Page 54 - Amrit Varta - Issue Feb. 2023 - English

42 MA ANANDAMAYEE AMRIT VARTA Vol. 27, No.1, February2023

Rajas is the second quality. A man with rajasic quality is always filled with
dynamic passion. He wants to possess, rule and enjoy the world. He has
practically no time to enter the world of inner illumination. He has the strength
to build a temple of Truth, but he often destroys the temple owing to his unlit
vision and the mad elephant in him. A man of action, he wants to live in the
glorious present. He does not care for the future. He wants to expand himself
forcefully.
Tamas is the third quality. It denotes sloth, inactivity, darkness, ignorance,
sin and death. It also denotes worldly delusion. A man of inactivity enjoys nothing.
On the contrary he is constantly enjoyed by darkness, ignorance and death. A
man of inactivity, he does not live in the proper sense. His days and nights are
made of deep un-illuminated sleep. (7.13-14). He destroys himself
unconsciously.
Those who follow the inner path are of four distinct types. These four kinds
of devout people worship me:
Ârta, the distressed, the depressed, the afflicted. For him the life is a bed of
thorns. Pain and sorrow are his only companion. He has realized this truth and
prays for life’s transformation. He wants a bed of roses.
Jignyâsu, the seeker, the enquirer. He wants knowledge. Knowledge tells
us why a man suffers.
Arthârthî, the seeker of wealth and power. He wants to live in perpetual
freedom.
Gyâni the wise. He knows that the Supreme is everywhere and the kingdom
of heaven is within him. His life is to attain the life of oneness with God. (7.17)
Sri Krishna further continues: “Noble and good are they all, but I hold the
wise, the enlightened as My chosen soul and My own Self. When his life has
played its role, when the hour of silence knocks at his door, I place him in My
Heart where the Breath of Eternal Life grows.” (7.18-19).
The eighth chapter begins with a volley of most significant questions.
Brahman, adhyâtma, karma,adhibhûta, adhidaiva, adhiyajña; what are these?
The Lord answers: “The Imperishable Absolute is Brahman.” Another name for
Brahman is Aum. Aum is the Creator, is the Creation, is in the creation, is
beyond creation. Lord further says: “Adhyâtma is the self-revealing Knowledge
of Brahman’s primeval Nature. Karma is the birth of activity, natural and normal.
Adhibhûta is the perishable material manifestations. Adhidaiva is the
knowledge of the Shining Ones. Adhiyajña is the sacrifice made by Me in order
to unite the manifestation of finite forms with My infinite Life.” (8.3-4)