BHAGAVAD-GITA 17:7

12-07-2004, 05:00 AM

BHAGAVAD-GITA 17:7

aharas tv api sarvasya
tri-vidho bhavati priyah
yajnas tapas tatha danam
tesam bhedam imam srnu

WORD FOR WORD

aharah--eating; tu--certainly; api--also; sarvasya--of everyone;
tri-vidhah--of three kinds; bhavati--there is; priyah--dear;
yajnah--sacrifice; tapah--austerity; tatha--also; danam--charity;
tesam--of them; bhedam--the differences; imam--this; srnu--hear.

TRANSLATION

Even the food each person prefers is of three kinds, according to the
three modes of material nature. The same is true of sacrifices,
austerities and charity. Now hear of the distinctions between them.

PURPORT

In terms of different situations in the modes of material nature,
there are differences in the manner of eating and performing
sacrifices, austerities and charities. They are not all conducted on
the same level. Those who can understand analytically what kind of
performances are in what modes of material nature are actually wise;
those who consider all kinds of sacrifice or food or charity to be the
same cannot discriminate, and they are foolish. There are missionary
workers who advocate that one can do whatever he likes and attain
perfection. But these foolish guides are not acting according to the
direction of the scripture. They are manufacturing ways and misleading
the people in general.

Copyright 1983 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International. Used with
permission.