विवेचन सारांश

You are Defined by Your Śraddhā

The first adjective Bhagavān uses here is 'aphalākāṅkṣibhir', which means without expectation of any rewards. So, if one is performing duties, sacrifices without any kind of expectation it is called as Sattvic Yajna.

If one sees the Learn Gita Program, in opening ceremonies usage of word Mahayajna or Gītāyajna is there. People are asked to give their Ahuti as a Sevi or as a Geeta Volunteer. In the said program already, there are more then 8000 volunteers. From morning till night, they are continuously working. They do it without expecting anything in return for the welfare of the society.  And for sake of Gītā, if someone gives seva, Swami Govinddev Giri Maharaj ji has said the same is not for society rather it is for self-development. If one is teaching Gītā or speaking something on Gītā that may or may not have effect on others. But it will surely affect the person who takes up the said activity. So, this is a kind of Sādhanā undertaken for self. We as a human being have to do some spiritual Sādhanā to reach the higher ideal, which is to reach the state of ultimate happiness. And for that one has to go beyond the three gunas and that is possible only when our mind becomes purified. Many a times wrong thoughts come to our mind. One knows that those are wrong but still we keep brooding. But, if our quality of mind improves or the sattva gunas takes predominance then one starts choosing the right path.

How will this happen? When one's actions, sacrifices, yajnas, work for the sake of Bhagavān and not for personal motive. And one learns to sacrifice the fruits the consequences of one's action then slowly the purification process begins. And once the mind is purified one will get rid of all the sorrows and all the pain. But this journey is long, and we have to keep moving ahead slowly. In Geeta Parivar if we see there are trainers who teach how to recite the shlokas of Gītā. While they teach there are sadhaks who raise queries multiple times. The trainers try their best to answer it as many times as possible till the Sadhak picks up. They do not get angry and remain calm. This kind of behavior they may not be able to maintain in all spheres of their lives but in the Gītā class they practice it. Here one needs to note that they are not getting anything in return but still they are practicing. So, Learngeeta program is a means to achieve spiritual growth. 

The second adjective that Bhagavan uses in this shloka is "vidhidṛṣṭo" spiritual practices prescribed in the scriptures. According to the Śāstras; Vidhi and Nished are two words.

In vedas there are six types of karmas nitya, naimitik, praschit, upasana, kamya and nished. So, nitya and naimitik one has to do. Nitya karmas are like Sandhyavandana in morning rituals and pooja for householders. Naimitik karmas are those which one has to undertake in certain situations. Like after surya grahan or chandra grahan one has to take bath, or one has to do jappa etc. Then we have kamyakarma which is for fulfilling our desires. Like for example 'Jateshti yajna', a sacrifice performed by those aspiring for a child. Bhagavān has said that one should reduce such types of karmas. If one is not doing kamyakarmas then it is good as it will lead to rise of sattvic gunas. But kamyakarmas are not nishidha karmas. Nishidha karmas are ones which we cannot do. Examples are cow slaughter, killing of brahmin, or all the demoniac acts which Bhagavān has highlighted in chapter 16. If one does nishidha karma that accounts to a sin. Remaining karmas are upasana and praschit karmas. Praschit (penance) one takes up on realization that some sin has occurred and due to regret person performs yajna, example Chandrayan Vrat. Shandilya Vidya is an example of Upasana karma.

Then the karmas so performed are called as sattvic karmas. Similarly, in Chapter 12 shloka 11 Bhagavān has stressed on giving up expectation for rewards:

This kind of yajna leads to sorrows, pain and illnesses. In next shloka Bhagavān discusses about Tamasic Yajna. 

Bhagavān has said the following about Tamasic Yajna:

Answer: Brahmin actually is not the caste, but it refers to a social class within a hierarchical traditional Hindu society. There are certain occupations, requirements and duties that are divided into four categories: 

The one who are studying and teaching scriptures are called as Brahmins. One gets tagged to the above categories based on talent, efforts as well as on birth.  

Question: In shloka 14, brahmacharyam ahinsā it was explained is to be practiced at the level of speech, mind and body. What does that mean?
Answer: It means observance of celibacy and non-violence.

Question: I wanted to understand what do we mean by controlling of mind? Does it mean, mind is saying something to do, and one decides not to do?  
Answer: Yes! if one is not doing instructions given by mind that are wrong then it is called as controlling of mind. 

Question: Food offered to Bhagavān in the temples, if a person takes under what category will it come?
Answer: If care takers of the temple allow, then taking little bit would be treated as sattvic. But eating it in volumes would become Rajasic. And eating the same without the permission would be categorized as Tamasic.