--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, cardemaister <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Translation by Swami Gambhirananda > > 2.45 To those who are thus devoid of discriminating wisdom, who > indulge in pleasure, [Here Ast. adds 'yat phalam tad aha, what result > accrues, that the Lord states:'-Tr.] O Arjuna, vedah, the Vedas; > traigunya-visayah, have the three qualities as their object, have the > three > gunas, [Traigunya means the collection of the three qualities, viz > sattva > (purity), rajas (energy) and tamas (darkness); i.e. the collection of > virtuous, vicious and mixed activities, as also their results. In this > derivative sense traigunya means the worldly life.] i.e. the worldly > life, as > the object to be revealed. But you bhava, become; nistraigunyah, free > from the three qualities, i.e. be free from desires. [There is a > seeming > conflict between the advices to be free from the three qualities and > to be > ever-poised in the quality of sattva. Hence, the Commentator takes the > phrase nistraigunya to mean niskama, free from desires.] (Be) > nirdvandvah, free from the pairs of duality -- by the word dvandva, > duality, are meant the conflicting pairs [Of heat and cold, etc.] > which are > the causes of happiness and sorrow; you become free from them. [From > heat, cold, etc. That is, forbear them.] You become nitya- sattvasthah, > ever-poised in the quality of sattva; (and) so also niryoga-ksemah, > without (desire for) acquisition and protection. Yoga means > acquisition of > what one has not, and ksema means the protection of what one has. For > one who as 'acquisition and protection' foremost in his mind, it is > difficult to seek Liberation. Hence, you be free from acquisition and > protection. > And also be atmavan, self-collected, vigilant. This is the advice > given to > you while you are engaged in your own duty. [And not from the point of > view of seeking Liberation.] >
A vishiSTaadvaita view of the same (Shrii Raamaanuja): 2.45 The word Traigunya means the three Gunas --- Sattva, Rajas and Tamas. Here the term Traigunya denotes persons in whom Sattva, Rajas and Tamas are in abundance. The Vedas in prescribing desire-oriented rituals (Kamya-karmas) have such persons in view. Because of their great love, the Vedas teach what is good to those in whom Tamas, Rajas and Sattva preponderate. If the Vedas had not explained to these persons the means for the attainment of heaven etc., according to the Gunas, then those persons who are not interested in liberation owing to absence of Sattva and preponderance of Rajas and Tamas in them, would get completely lost amidst what should not be resorted to, without knowing the means for attaining the results they desire. Hence the Vedas are concerned with the Gunas. Be you free from the three Gunas. Try to acquire Sattva in abundance; increase that alone. The purport is: do not nurse the preponderance of the three Gunas in their state of inter-mixture; do not cultivate such preponderance. Be free from the pairs of opposites; be free from all the characteristics of worldly life. Abide in pure Sattva; be established in Sattva, in its state of purity without the admixture of the other two Gunas. If it is questioned how that is possible, the reply is as follows. Never care to acquire things nor protect what has been acquired. While abandoning the acquisition of what is not required for self-realisation, abandon also the conservation of such things already acquired. You can thus be established in self- control and thereby become an aspirant after the essentail nature of the self. 'Yoga' is acquisition of what has not been acquired; 'Ksema' is preservation of things already acquired. Abandoning these is a must for an aspirant after the essential nature of the self. If you conduct yourself in this way, the preponderance of Rajas and Tamas will be annihilated, and pure Sattva will develop. Besides, all that is taught in the Vedas is not fit to be utilised by all. To subscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Or go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ and click 'Join This Group!' Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
