SrI: SrImathE SatakOpAya nama: SrImathE rAmAnujAya nama: SrImath varavaramunayE nama:
SlOkam – Original
pravruththim cha nivruththim cha janA na vidhur AsurA: |
na Saucham nApi chAchArO na sathyam thEshu vidhyathE ||
word-by-word meaning
AsurA: janA: – the persons who are in demoniac category
pravruththim cha – the means for aiSvarya (material wealth, control)
nivruththim cha – vaidhika dharmam (the path shown by vEdham) which is the means for liberation
na vidhu: – do not know;
thEshu – in them
Saucham na vidhyathE – purity (which is required to practice vaidhika rituals) is not present;
AchAra: api na vidhyathE – holy conduct (sandhyA vandhanam etc which brings in such purity) is not present;
sathyam na vidhyathE – being truthful is also not present in them.
Simple Translation
The persons who are in demoniac category do not know the means for aiSvarya (material wealth, control) and vaidhika dharmam (the path shown by vEdham) which is the means for liberation; purity (which is required to practice vaidhika rituals), holy conduct (sandhyA vandhanam etc which brings in such purity) and being truthful are not present in them.
Rendering based on ALkoNdavilli gOvindhAchArya swAmy’s English translation of gIthA bhAshyam
‘The Non-divine know not (the ways of) ‘activity’ or of ‘passivity’; ‘Neither cleanliness, nor holy conduct, nor truth is found in them.’
Pravṛitti = Activity or ‘Effort,’ or engaging in Veda-enjoined Dharma, for securing (material) prosperity (power, riches, svarga, siddhis etc.)[1. For a full description of what the two Paths of Pravṛitti and Nivṛitti are, consult Bhāg: VII-15, 47 to 57. Also Mahābhā, Śānti Parva, Moksha Dharma, Ch: 217; Bh: Gī: VIII-23 to 25, refers to
the destination to which these Paths lead.]
Nivṛitti = Passivity (or cessation from pravṛitti) or engaging in such Veda-enjoined Dharma as leads to moksha (spiritual beatitude). (Nivṛitti is literally retirement, or giving up all desires for material happiness, thus contrasting with pravṛitti.[2. For a full description of what the two Paths of Pravṛitti and Nivṛitti are, consult Bhāg: VII-15, 47 to 57. Also Mahābhā, Śānti Parva, Moksha Dharma, Ch: 217; Bh: Gī: VIII-23 to 25, refers to
the destination to which these Paths lead.]
The Non-divine (Āsura) do not understand these ways.
Śaucham=Cleanliness of heart inside and of person outside, so as to be fit for performing Veda-bid works.
Āchāraḥ=Good or holy conduct, such as the performance of Twilight-Prayers (=sandhyā-vandana) etc., by which śaucha would be produced, as declared in:
‘He who omits sandhya is always unholy, and unfit for any duties’.[3. Daksha-smriti: ‘Sandhyā-hino suchie nityam &c.’]
Satyam=The utterance of that which is in conformity with fact.
These qualities are not to be found in the Non-divine natures.
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