B.G 17.01
arjuna uvāca
Arjuna said:
ye śāstravidhim utsṛjya yajante śraddhayānvitāḥ। teṣāṃ niṣṭhā tu kā kṛṣṇa sattvam āho rajastamaḥ ॥1॥
O Krishna, those who let go of scriptural rules with limited understanding, but still worship with faith, what is the nature of their faith? Is it aligned with goodness, passion, or ignorance?
Gīta Bhāshya 17.01
This chapter explains the characteristic differences in different qualities. The word 'śāstravidhimutsṛjya', i.e. having let go of the rule of the scripture, implies without understanding them. After understanding the scriptures, yet abandoning their rules intentionally is opposed to dharma and is considered 'tāmasic' quality.
guṇabhedān prapañcayati anena adhyāyena।
This chapter explains the characteristic differences in different qualities.
śāstravidhimutsṛjya ajñātvā।
The word 'śāstravidhimutsṛjya', i.e. having let go of the rule of the scripture, implies without understanding them.
"vedaḥ kṛtsno'dhigantavyaḥ sarahasyo dvijanmanā।"
"The entire Veda, along with its secrets, is to be mastered by the twice-born."
iti vidhiḥ utsṛṣṭo hi taiḥ।
Thus is the stated prescription. Indeed, who have let go of this understanding are those, i.e. those who are unaware of secret meanings of the Vedas.
"ye vai vedaṁ na paṭhante na cārthaṁ vedojjhān tān viddhi sānūnabuddhīn।"
"Those who do not study or understand the Vedas, abandoning them, are considered to have inferior intellect."
iti mādhucchandasasṛtiḥ।
- stated thus in the Madhucchandas Vedic testimonial.
anyathā tāmasā ityevocayet। na tu vibhajya। yadi sāttvikā tarhi no'tsṛṣṭaśāstrāḥ। na hi vedaviruddho dharmaḥ।
Otherwise, they are said to be of 'tāmasic' quality only, and they can't be further divided. If they are of indeed 'sāttvik' quality, then they can't be abandoning scriptures, as dharma is not opposed to the Vedas.
"vedokhilo dharmamūlam smṛtiśīle ca tadvidām।"
"The entire Veda is the root of dharma, and those who conduct themselves, and Smritis, i.e. the texts derived from Vedas, are of those who know that."
iti hi smṛtiḥ।
- thus indeed is the scriptural testimonial.
"vedapraṇihito dharmo hyadharmastadviparyayaḥ॥"
"The 'dharma' is indeed established by the Veda; 'adharma' is the opposite of that."
iti bhāgavate ॥1॥
- stated thus in the Bhāgavata Purāṇa.
Gīta Tātparya 17.01
The chapter elaborates on the discriminative knowledge required to differentiate between the truthful actions (sat-karma) and those that are untruthful (asat-karma).
sadasatkarmavivekaḥ।
The chapter elaborates on the discriminative knowledge required to differentiate between the truthful actions (sat-karma) and those that are untruthful (asat-karma).
