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tasmācchāstraṁ pramāṇaṁ te kāryākāryavyavasthitau । jñātvā śāstravidhānoktaṁ karma kartumihārhasi ॥16- 24॥</blockquote>Meaning: He who, casting aside the ordinances of the scriptures, acts under the impulse of desire, attains neither perfection nor happiness nor the supreme goal. Therefore, let the scripture be the authority in determining what ought to be done and what ought not to be done. Having known what is said in the ordinance of the scriptures, one should act here in this world.<ref>Swami Sivananda (2000), [https://holybooks-lichtenbergpress.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/BHAGAVAD-GITA-By-SRI-SWAMI-SIVANANDA.pdf Bhagavad Gita], Uttar Pradesh: The Divine Life Society, The Yoga of the Division between the Divine and the Demoniacal.</ref>

tasmācchāstraṁ pramāṇaṁ te kāryākāryavyavasthitau । jñātvā śāstravidhānoktaṁ karma kartumihārhasi ॥16- 24॥</blockquote>Meaning: He who, casting aside the ordinances of the scriptures, acts under the impulse of desire, attains neither perfection nor happiness nor the supreme goal. Therefore, let the scripture be the authority in determining what ought to be done and what ought not to be done. Having known what is said in the ordinance of the scriptures, one should act here in this world.<ref>Swami Sivananda (2000), [https://holybooks-lichtenbergpress.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/BHAGAVAD-GITA-By-SRI-SWAMI-SIVANANDA.pdf Bhagavad Gita], Uttar Pradesh: The Divine Life Society, The Yoga of the Division between the Divine and the Demoniacal.</ref>

Based on this, Arjuna asks,“What about those who, even though setting aside scriptural injunctions yet perform worship with [[Shraddha (श्रद्धा)|shraddha]] ?”<blockquote>ये शास्त्रविधिमुत्सृज्य यजन्ते श्रद्धयान्विताः । तेषां निष्ठा तु का कृष्ण सत्त्वमाहो रजस्तमः ॥१७- १॥<ref name=":0">Bhagavad Gita, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BE/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%83 Adhyaya 17.]</ref>

Based on this, Arjuna asks,“What about those who, even though setting aside scriptural injunctions yet perform worship with [[Shraddha (श्रद्धा)|shraddha]] ?”<blockquote>ये शास्त्रविधिमुत्सृज्य यजन्ते श्रद्धयान्विताः । तेषां निष्ठा तु का कृष्ण सत्त्वमाहो रजस्तमः ॥१७- १॥<ref name=":0">Bhagavad Gita, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BE/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%83 Adhyaya 17]</ref>

ye śāstravidhimutsr̥jya yajante śraddhayānvitāḥ । teṣāṁ niṣṭhā tu kā kr̥ṣṇa sattvamāho rajastamaḥ ॥17- 1॥</blockquote>To this, Shri Krishna replies that the shraddha of such people who ignore the injunctions of the scriptures could be either Sattvik, Rajasik or Tamasik in accordance with the basic nature of the person. And, conversely, as is the kind of shraddha, so develops the nature of the person. Thus, in all things like [[Yajna (यज्ञः)|yajna]], worship, [[Dana (दानम्)|charity]], penance, etc., these qualities become expressed in accordance with the kind of shraddha in which the person concerned is based and they produce results in accordance with the quality of the doer’s shraddha.  

ye śāstravidhimutsr̥jya yajante śraddhayānvitāḥ । teṣāṁ niṣṭhā tu kā kr̥ṣṇa sattvamāho rajastamaḥ ॥17- 1॥</blockquote>To this, Shri Krishna replies that the shraddha of such people who ignore the injunctions of the scriptures could be either Sattvik, Rajasik or Tamasik in accordance with the basic nature of the person. And, conversely, as is the kind of shraddha, so develops the nature of the person. Thus, in all things like [[Yajna (यज्ञः)|yajna]], worship, [[Dana (दानम्)|charity]], penance, etc., these qualities become expressed in accordance with the kind of shraddha in which the person concerned is based and they produce results in accordance with the quality of the doer’s shraddha.  

== श्रद्धायाः स्वरूपं प्रभावश्च ॥ Nature and Impact of Shraddha ==

== श्रद्धायाः स्वरूपं प्रभावश्च ॥ Nature and Impact of Shraddha ==

The Bhagavad Gita emphasizes that the inherent qualities of one’s mind mould one’s Shraddha. And of whatever nature one’s shraddha is, that the person personifies.<ref name=":1" />Shraddha of each person is in accordance with one's natural disposition. A person is made of his Shraddha; what his Shraddha is, that he verily is.<blockquote>सत्त्वानुरूपा सर्वस्य श्रद्धा भवति भारत । श्रद्धामयोऽयं पुरुषो यो यच्छ्रद्धः स एव सः ॥१७.३॥<ref name=":0" />

The Bhagavad Gita emphasizes that the inherent qualities of one’s mind mould one’s Shraddha. And of whatever nature one’s shraddha is, that the person personifies.<ref name=":1" />Shraddha of each person is in accordance with one's natural disposition. A person is made of his Shraddha; what his Shraddha is, that he verily is.<blockquote>सत्त्वानुरूपा सर्वस्य श्रद्धा भवति भारत । श्रद्धामयोऽयं पुरुषो यो यच्छ्रद्धः स एव सः ॥१७.३॥<ref name=":0" /> sattvānurūpā sarvasya śraddhā bhavati bhārata । śraddhāmayo'yaṁ puruṣo yo yacchraddhaḥ sa eva saḥ ॥17.3॥</blockquote>Commenting on this verse, Sri Aurobindo adds that whatever one has faith to see as possible in himself and strive for, that one can create and become.<ref>Sri Aurobindo, [http://www.sriaurobindo.nl/docs/Sri%20Aurobindo/23-24TheSynthesisofYoga.pdf The Synthesis of Yoga], Sri Aurobindo Ashram Trust.</ref>Thus, Shraddha has the ability to shape a person.<ref name=":2" />

 

sattvānurūpā sarvasya śraddhā bhavati bhārata । śraddhāmayo'yaṁ puruṣo yo yacchraddhaḥ sa eva saḥ ॥17.3॥</blockquote>Commenting on this verse, Sri Aurobindo adds that whatever one has faith to see as possible in himself and strive for, that one can create and become.<ref>Sri Aurobindo, [http://www.sriaurobindo.nl/docs/Sri%20Aurobindo/23-24TheSynthesisofYoga.pdf The Synthesis of Yoga], Sri Aurobindo Ashram Trust.</ref>Thus, Shraddha has the ability to shape a person.<ref name=":2" />

=== Shraddha and Individual Choice ===

=== Shraddha and Individual Choice ===

Sattva, Rajas and Tamas are the inherent qualities in one's mind that mould one's shraddha. Each of these Trigunas has an inherent tendency. It is said,

Sattva, Rajas and Tamas are the inherent qualities in one's mind that mould one's shraddha. Each of these Trigunas has an inherent tendency. It is said,<blockquote>सत्त्वं सुखे संजयति रजः कर्मणि भारत । ज्ञानमावृत्य तु तमः प्रमादे संजयत्युत ॥१४.९॥<ref>Bhagavad Gita, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BE/%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%83 Adhyaya 14 (Guna Traya Vibhaga Yoga)]</ref>

 

सत्त्वं सुखे संजयति रजः कर्मणि भारत । ज्ञानमावृत्य तु तमः प्रमादे संजयत्युत ॥१४.९॥

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rajas (14.7) रजो रागात्मकं विद्धि तृष्णासङ्गसमुद्भवम् । तन्निबध्नाति कौन्तेय कर्मसङ्गेन देहिनम् ॥ (Bhagvad Gita 14.7)

 

Rajo guṇa is of the nature of passion. It arises from worldly desires and affections, and binds the soul through attachment to fruitive actions.

 

लोभ: प्रवृत्तिरारम्भ: कर्मणामशम: स्पृहा । रजस्येतानि जायन्ते विवृद्धे भरतर्षभ ॥ (Bhagvad Gita 14.12)

 

Rajo guṇa excess leads to greed, inordinate activity for worldly attainments, restlessness of the mind and desires. (Rajas)

 

Tamas (14.8) तमस्त्वज्ञानजं विद्धि मोहनं सर्वदेहिनाम्। प्रमादालस्यनिद्राभिस्तन्निबध्नाति भारत॥14- 8॥

 

 

 

Tamo guṇa results in delusion of the intellect, laziness, errors in decision making and inappropriate understanding of the situation. (Tamas)

 

Sattva is said to be the illuminating or enlightening quality that helps one to understand the truth or reality of the situation, gives clarity and thus helps one to understand real bliss or happiness. Rajas owing to its passionate nature, consistently forces one to initiate actions to achieve goals and thus that person gets engaged in the pursuit of various pleasures. On the other hand, Tamas by nature clouds the wisdom and incapacitates individual to know the truth or to understand the real nature of anything.(Trigunas)

sattvaṁ sukhe saṁjayati rajaḥ karmaṇi bhārata । jñānamāvr̥tya tu tamaḥ pramāde saṁjayatyuta ॥14.9॥</blockquote>Meaning: Sattva enjoins one to happiness; rajas conditions one towards fruitive action and tamas veils knowledge and binds one to unmindfulness.<ref>A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (1998), [https://ebooks.iskcondesiretree.com/pdf/00_-_Srila_Prabhupada/Bhagavad_Gita/Bhagavad_Gita_As_It_Is.pdf Bhagavad Gita As It Is], USA: The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International.</ref><ref name=":1" />

यजन्ते सात्त्विका देवान्यक्षरक्षांसि राजसाः । प्रेतान्भूतगणांश्चान्ये यजन्ते तामसा जनाः ॥१७- ४॥

Therefore, the nature of one’s shraddha that is based on the predominence of the trigunas in oneself influences the choices one makes. Reflecting this impact of shraddha on individual choice, the Bhagavad Gita states,<blockquote>यजन्ते सात्त्विका देवान्यक्षरक्षांसि राजसाः । प्रेतान्भूतगणांश्चान्ये यजन्ते तामसा जनाः ॥१७.४॥<ref name=":0" />

People in whom sattva prevails worship the deities; people in whom rajas prevails worship the lesser deities and people in whom tamas prevails worship ghosts and evil beings.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />

yajante sāttvikā devānyakṣarakṣāṁsi rājasāḥ । pretānbhūtagaṇāṁścānye yajante tāmasā janāḥ ॥17.4॥</blockquote>Meaning: People in whom sattva prevails worship the devas; people in whom rajas prevails worship the yakshas and rakshasas, and people in whom tamas prevails worship the pretas and bhutaganas.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />

Characteristics of Asuras

Characteristics of Asuras