Verse 17.14

Verse 17.14: “Adoring the Gods, the Twice-born, the Elders, and the Wisemen; cleanliness, straightforwardness, continence, and nonviolence: these are designated austerity of the body. (201)

Commentary called Jnaneshwari by Jnaneshwar:

Of the three first hear of the austerity of the body. His feet know no other work throughout the eight Prahars [Praharas] (three hours’ period) of the day excepting that of visiting (the temples of) either Lord Shiva or Lord Hari whichever he likes. His hands are well engaged in decorating temple premises, in collecting and supplying articles, (flowers, etc.) necessary for worship, and in doing other things he is called on to do.

At the very sight of the image of the Linga (of God Shiva), or the image of God Vishnu, his body automatically sinks down and lays prostrate like a stick dropped down on the floor. He renders devoted service to such Brahmins who have, through their pious acts, humility and other good qualities risen to the position of high honour. He renders happy such as are in distress either through the fatigue of travel or disease. He waves his body to the service of his parents who stand foremost among the group of all sacred and holy places. He worships the good preceptor, who imparts knowledge liberally and seeing whom all the fatigue of the dreadful mundane existence is relieved. He bums to ashes in the furnace of his own righteous acts (religion), the alloy in the form of the conceit of the body, by giving coatings of constant study (of Scriptures).

With the full knowledge that the Supreme Spirit abides in all beings, he bows to them and goes on serving others in all possible ways while he himself remains particular in restraining his senses (specially where females are concerned). His only contact with the female was when he was bom: after that he remains clean and aloof (from the contact) throughout the remainder of his life. He avoids even walking over (green) grass on the ground of its being a living entity: not only that, but he avoids cutting and dissecting it. It is only when the body conducts itself naturally in such a pure and simple way that the bodily austerities can be said to have attained perfection. In all these actions the body is the main actor and so I call them the austerity of the body, Oh Partha. Thus has been preached to you what is called the austerity of the body. Now hear the signs of the austerity of Speech.