आहारस्त्वपि सर्वस्य त्रिविधो भवति प्रियः । यज्ञस्तपस्तथा दानं तेषां भेदमिमं श्रृणु
Food, too, is liked by all in three kinds; so also are sacrifice, austerity, and charity. Hear the distinction among them.
आयुःसत्वबलारोग्यसुखप्रीतिविवर्धनाः । रस्याःस्रिग्धाः स्थिरा हृद्या आहाराःसात्विकप्रियाः
Foods that increase life, purity, strength, health, happiness, and satisfaction, that are savory, oily, firm, and pleasing, are dear to those of sattvic nature.
कट्वम्ललवणात्युष्णतीक्ष्णरूक्षविदाहिनः । आहारा राजसस्येष्टा दुःखशोकामयप्रदाः
Foods that are bitter, sour, salty, excessively hot, sharp, dry, and burning, are preferred by those of rajasic nature, and cause pain, grief, and disease.
यातयामं गतरसं पूति पर्युषितं च यत्। उच्छिष्टमपि चामेध्यं भोजनं तामसप्रियम्
Food that is stale, tasteless, putrid, decomposed, leftover, and impure is dear to those of tamasic nature.
अफलाकाङ्क्षिभिर्यज्ञो विधिदृष्टो य इज्यते। यष्टव्यमेवेति मनः समाधाय स सात्विकः
A sacrifice that is offered according to scriptural injunction, by those who do not seek reward, with the mind firmly set on the thought, 'it must be performed,' is considered sattvic.
अभिसंघाय तु फलं दम्भार्थमपि चैव यत्। इज्यते भरतश्रेष्ठ तं यज्ञं विद्धि राजसम्
But know that sacrifice which is performed for the sake of reward or for show, O best of the Bharatas, as rajasic.
विधिहीनमसृष्टान्नं मन्त्रहीनमदक्षिणम् । श्रद्धाविरहितं यज्ञं तामसं परिचक्षते
Sacrifice that is contrary to scriptural rule, where no food is given, without mantras, without gifts to priests, and without faith, is declared to be tamasic.
देवद्विजगुरुप्राज्ञपूजनं शौचमार्जवम् । ब्रह्मचर्यमहिंसा च शारीरं तप उच्यते
Worship of the gods, the twice-born, teachers, and the wise, purity, straightforwardness, celibacy, and nonviolence—these are called bodily austerity.
अनुद्वेगकरं वाक्यं सत्यं प्रियहितं च यत् । स्वाध्यायाभ्यसनं चैव वाङ्भयं तप उच्यते
Speech that does not cause distress, is truthful, pleasant, and beneficial, as well as study and recitation of the scriptures—these are called austerity of speech.
मनःप्रसादः सम्यत्वं मौनमात्मविनिग्रहः । भावसंशुद्धिरित्येतत्तपो मानसमुच्यते
Serenity of mind, gentleness, silence, self-control, and purity of disposition—these are called mental austerity.
श्रद्धया परया तप्तं तपस्तत्रिविधं नरैः । अफलाकाङ्क्षिभिर्युक्तैः सात्विकं परिचक्षते
This threefold austerity, practiced with supreme faith by steadfast people who do not seek reward, is called sattvic.
सत्कारमानपूजाराथं तपो दम्भेन चैव यत् । क्रियते तदिह प्रोक्तं राजसं चलमध्रुवम्
Austerity that is performed for the sake of honor, respect, and worship, or with hypocrisy, is said to be rajasic, unstable and impermanent.
मूढग्राहेणात्मनो यत्पीडया क्रियते तपः । परस्योत्सादनार्थं वा तत्तामसमुदाहृतम्
Austerity that is performed with a deluded understanding, by torturing oneself or for the purpose of harming others, is declared to be tamasic.
दातव्यमिति यद्दानं दीयतेऽनुपकारिणे । देशे काले च पात्रे च तद्दानं सात्विकं स्मृतम्
That charity which is given with the thought, 'it should be given,' to one who does no favor in return, at the right place, time, and to a worthy recipient, is remembered as sattvic.
यत्तु प्रत्युपकारार्थं फलमुद्दिश्य वा पुनः । दीयते च परिक्लिष्टं तद्दानं राजसं स्मृतम्
But that which is given in expectation of return, or with a view to some result, or grudgingly, is remembered as rajasic charity.
अदेशकाले यद्दानमपात्रेभ्यश्च दीयते। असत्कृतमवज्ञातं तत्तामसमुदाहृतम्
Charity that is given at the wrong place or time, to unworthy recipients, without respect or with contempt, is declared to be tamasic.
ओंतत्सदिति निर्देशो ब्रह्मणस्त्रिविधः स्मृताः । ब्राह्मणास्तेन वेदाश्च यज्ञाश्च विहिताः पुरा
'Om, Tat, Sat'—this is declared to be the threefold designation of Brahman. By this, the brahmins, the Vedas, and sacrifices were ordained in ancient times.
तस्मादोमित्युदाहृत्य यज्ञदानतपःक्रियाः । प्रवर्तन्ते विधानोक्ताः सततं ब्रह्मवादिनाम्
Therefore, uttering 'Om,' acts of sacrifice, charity, and austerity, as prescribed in the scriptures, are always begun by those who seek Brahman.
तदित्यनभिसंधाय फलं यज्ञतपःक्रियाः । दानक्रियाश्च विविधाः क्रियन्ते मोक्षकाङ्क्षिभिः
Thus, without attachment to the result, acts of sacrifice, austerity, and various forms of charity are performed by those who seek liberation.
सद्भावे साधुभावे च सदित्येतत्प्रुयुज्यते। प्रशस्ते कर्मणि तथा सच्छब्दः पार्थ युज्यते
The word 'sat' is used in the sense of reality and goodness; O Partha, it is also applied to praiseworthy action.
यज्ञे तपसि दाने च स्थितिः सदिति चोच्यते । कर्म चैव तदर्थीयं सादित्येवाभिधीयते
Steadfastness in sacrifice, austerity, and charity is also called 'sat'; and any action done for these purposes is likewise termed 'sat.'
अश्रद्धया हुतं दत्तं तपस्तप्तं कृतं च यत् । असदित्युच्यते पार्थ न च तत्प्रेत्य नो इह
Whatever is offered, given, or performed as austerity or act without faith, O Partha, is called 'asat'—it is neither fruitful here nor hereafter.
संन्यासत्य महाबाहो तत्त्वमिच्छामि वेदितुम् । त्यागस्य च हृषीकेश पृथक्केशिनिपूदन
O mighty-armed one, I wish to understand the truth about renunciation and abandonment, and how they differ, O Hrishikesha, O slayer of Kesi.
काम्यानां कर्मणां न्यासं संन्यासं कवयो विदुः। सर्वकर्मफलत्यागं प्राहुस्त्यागं विचक्षणाः
The wise declare the abandonment of actions done with desire as renunciation; the learned describe the giving up of all fruits of action as abandonment.
त्याज्यं दोषवदित्येके कर्म प्राहुर्मनीषिणः । यज्ञदानतपःकर्म न त्याज्यमिति चापरे
Some thinkers say that action should be given up as evil, while others declare that acts of sacrifice, charity, and austerity should not be abandoned.
निश्चयं श्रृणु मे तत्र त्यागे भरतसत्तम। त्यागो हि पुरुषव्याघ्र त्रिविधः संप्रकीर्तितः
Hear from me the final conclusion about abandonment, O best of the Bharatas; for abandonment, O tiger among men, is declared to be of three kinds.
यज्ञदानतपःकर्म न त्याज्यं कार्यमेव तत्। यज्ञो दानं तपश्चैव पावनानि मनीषिणाम्
Acts of sacrifice, charity, and austerity should not be abandoned; they must be performed, for sacrifice, charity, and austerity are purifying for the wise.
एतान्यपि तु कर्माणि सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा फलानि च । कर्तव्यानीति मे पार्थ निश्चितं मतमुत्तमम्
Even these actions, O Partha, should be performed, giving up attachment and desire for results; this is my firm and supreme view.
नियतस्य तु संन्यासः कर्मणो नोपपद्यते । मोहात्तस्य परित्यागस्तामसः परिकीर्तितः
But renunciation of prescribed action is not proper; abandoning it out of delusion is declared to be tamasic abandonment.
दुःखमित्येव यत्कर्म कायक्लेशभयात्त्यजेत् । स कृत्वा राजसं त्यागं नैव त्यागफलं लभेत्
Whoever gives up action because it is difficult, out of fear of bodily suffering, performs abandonment of the rajas type and does not obtain the fruit of abandonment.