Chapter 17 Shloka 8

आयुःसत्त्वबलारोग्यसुखप्रीतिविवर्धनाः।

रस्याः स्निग्धाः स्थिरा हृद्या आहाराः सात्त्विकप्रियाः।।८।।

Those foods which promote longevity,

 strength, truth, health, happiness and love,

which are succulent, warmth giving, substantial

and agreeable to the heart, are the foods

which are favoured by the sattvic people.

Chapter 17 Shloka 8

आयुःसत्त्वबलारोग्यसुखप्रीतिविवर्धनाः।

रस्याः स्निग्धाः स्थिरा हृद्या आहाराः सात्त्विकप्रियाः।।८।।

The Lord first speaks of the sattvic diet.

Those foods which promote longevity, strength, truth, health, happiness and love, which are succulent, warmth giving, substantial and agreeable to the heart, are the foods which are favoured by the sattvic people.

My dear Kamla, first understand the full connotation of the word aahaar or food:

Aahaar (आहार)

1. That which we consume.

2. That which strengthens or reduces any of our qualities.

3. That which influences our qualities.

All these come within the scope of aahaar.

Aahaar serves to strengthen the intellect and also to veil it. The food of thought can initiate several negative forces and can also strengthen them. It can also annihilate several negative tendencies.

Kamla, look! Every foodstuff comprises certain qualities that become our aahaar and strengthen us within. These qualities are both gross and subtle. So also, food can strengthen not only the gross body but also the subtle being.

1. Food is one kind of aahaar.

2. Circumstances are also a type of aahaar.

3. Knowledge and ignorance too are aahaar.

4. That which purifies and that which renders impure – all these are varied kinds of aahaar.

Every object is replete with qualities. Every object influences us. Every quality constitutes an aahaar for us. Every object strengthens or debilitates some qualities within us. Mental knots also increase on the basis of aahaar. Both positive and negative thoughts are foodstuffs of the mind.

Sattvic Aahaar

The diet of one who is predominantly sattvic:

1. Such a diet augments the attribute of sattva within that person.

2. Such a diet encourages the growth of virtue in the one who partakes of it.

The real aahaar of the one in whom the quality of sattva predominates is yagyashesh – or the residuum of his deeds performed in the spirit of devotional offering (Chp.3, shloka 13). Little one, consider for yourself – what will be the mental intake of that sattvic individual? Such a one generally gives minimal attention to gross dietary intake.

1. Such people are not fettered by the enjoyment of physical tastes.

2. Their attention is drawn towards something other than physical tastes or gross food.

3. Such people desire to transcend the body-self.

4. They seek to return the body to the Lord, believing that it was His in the first place.

5. They desire to live only in order to pursue spiritual practice.

6. They desire longevity only in order to perform yagya.

7. With perfect control, they partake of that food which nourishes the body, enabling them to remain alive to attain the attributes of the Supreme with the objective of union with the Supreme Lord.

The Lord has categorised that foodstuff as sattvic, which increases one’s longevity. He has proclaimed sattvic food to be one that grants health and freedom from disease.

The mental intake of such a one is also sattvic.

1. Such a one does not partake of the ‘food’ of evil conduct.

2. He does not partake of food that pollutes the mind-stuff.

3. He does not take food that will increase mental knots and complexes.

4. He does not partake of a diet that increases ignorance.

5. He does not wish to be influenced by any circumstance or situation because he does not want the ‘intake’ of external influences to taint his intellect.

6. He seeks to remain healthy at the levels of both mind and intellect.

Little one! First understand what is disease:

1. Impurity of the mind-stuff is a mental disease.

2. Ignorance is a disease of the intellect.

3. Mental knots constitute a disease of the very core of man – his Self.

4. Desire too, is a disease.

5. Actually, attachment too, is a disease.

One who possesses a sattvic tendency:

a) does not partake of a diet that enhances any of the above;

b) does not ingest a diet of hypocrisy and arrogance;

c) does not eat a diet of pride of name and fame.

He seeks out a diet of knowledge that will eliminate ignorance and augment patience, strength and enthusiasm.

He imbibes the food of such knowledge which:

a) apprises him of his duty;

b) makes him compassionate;

c) helps him eliminate sorrow;

d) teaches forgiveness;

e) augments love and happiness;

f) increases the degree of Truth and fortitude in his life.

The diet of the divine qualities is yagyashesh – the residuum of actions performed as yagya. The diet of the individual who abides in sattva is also yagyashesh. Yagya has to be performed personally. Thus this diet too, has to be prepared personally.

1. The joy derived from loving is yagyashesh.

2. Yagyashesh is the consequence of acts of forgiveness, compassion, mercy etc.

3. Yagyashesh is the residue of joy derived from alleviating the pain of another.

4. The residuum of tender affection such as a parent has for the child, is yagyashesh.

5. Yagyashesh is the fruit of selflessness.

Only the one who prepares this diet of yagyashesh himself can partake of it.

Having attained such a purified diet of yagyashesh, the individual:

a) attains equanimity;

b) becomes devoid of all enmity;

c) becomes devoid of desire;

d) becomes eternally satiated;

e) becomes indifferent towards his own body, mind and intellect unit;

f) becomes free of meum and attachment;

g) becomes inwardly silent.

All thought processes, both negative and positive, cease.

However, you must remember Kamla, one must prepare this diet oneself. sattvic people cook their own food. That means:

1. If you forgive you will get sattvic nourishment.

2. Your sincerity towards others helps to ‘cook’ the diet of yagyashesh.

3. If you serve others, then your food of yagyashesh is prepared.

4. If you perform your duty, your diet of yagyashesh is ready.

Dharma

Yagya and a life of duty constitute dharma. But remember, that which is the residual result of such practice is yagyashesh.

1. One’s capacity of forbearance increases only with the practice of endurance.

2. Love is the outcome of the practice of loving.

3. Happiness increases only when one gives happiness.

Such foods are a source of delight for the one who abides in sattva. Juicy and energy and warmth giving:

a) Love is such a food.

b) The result of the practice of love yields such fruit.

c) That residuum which remains when one loves, is juicy and warmth and energy giving.

Such food is indeed substantial and long lasting. Now listen carefully Kamla. That which is long lasting yet does not become stale, that food lies within. Such stable and unchanging foodstuff must be:

a) vivek or the faculty that discerns;

b) yagyashesh – the outcome of yagya;

c) the proof of a life lived in the spirit of yagya;

d) dharma itself.

Adherence to dharma is the yagyashesh, the food that is ever fresh, that increases man’s happiness and love. Dear Kamla, when people can mould their lives in the cast of yagya, they do not bother about what physical food they get to eat.