Verse 17.6

Verse 17.6: “These insensate persons, coercing the aggregate of elemental constitutions that make up their body—and Me too who dwell within the body: understand them to be of Demoniac convictions. (105)

Commentary called Jnaneshwari by Jnaneshwar:

Whatever afflictions they cause to their own bodies or to those of others, all such cause exhaustion to me—the soul. Such sinners do not deserve even to be touched by the faculty of speech, but have to be mentioned in order that you may avoid them. (Things like) (i) removing a corpse (with one’s own hands) (ii) holding conversation with one of the lowest class in order to avoid his touch, (iii) washing off with one’s own hands the filth (of the body)—are required to be done since there exists the hope of (thereby) bringing about cleanliness, and are not therefore to be considered as unclean. In that way they (of demoniacal tendencies) are mentioned here, so that they should be avoided.

Whenever, therefore, you come across such sinful persons, do remember Me in your mind, Oh Arjuna, since there is no other expiation for such a sin. And for this purpose do conserve, in all ways possible, that Sattva faith which I am now going to preach to you. You should always have such associations as would conduce to the strengthening of the Sattva disposition, and take only such food as would foster growth of Sattva quality, since there is no other remedy more powerful (efficient) than the food you take for strengthening the disposition. A vivid example of this, as can be seen readily, is of a sober person who gets intoxicated and arrogant as soon as he gets drunk.

One who takes food constantly naturally gets affected by wind and phlegm (vātaśleṣma). Would fever ever cool down by taking milk, etc.? The nectar prevents death when taken, or the poison renders poisonous the interior when taken in: in that way the (seven) primary fluids or juices—essential ingredients of the body (saptadhātū [saptadhātu?]) are formed according to the kind of the food one takes, and the emotions are fostered in the interior (mind) according to the nature of the primary fluids (dhātū [dhātu?]) thus formed. As the pot (containing water) is heated the water in it also becomes hot, in that way, the emotions (thought-waves) in the mind are conditioned by the fluids. Therefore, when the Sattva food is taken, then only Sattva emotions are developed. Similarly, if other kinds of food are taken, Rajas and Tamas natures are formed. Therefore I shall now tell you what is Sattva food and what are the forms of Rajas and Tamas food, and hear attentively.