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