Shraddha Traya Vibhaga Yoga (श्रद्धात्रयविभागयोगः)
Shraddha Traya Vibhaga Yoga (Samskrit: श्रद्धात्रयविभागयोगः) is the name of the seventeenth chapter of the Bhagavad Gita. The theme of this chapter is a response to Arjuna's query about the advice of Shri Krishna in chapter sixteen.
अध्यायसारः ॥ Summary of the Seventeenth Chapter
In the previous Chapter Shri Krishna says that,
यः शास्त्रविधिमुत्सृज्य वर्तते कामकारतः । न स सिद्धिमवाप्नोति न सुखं न परां गतिम् ॥१६.२३॥
तस्माच्छास्त्रं प्रमाणं ते कार्याकार्यव्यवस्थितौ । ज्ञात्वा शास्त्रविधानोक्तं कर्म कर्तुमिहार्हसि ॥१६.२४॥[1]
yaḥ śāstravidhimutsr̥jya vartate kāmakārataḥ । na sa siddhimavāpnoti na sukhaṁ na parāṁ gatim ॥16.23॥
tasmācchāstraṁ pramāṇaṁ te kāryākāryavyavasthitau । jñātvā śāstravidhānoktaṁ karma kartumihārhasi ॥16.24॥
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.[2] Based on this, Arjuna asks,“What about those who, even though setting aside scriptural injunctions yet perform worship with shraddha ?”
ये शास्त्रविधिमुत्सृज्य यजन्ते श्रद्धयान्विताः । तेषां निष्ठा तु का कृष्ण सत्त्वमाहो रजस्तमः ॥१७.१॥[3] ye śāstravidhimutsr̥jya yajante śraddhayānvitāḥ । teṣāṁ niṣṭhā tu kā kr̥ṣṇa sattvamāho rajastamaḥ ॥17.1॥
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, worship, 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.
Therefore, acts done with right shraddha lead to supreme blessedness while, those done without any shraddha whatsoever, become barren and useless.[4]
त्रिविधा श्रद्धा ॥ Trividha Shraddha
The Bhagavad Gita explains the concept of Shraddha with respect to the Trigunas. It says that Shraddha of people that is born of their individual natures, is of three kinds viz. Sattviki, Rajasi and Tamasi characterized by sattva, rajas and tamas respectively.[5]
त्रिविधा भवति श्रद्धा देहिनां सा स्वभावजा । सात्त्विकी राजसी चैव तामसी चेति तां शृणु ॥१७.२॥[3] trividhā bhavati śraddhā dehināṁ sā svabhāvajā । sāttvikī rājasī caiva tāmasī ceti tāṁ śr̥ṇu ॥17.2॥
Sattva, Rajas and Tamas are together referred to as Trigunas. In Samkhya darshana, they refer to the three metaphysical properties that Prakrti or primordial nature is composed of and are different from the concept of Gunas in the Vaisheshika darshana. It is an interaction between these Samkhyan Trigunas that leads to manifestation of the material universe from the Trigunatmika Prakrti. Manas or mind that plays a key role in all experiences, by mediating between the senses and the intellect to convert simple impressions into preception, is one of the 25 tattvas that evolves from Prakriti. It is believed that the effect is of the same nature as the cause.[6] Therefore, the trigunas present in Prakrti as the three modes of material energy are also present in the mind as 3 types of characteristics. However, they are found in varying proportions in different people. Based on the predominent guna, one's mind-type is classified as Sattvika, Rajasika or Tamasika that in turn influences one's emotions and behaviour.[7]
Since human emotions are largely dependent on the predominence of trigunas in one's mind, the typology of Shraddha, which is a firm belief, an emotion one has towards a deity, person or shastra, is also described as threefold in nature viz. Sattviki, Rajasi and Tamasi, based on one's individual nature.[8]
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.[5]
सत्त्वानुरूपा सर्वस्य श्रद्धा भवति भारत । श्रद्धामयोऽयं पुरुषो यो यच्छ्रद्धः स एव सः ॥१७.३॥[3] sattvānurūpā sarvasya śraddhā bhavati bhārata । śraddhāmayo'yaṁ puruṣo yo yacchraddhaḥ sa eva saḥ ॥17.3॥
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.[9]Thus, Shraddha has the ability to shape a person.[8]
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,
सत्त्वं सुखे संजयति रजः कर्मणि भारत । ज्ञानमावृत्य तु तमः प्रमादे संजयत्युत ॥१४.९॥[10] sattvaṁ sukhe saṁjayati rajaḥ karmaṇi bhārata । jñānamāvr̥tya tu tamaḥ pramāde saṁjayatyuta ॥14.9॥
Meaning: Sattva enjoins one to happiness; rajas conditions one towards fruitive action and tamas veils knowledge and binds one to unmindfulness.[11][5] 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,
यजन्ते सात्त्विका देवान्यक्षरक्षांसि राजसाः । प्रेतान्भूतगणांश्चान्ये यजन्ते तामसा जनाः ॥१७.४॥[3] yajante sāttvikā devānyakṣarakṣāṁsi rājasāḥ । pretānbhūtagaṇāṁścānye yajante tāmasā janāḥ ॥17.4॥
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.[5][8]
केऽसुराः ? Who are Asuras ?
Chapter 16 of the Bhagavad Gita concludes with the statement that those who act under the impulse of desire by casting aside the ordinances of scriptures neither attain happiness nor the Supreme goal. And therefore, one must take scriptures as authoritative in determining the dos and donts and act accordingly.[2]
यः शास्त्रविधिमुत्सृज्य वर्तते कामकारतः । न स सिद्धिमवाप्नोति न सुखं न परां गतिम् ॥१६.२३॥
तस्माच्छास्त्रं प्रमाणं ते कार्याकार्यव्यवस्थितौ । ज्ञात्वा शास्त्रविधानोक्तं कर्म कर्तुमिहार्हसि ॥१६.२४॥[1]
yaḥ śāstravidhimutsr̥jya vartate kāmakārataḥ । na sa siddhimavāpnoti na sukhaṁ na parāṁ gatim ॥16.23॥
tasmācchāstraṁ pramāṇaṁ te kāryākāryavyavasthitau । jñātvā śāstravidhānoktaṁ karma kartumihārhasi ॥16.24॥
This forms the basis for the discussion on Shraddha, its role in determining the basic nature of people, its influence on individual choices, etc. in the 17th chapter. Having enumerated the threefold typology of Shraddha based on the Trigunas, Shri Krishna now returns to the fundamental question that prompted the discussion ie. 'who are those who act in disobedience to Vedic scriptures'. To this, he answers,
अशास्त्रविहितं घोरं तप्यन्ते ये तपो जनाः । दम्भाहंकारसंयुक्ताः कामरागबलान्विताः ॥१७.५॥
कर्षयन्तः शरीरस्थं भूतग्राममचेतसः । मां चैवान्तःशरीरस्थं तान्विद्ध्यासुरनिश्चयान् ॥१७.६॥[3]
aśāstravihitaṁ ghoraṁ tapyante ye tapo janāḥ । dambhāhaṁkārasaṁyuktāḥ kāmarāgabalānvitāḥ ॥17.5॥
karṣayantaḥ śarīrasthaṁ bhūtagrāmamacetasaḥ । māṁ caivāntaḥśarīrasthaṁ tānviddhyāsuraniścayān ॥17.6॥
Meaning: People who subject themselves to severe austerities and penances not recommended in the scriptures, perform them out of pride and egoism being impelled by the force of lust and attachment, who are foolish, they not only torture the material elements of the body but also the Supreme being dwelling within. And they are to be known as Asuras.[11]
त्रिविधः विन्यासः ॥ Threefold Typology[5][11]
It has already been indicated that one's Shraddha and inherent qualities play a determining role in one's choices. Since the nature of individuals is threefold ie. Sattvika, Rajasika and Tamasika, their consequent choices are also conceived as threefold in nature. The Bhagavad Gita states that even the food that is dear to all is of three kinds (based on the threefold nature of beings) and the same is true in the case of Yajna, Tapa and Dana as well.
आहारस्त्वपि सर्वस्य त्रिविधो भवति प्रियः । यज्ञस्तपस्तथा दानं तेषां भेदमिमं शृणु ॥१७.७॥[3] āhārastvapi sarvasya trividho bhavati priyaḥ । yajñastapastathā dānaṁ teṣāṁ bhedamimaṁ śr̥ṇu ॥17.7॥
The threefold typology thus exemplified in the Bhagavad Gita in the context of Ahara, Yajna, Tapa and Dana is as follows:
| Sattvika | Rajasika | Tamasika | |
|---|---|---|---|
आहारः ॥ AharaFood preferred by people characterised by the predominence of sattva, rajas or tamas in their nature are enumerated in verses 17.8-17.10 of the Bhagavad Gita. |
Foods favoured by people endowed with sattva pomote
Such (Sattvika) foods are
|
Foods that are dear to those who are rajasika in nature are excessively
Such (rajasika) foods cause
|
People endowed with Tamas favour food that is
|
यज्ञः ॥ YajnaThe Bhagavad Gita defines three kinds of Yajna across verses 17.11 and 17.13 |
Sattvika Yajna is that which is performed
|
Rajasika Yajnas are that which are performed
|
विधिहीनमसृष्टान्नं मन्त्रहीनमदक्षिणम् । श्रद्धाविरहितं यज्ञं तामसं परिचक्षते ॥१७.१३॥
Any sacrifice performed without regard for the directions of scripture, without distribution of prasadam (spiritual food), and without faith is considered to be in the mode of ignorance.[11] And that sacrifice which is not performed according to the scriptural rules and in which no food is distributed, no hymns are chanted and no fees paid, and which is devoid of faith, is said to be of the nature of tamas. The sacrifice characterised by tamas is performed mechanically either because the act of living demands it, or because it comes in or way, or because others do it, or because of the desire to avoid another greater difficulty that may arise from its non-performance, or for some other unworthy motive. |
तपः ॥ Tapaदेवद्विजगुरुप्राज्ञपूजनं शौचमार्जवम् । ब्रह्मचर्यमहिंसा च शारीरं तप उच्यते ॥१७.१४॥ 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. अनुद्वेगकरं वाक्यं सत्यं प्रियहितं च यत् । स्वाध्यायाभ्यसनं चैव वाङ्मयं तप उच्यते ॥१७.१५॥ Austerity of speech consists in speaking words that are truthful, pleasing, beneficial and not agitating to others and also in regularly reciting Vedic literature. मनः प्रसादः सौम्यत्वं मौनमात्मविनिग्रहः । भावसंशुद्धिरित्येतत्तपो मानसमुच्यते ॥१७.१६॥ And satisfaction, simplicity, gravity, self-control and purification of one's existence are the austerities of the mind. |
श्रद्धया परया तप्तं तपस्तत्त्रिविधं नरैः । अफलाकाङ्क्षिभिर्युक्तैः सात्त्विकं परिचक्षते ॥१७.१७॥
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.[11] |
सत्कारमानपूजार्थं तपो दम्भेन चैव यत् । क्रियते तदिह प्रोक्तं राजसं चलमध्रुवम् ॥१७.१८॥
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.[11] |
मूढग्राहेणात्मनो यत्पीडया क्रियते तपः । परस्योत्सादनार्थं वा तत्तामसमुदाहृतम् ॥१७.१९॥
Penance performed out of foolishness, with Self-torture or to destroy or injure others, is said to be in the mode of ignorance.[11] |
दानम् ॥ Dana |
दातव्यमिति यद्दानं दीयतेऽनुपकारिणे । देशे काले च पात्रे च तद्दानं सात्त्विकं स्मृतम् ॥१७.२०॥
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. |
यत्तु प्रत्युपकारार्थं फलमुद्दिश्य वा पुनः । दीयते च परिक्लिष्टं तद्दानं राजसं स्मृतम् ॥१७.२१॥
But charity performed with the expectation of some return or with a desire for fruitive results or in a gruding mood is said to be charity in the mode of passion. |
अदेशकाले यद्दानमपात्रेभ्यश्च दीयते । असत्कृतमवज्ञातं तत्तामसमुदाहृतम् ॥१७.२२॥
And charity performed at an impure place, at an improper time, to unworthy persons or withour proper attention and respect is said to be in the mode of ignorance. |
श्लोकाः ॥ Verses
The verses from 17.8-17.22 that enumerate the above mentioned threefold characteristics of Ahara, Yajna, Tapa and Dana in correspondence to the predominent gunas ie. Sattva, Rajas and Tamas in individuals are enlisted below:
| Sattvika | आयुःसत्त्वबलारोग्यसुखप्रीतिविवर्धनाः । रस्याः स्निग्धाः स्थिरा हृद्या आहाराः सात्त्विकप्रियाः ॥१७.८॥ | āyuḥsattvabalārogyasukhaprītivivardhanāḥ । rasyāḥ snigdhāḥ sthirā hr̥dyā āhārāḥ sāttvikapriyāḥ ॥17.8॥ |
| Rajasika | कट्वम्ललवणात्युष्णतीक्ष्णरूक्षविदाहिनः । आहारा राजसस्येष्टा दुःखशोकामयप्रदाः ॥१७.९॥ | kaṭvamlalavaṇātyuṣṇatīkṣṇarūkṣavidāhinaḥ । āhārā rājasasyeṣṭā duḥkhaśokāmayapradāḥ ॥17.9॥ |
| Tamasika | यातयामं गतरसं पूति पर्युषितं च यत् । उच्छिष्टमपि चामेध्यं भोजनं तामसप्रियम् ॥१७.१०॥ | yātayāmaṁ gatarasaṁ pūti paryuṣitaṁ ca yat । ucchiṣṭamapi cāmedhyaṁ bhojanaṁ tāmasapriyam ॥17.10॥ |
| Sattvika | अफलाकाङ्क्षिभिर्यज्ञो विधिदृष्टो य इज्यते । यष्टव्यमेवेति मनः समाधाय स सात्त्विकः ॥१७.११॥ | aphalākāṅkṣibhiryajño vidhidr̥ṣṭo ya ijyate । yaṣṭavyameveti manaḥ samādhāya sa sāttvikaḥ ॥17.11॥ |
| Rajasika | अभिसंधाय तु फलं दम्भार्थमपि चैव यत् । इज्यते भरतश्रेष्ठ तं यज्ञं विद्धि राजसम् ॥१७.१२॥ | abhisaṁdhāya tu phalaṁ dambhārthamapi caiva yat । ijyate bharataśreṣṭha taṁ yajñaṁ viddhi rājasam ॥17.12॥ |
| Tamasika | विधिहीनमसृष्टान्नं मन्त्रहीनमदक्षिणम् । श्रद्धाविरहितं यज्ञं तामसं परिचक्षते ॥१७.१३॥ | vidhihīnamasr̥ṣṭānnaṁ mantrahīnamadakṣiṇam । śraddhāvirahitaṁ yajñaṁ tāmasaṁ paricakṣate ॥17.13॥ |
| Sattvika
देवद्विजगुरुप्राज्ञपूजनं शौचमार्जवम् । ब्रह्मचर्यमहिंसा च शारीरं तप उच्यते ॥१७.१४॥ devadvijaguruprājñapūjanaṁ śaucamārjavam । brahmacaryamahiṁsā ca śārīraṁ tapa ucyate ॥17.14॥ |
श्रद्धया परया तप्तं तपस्तत्त्रिविधं नरैः । अफलाकाङ्क्षिभिर्युक्तैः सात्त्विकं परिचक्षते ॥१७.१७॥ | śraddhayā parayā taptaṁ tapastattrividhaṁ naraiḥ । aphalākāṅkṣibhiryuktaiḥ sāttvikaṁ paricakṣate ॥17.17॥ |
| Rajasika
अनुद्वेगकरं वाक्यं सत्यं प्रियहितं च यत् । स्वाध्यायाभ्यसनं चैव वाङ्मयं तप उच्यते ॥१७.१५॥ anudvegakaraṁ vākyaṁ satyaṁ priyahitaṁ ca yat । svādhyāyābhyasanaṁ caiva vāṅmayaṁ tapa ucyate ॥17.15॥ |
सत्कारमानपूजार्थं तपो दम्भेन चैव यत् । क्रियते तदिह प्रोक्तं राजसं चलमध्रुवम् ॥१७.१८॥ | satkāramānapūjārthaṁ tapo dambhena caiva yat । kriyate tadiha proktaṁ rājasaṁ calamadhruvam ॥17.18॥ |
| Tamasika
मनः प्रसादः सौम्यत्वं मौनमात्मविनिग्रहः । भावसंशुद्धिरित्येतत्तपो मानसमुच्यते ॥१७.१६॥ manaḥ prasādaḥ saumyatvaṁ maunamātmavinigrahaḥ । bhāvasaṁśuddhirityetattapo mānasamucyate ॥17.16॥ |
मूढग्राहेणात्मनो यत्पीडया क्रियते तपः । परस्योत्सादनार्थं वा तत्तामसमुदाहृतम् ॥१७.१९॥ | mūḍhagrāheṇātmano yatpīḍayā kriyate tapaḥ । parasyotsādanārthaṁ vā tattāmasamudāhr̥tam ॥17.19॥ |
| Sattvika | दातव्यमिति यद्दानं दीयतेऽनुपकारिणे । देशे काले च पात्रे च तद्दानं सात्त्विकं स्मृतम् ॥१७.२०॥ | dātavyamiti yaddānaṁ dīyate'nupakāriṇe । deśe kāle ca pātre ca taddānaṁ sāttvikaṁ smr̥tam ॥17.20॥ |
| Rajasika | यत्तु प्रत्युपकारार्थं फलमुद्दिश्य वा पुनः । दीयते च परिक्लिष्टं तद्दानं राजसं स्मृतम् ॥१७.२१॥ | yattu pratyupakārārthaṁ phalamuddiśya vā punaḥ । dīyate ca parikliṣṭaṁ taddānaṁ rājasaṁ smr̥tam ॥17.21॥ |
| Tamasika | अदेशकाले यद्दानमपात्रेभ्यश्च दीयते । असत्कृतमवज्ञातं तत्तामसमुदाहृतम् ॥१७.२२॥ | adeśakāle yaddānamapātrebhyaśca dīyate । asatkr̥tamavajñātaṁ tattāmasamudāhr̥tam ॥17.22॥ |
And it is based on one’s shraddha and inherent qualities, that one chooses the kind of yajna, tapas and dana one performs.[8] And as explained in the previous section of the article, one's choice of yajna, dana, tapa or karma depends on one's inherent qualities that are driven either by Sattva, Rajas or Tamas.
Shraddha is the foundation of Yajna, Dana, Tapa and Karma as it is the presence of shraddha that makes them virtuous.
As is the kind of shraddha, so develops the nature of the person. Thus, in all things like yajna, worship, 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.[4]
Om tat sat
ॐतत्सदिति निर्देशो ब्रह्मणस्त्रिविधः स्मृतः । ब्राह्मणास्तेन वेदाश्च यज्ञाश्च विहिताः पुरा ॥१७- २३॥
तस्मादोमित्युदाहृत्य यज्ञदानतपःक्रियाः । प्रवर्तन्ते विधानोक्ताः सततं ब्रह्मवादिनाम् ॥१७- २४॥
तदित्यनभिसन्धाय फलं यज्ञतपःक्रियाः । दानक्रियाश्च विविधाः क्रियन्ते मोक्षकाङ्क्षिभिः ॥१७- २५॥
सद्भावे साधुभावे च सदित्येतत्प्रयुज्यते । प्रशस्ते कर्मणि तथा सच्छब्दः पार्थ युज्यते ॥१७- २६॥
Sat & Asat
यज्ञे तपसि दाने च स्थितिः सदिति चोच्यते । कर्म चैव तदर्थीयं सदित्येवाभिधीयते ॥१७- २७॥
अश्रद्धया हुतं दत्तं तपस्तप्तं कृतं च यत् । असदित्युच्यते पार्थ न च तत्प्रेत्य नो इह ॥१७- २८॥
ॐ तत्सदिति श्रीमद्भगवद्गीतासूपनिषत्सु ब्रह्मविद्यायां योगशास्त्रे श्रीकृष्णार्जुनसंवादे श्रद्धात्रयविभागयोगो नाम सप्तदशोऽध्यायः ॥१७॥
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Bhagavad Gita, Adhyaya 16
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Swami Sivananda (2000), Bhagavad Gita, Uttar Pradesh: The Divine Life Society, The Yoga of the Division between the Divine and the Demoniacal.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Bhagavad Gita, Adhyaya 17
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Swami Sivananda (2000), Bhagavad Gita, Uttar Pradesh: The Divine Life Society, The Yoga of the Division of the Threefold Faith.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Swami Nikhilananda (1944), The Bhagavad Gita, New York: Ramakrishna-Vivekananda Center.
- ↑ Swami Sivananda (1999), All About Hinduism, Uttar Pradesh: The Divine Life Society.
- ↑ https://dharmawiki.org/index.php/Trigunas_(त्रिगुणाः)
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Dharm P. S. Bhawuk, Sraddha: Construct Definition from the Bhagavad-Gita, SAGE Journals, Volume 32, Issue 1.
- ↑ Sri Aurobindo, The Synthesis of Yoga, Sri Aurobindo Ashram Trust.
- ↑ Bhagavad Gita, Adhyaya 14 (Guna Traya Vibhaga Yoga)
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.5 11.6 A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (1998), Bhagavad Gita As It Is, USA: The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International.