SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 17 Text 13
vidhi-hinam asrstannam
mantra-hinam adaksinam
sraddha-virahitam yajnam
tamasam paricaksate

vidhi-hinam--without scriptural direction; asrsta-annam--without distribution of prasadam; mantra-hinam--with no chanting of the Vedic hymns; adaksinam--with no remunerations to the priests; sraddha--faith; virahitam--without; yajnam--sacrifice; tamasam--in the mode of ignorance; paricaksate--is to be considered.

TRANSLATION

Any sacrifice performed without regard for the directions of scripture, without distribution of prasadam [spiritual food], without chanting of Vedic hymns and remunerations to the priests, and without faith is considered to be in the mode of ignorance.

JOURNAL:

Srila Prabhupada makes this statement at the beginning of his purport; Faith in the mode of darkness or ignorance is actually faithlessness.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 17 Text 12
abhisandhaya tu phalam
dambhartham api caiva yat
ijyate bharata-srestha
tam yajnam viddhi rajasam

abhisandhaya--desiring; tu--but; phalam--the result; dambha--pride; artham--for the sake of; api--also; ca--and; eva--certainly; yat--that which; ijyate--is performed; bharata-srestha--O chief of the Bharatas; tam--that; yajnam--sacrifice; viddhi--know; rajasam--in the mode of passion.

TRANSLATION

But the sacrifice performed for some material benefit, or for the sake of pride, O chief of the Bharatas, you should know to be in the mode of passion.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 17 Text 3
sattvanurupa sarvasya
sraddha bhavati bharata
sraddha-mayo 'yam puruso
yo yac-chraddhah sa eva sah

sattva-anurupa--according to the existence; sarvasya--of everyone; sraddha--faith; bhavati--becomes; bharata--O son of Bharata; sraddha--faith; mayah--full of; ayam--this; purusah--living entity; yah--who; yat--having which; sraddhah--faith; sah--thus; eva--certainly; sah--he.

TRANSLATION

O son of Bharata, according to one's existence under the various modes of nature, one evolves a particular kind of faith. The living being is said to be of a particular faith according to the modes he has acquired.

JOURNAL:

Srila Prabhupada opens his purport with this statement; Everyone has a particular type of faith, regardless of what he is. But his faith is considered good, passionate or ignorant according to the nature he has acquired. Later, near the end he explains; As long as one's faith is not completely in purified goodness, the faith is subject to contamination by any of the modes of material nature. The contaminated modes of material nature expand to the heart. Therefore according to the position of the heart in contact with a particular mode of material nature, one's faith is established. It should be understood that if one's heart is in the mode of goodness his faith is also in the mode of goodness. If his heart is in the mode of passion, his faith is also in the mode of passion. And if his heart is in the mode of darkness, illusion, his faith is also thus contaminated. Thus we find different types of faith in this world, and there are different types of religions due to different types of faith.

I have always been amazed by those who use their faith as an excuse to hate others, or another's faith. I am not just talking about the "Mid-East Terrorist", but also about some Christians that love to take Old Testament teachings out of context and use them as weapons, forgetting that these are Jewish teachings that, when put back into context, come with a lots of other rules to keep the true believer in check.

The last time I went on Sankirtan here in Portland our little group of a dozen devotees circled the city center square where a crowd was gathering to watch a movie. We included a second block also in our circling. Each time we came to the block where the crowd was people would smile and some would pick up the chant but, on one corner, stood two preachers from a non-denominational Christian church who held a huge sign that condemned everyone from Democrates to gays to all non-christians. They stood in one place and bellowed at the crowd, and at us each time we passed. On our third or forth pass the police had come and were telling them they had to leave. When the officers saw us they just smiled. When it was time for the movie to start we disbanded.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 17 Text 28
asraddhaya hutam dattam
tapas taptam krtam ca yat
asad ity ucyate partha
na ca tat pretya no iha

asraddhaya--without faith; hutam--offered in sacrifice; dattam--given; tapah--penance; taptam--executed; krtam--performed; ca--also; yat--that which; asat--false; iti--thus; ucyate--is said to be; partha--O son of Prtha; na--never; ca--also; tat--that; pretya--after death; na u--nor; iha--in this life.

TRANSLATION

Anything done as sacrifice, charity or penance without faith in the Supreme, O son of Prtha, is impermanent. It is called asat and is useless both in this life and the next.

JOURNAL:

Srila Prabhupada ends his purport to this sloka (and ends this chapter) with this statement; 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 Krsna consciousness directly. That is the message of this Seventeenth Chapter.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 17 Text 26-27
sad-bhave sadhu-bhave ca
sad ity etat prayujyate
prasaste karmani tatha
sac-chabdah partha yujyate

yajne tapasi dane ca
sthitih sad iti cocyate
karma caiva tad-arthiyam
sad ity evabhidhiyate

sat-bhave--in the sense of the nature of the Supreme; sadhu-bhave--in the sense of the nature of the devotee; ca--also; sat--the word sat; iti--thus; etat--this; prayujyate--is used; prasaste--in bona fide; karmani--activities; tatha--also; sat-sabdah--the sound sat; partha--O son of Prtha; yujyate--is used; yajne--in sacrifice; tapasi--in penance; dane--in charity; ca--also; sthitih--the situation; sat--the Supreme; iti--thus; ca--and; ucyate--is pronounced; karma--work; ca--also; eva--certainly; tat--for that; arthiyam--meant; sat--the Supreme; iti--thus; eva--certainly; abhidhiyate--is indicated.

TRANSLATION

The Absolute Truth is the objective of devotional sacrifice, and it is indicated by the word sat. The performer of such sacrifice is also called sat, as are all works of sacrifice, penance and charity which, true to the absolute nature, are performed to please the Supreme Person, O son of Prtha.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 17 Text 25
tad ity anabhisandhaya
phalam yajna-tapah-kriyah
dana-kriyas ca vividhah
kriyante moksa-kanksibhih

tat--that; iti--thus; anabhisandhaya--without desiring; phalam--the fruitive result; yajna--of sacrifice; tapah--and penance; kriyah--activities; dana--of charity; kriyah--activities; ca--also; vividhah--various; kriyante--are done; moksa-kanksibhih--by those who actually desire liberation.

TRANSLATION

Without desiring fruitive results, one should perform various kinds of sacrifice, penance and charity with the word tat. The purpose of such transcendental activities is to get free from material entanglement.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 17 Text 24
tasmad om ity udahrtya
yajna-dana-tapah-kriyah
pravartante vidhanoktah
satatam brahma-vadinam

tasmat--therefore; om--beginning with om; iti--thus; udahrtya--indicating; yajna--of sacrifice; dana--charity; tapah--and penance; kriyah--performances; pravartante--begin; vidhana-uktah--according to scriptural regulation; satatam--always; brahma-vadinam--of the transcendentalists.

TRANSLATION

Therefore, transcendentalists undertaking performances of sacrifice, charity and penance in accordance with scriptural regulations begin always with om, to attain the Supreme.

JOURNAL:

During Lent, Catholics practice sacrifice, penance and alms giving. This is generally done by not eating meat on Fridays and holy days. The money saved by not buying meat is then given to the poor. Many a priest has asked his congregation to continue these practices year round, and some denominations, such as the Franciscans whose main role in the church is to work for social justice, push their practitioners to become vegetarians as a lifestyle. Once again I am amazed at the similarities between the religions.

I have added a new video to the "Srila Prabhupada and George Harrison" page of this blog.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 17 Text 23
om tat sad iti nirdeso
brahmanas tri-vidhah smrtah
brahmanas tena vedas ca
yajnas ca vihitah pura

om--indication of the Supreme; tat--that; sat--eternal; iti--thus; nirdesah--indication; brahmanah--of the Supreme; tri-vidhah--threefold; smrtah--is considered; brahmanah--the brahmanas; tena--with that; vedah--the Vedic literature; ca--also; yajnah--sacrifice; ca--also; vihitah--used; pura--formerly.

TRANSLATION

From the beginning of creation, the three words om tat sat were used to indicate the Supreme Absolute Truth. These three symbolic representations were used by brahmanas while chanting the hymns of the Vedas and during sacrifices for the satisfaction of the Supreme.

JOURNAL:

Here is an excerpt from Srila Prabhupada's purport; The three words om tat sat are uttered in conjunction with the holy name of the Supreme Lord, e.g., om tad visnoh. 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 brahmano nedistham nama (Rg Veda) indicates the first goal. Then tat tvam asi (Chandogya Upanisad 6.8.7) indicates the second goal. And sad eva saumya (Chandogya Upanisad 6.2.1) indicates the third goal. Combined they become om tat sat.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 17 Text 22
adesa-kale yad danam
apatrebhyas ca diyate
asat-krtam avajnatam-
tat tamasam udahrtam

adesa--at an unpurified place; kale--and unpurified time; yat--that which; danam--charity; apatrebhyah--to unworthy persons; ca--also; diyate--is given; asat-krtam--without respect; avajnatam--without proper attention; tat--that; tamasam--in the mode of darkness; udahrtam--is said to be.

TRANSLATION

And charity performed at an impure place, at an improper time, to unworthy persons, or without proper attention and respect is said to be in the mode of ignorance.

JOURNAL:

Living in the city, as I do, I run across beggars all the time. Here in Portland there are many groups that will feed the poor (although the food is a long way off from being in the mode of goodness) so, for the most part, people are not begging for their needs but for their wants, and intoxication is what a lot of them want. It is not hard to understand that they simply want to blot out the conciseness of their miserable existences.

I, as a giver, must remember what Srila Prabhupada points out in his purport; Contributions for indulgence in intoxication and gambling are not encouraged here. That sort of contribution is in the mode of ignorance. I need to offer real help to my brothers, not just escapism. For his good, and for my own, I must seek the mode of goodness.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 17 Text 21
yat tu pratyupakarartham
phalam uddisya va punah
diyate ca pariklistam
tad danam rajasam smrtam

yat--that which; tu--but; prati-upakara-artham--for the sake of getting some return; phalam--a result; uddisya--desiring; va--or; punah--again; diyate--is given; ca--also; pariklistam--grudgingly; tat--that; danam--charity; rajasam--in the mode of passion; smrtam--is understood to be.

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.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 17 Text 20
datavyam iti yad danam
diyate 'nupakarine
dese kale ca patre ca
tad danam sattvikam smrtam

datavyam--worth giving; iti--thus; yat--that which; danam--charity; diyate--is given; anupakarine--irrespective of return; dese--in a proper place; kale--at a proper time; ca--also; patre--to a suitable person; ca--and; tat--that; danam--charity; sattvikam--in the mode of goodness; smrtam--is considered.

TRANSLATION

Charity given out of duty, without expectation of return, at the proper time and place, and to a worthy person is considered to be in the mode of goodness.

JOURNAL:

Srila Prabhupada in his purport explains; In the Vedic literature, charity given to a person engaged in spiritual activities is recommended. There is no recommendation for giving charity indiscriminately.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 17 Text 19
mudha-grahenatmano yat
pidaya kriyate tapah
parasyotsadanartham va
tat tamasam udahrtam

mudha--foolish; grahena--with endeavor; atmanah--of one's own self; yat--which; pidaya--by torture; kriyate--is performed; tapah--penance; parasya--to others; utsadana-artham--for the sake of causing annihilation; va--or; tat--that; tamasam--in the mode of darkness; udahrtam--is said to be.

TRANSLATION

Penance performed out of foolishness, with self-torture or to destroy or injure others, is said to be in the mode of ignorance.

JOURNAL:

In the early days of Catholicism these kinds of torturous penances were reported a lot. The idea was that our sins were so bad that, the closer the penitent got to the torture that Christ went through, the more his sins would be forgiven, hence the better his chances of getting to heaven were. Thank God that is not how the Church thinks any more.

In Krishna Consciousness the idea is to turn from the four major sins (meat eating, gambling, illicit sex, and intoxication) and practice the faith under a bonified spiritual master. In this way our karma will be erased and, as long as we do not turn back to our old ways, we will gain the heavenly planets.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 17 Text 18
satkara-mana-pujartham
tapo dambhena caiva yat
kriyate tad iha proktam
rajasam calam adhruvam

sat-kara--respect; mana--honor; puja--and worship; artham--for the sake of; tapah--austerity; dambhena--with pride; ca--also; eva--certainly; yat--which; kriyate--is performed; tat--that; iha--in this world; proktam--is said; rajasam--in the mode of passion; calam--flickering; adhruvam--temporary.

TRANSLATION

Penance performed out of pride and for the sake of gaining respect, honor and worship is said to be in the mode of passion. It is neither stable nor permanent.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 17 Text 17
sraddhaya paraya taptam
tapas tat tri-vidham naraih
aphalakanksibhir yuktaih
sattvikam paricaksate

sraddhaya--with faith; paraya--transcendental; taptam--executed; tapah--austerity; tat--that; tri-vidham--of three kinds; naraih--by men; aphala-akanksibhih--who are without desires for fruits; yuktaih--engaged; sattvikam--in the mode of goodness; paricaksate--is called.

TRANSLATION

This threefold austerity, performed with transcendental faith by men not expecting material benefits but engaged only for the sake of the Supreme, is called austerity in goodness.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 17 Text 16
manah-prasadah saumyatvam
maunam atma-vinigrahah
bhava-samsuddhir ity etat
tapo manasam ucyate

manah-prasadah--satisfaction of the mind; saumyatvam--being without duplicity towards others; maunam--gravity; atma--of the self; vinigrahah--control; bhava--of one's nature; samsuddhih--purification; iti--thus; etat--this; tapah--austerity; manasam--of the mind; ucyate--is said to be.

TRANSLATION

And satisfaction, simplicity, gravity, self-control and purification of one's existence are the austerities of the mind.

JOURNAL:

Srila Prabhupada begins his purport by explaining how to accomplish this mental state; To make the mind austere is to detach it from sense gratification. It should be so trained that it can be always thinking of doing good for others. The best training for the mind is gravity in thought. If I am serious (grave) about my thought life the rest of these good qualities will follow.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 17 Text 15
anudvega-karam vakyam
satyam priya-hitam ca yat
svadhyayabhyasanam caiva
van-mayam tapa ucyate

anudvega-karam--not agitating; vakyam--words; satyam--truthful; priya--dear; hitam--beneficial; ca--also; yat--which; svadhyaya--of Vedic study; abhyasanam--practice; ca--also; eva--certainly; vak-mayam--of the voice; tapah--austerity; ucyate--is said to be.

TRANSLATION

Austerity of speech consists in speaking words that are truthful, pleasing, beneficial, and not agitating to others, and also in regularly reciting Vedic literature.

JOURNAL:

Many people have complained to me that I sound too serious when talking on a subject that I am passionate about. I try to be aware of this defect of my character every time I open my mouth.

SLOKA OF THE DAY;

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 17 Text 14
deva-dvija-guru-prajna-
pujanam saucam ariavam
brahmacaryam ahimsa ca
sariram tapa ucyate

deva--of the Supreme Lord; dvija--the brahmanas; guru--the spiritual master; prajna--and worshipable personalities; pujanam--worship; saucam--cleanliness; arjavam--simplicity; brahmacaryam--celibacy; ahimsa--nonviolence; ca--also; sariram--pertaining to the body; tapah--austerity; ucyate--is said to be.

TRANSLATION

Austerity of the body consists in worship of the Supreme Lord, the brahmanas, the spiritual master, and superiors like the father and mother, and in cleanliness, simplicity, celibacy and nonviolence.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 17 Text 11
aphalakanksibhir yajno
vidhi-disto ya ijyate
yastavyam eveti manah
samadhaya sa sattvikah

aphala-akanksibhih--by those devoid of desire for result; yajnah--sacrifice; vidhi-distah--according to the direction of scripture; yah--which; ijyate--is performed; yastavyam--must be performed; eva--certainly; iti--thus; manah--mind; samadhaya--fixing; sah--it; sattvikah--in the mode of goodness.

TRANSLATION

Of sacrifices, the sacrifice performed according to the directions of scripture, as a matter of duty, by those who desire no reward, is of the nature of goodness.

JOURNAL:

Scarifices or church attendence is best when done out of love for God. As Srila Prabhupada writes in his purport; The general tendency is to offer sacrifice with some purpose in mind, but here it is stated that sacrifice should be performed without any such desire. It should be done as a matter of duty.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 17 Text 10
yata-yamam gata-rasam
puti paryusitam ca yat
ucchistam api camedhyam
bhojanam tamasa-priyam

yata-yamam--food cooked three hours before being eaten; gata-rasam--tasteless; puti--bad-smelling; paryusitam--decomposed; ca--also; yat--that which; ucchistam--remnants of food eaten by others; api--also; ca--and; amedhyam--untouchable; bhojanam--eating; tamasa--to one in the mode of darkness; priyam--dear.

TRANSLATION

Food prepared more than three hours before being eaten, food that is tasteless, decomposed and putrid, and food consisting of remnants and untouchable things is dear to those in the mode of darkness.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 17 Text 9
katv-amla-lavanaty-usna-
tiksna-ruksa-vidahinah
ahara rajasasyesta
duhkha-sokamaya-pradah

katu--bitter; amla--sour; lavana--salty; ati usna--very hot; tiksna--pungent; ruksa--dry; vidahinah--burning; aharah--food; rajasasya--to one in the mode of passion; istah--palatable; duhkha--distress; soka--misery; amaya--disease; pradah--causing.

TRANSLATION

Foods that are too bitter, too sour, salty, hot, pungent, dry and burning are dear to those in the mode of passion. Such foods cause distress, misery and disease.