in the Supreme are nonpermanent, O son of Pṛthā, regardless of whatever rites are performed. They are called asat and are useless both in this life and the next.

PURPORT

Anything done without the transcendental objective-whether it be sacrifice, charity or penance-is useless. Therefore, in this verse, it is declared that such activities are abominable. Everything should be done for the Supreme in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Without such faith, and without the proper guidance, there can never be any fruit. In all the Vedic scriptures, faith in the Supreme is advised. In the pursuit of all Vedic instructions, the ultimate goal is the understanding of Kṛṣṇa. No one can obtain success without following this principle. Therefore, the best course is to work from the very beginning in Kṛṣṇa consciousness under the guidance of a bona fide spiritual master. That is the way to make everything successful.

In the conditional state, people are attracted to worship demigods, ghosts, or Yakṣas like Kuvera. The mode of goodness is better than the modes of passion and ignorance, but one who takes directly to Kṛṣṇa consciousness is transcendental to all three modes of material nature. Although there is a process of gradual elevation, if one, by the association of pure devotees, takes directly to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, that is the best way. And that is recommended in this chapter. To achieve success in this way, one must first find the proper spiritual master and receive training under his direction. Then one can achieve faith in the Supreme. When that faith matures, in course of time, it is called love of God. This love is the ultimate goal of the living entities. One should, therefore, take to Krṣṇa consciousness directly. That is the message of this Seventeenth Chapter.

Thus end the Bhaktivedanta Purports to the Seventeenth Chapter of the
Śrīmad-Bhagavad-gītā
in the matter of the Divisions of Faith.

Bg 18: Conclusion-The Perfection of Renunciation

18. Conclusion-The Perfection of Renunciation

Bg 18.1

TEXT 1

TEXT

arjuna uvāca

sannyāsasya mahā-bāho

tattvam icchāmi veditum

tyāgasya ca hṛṣīkeśa

pṛthak keśī-niṣūdana