TraiguNya viShaya

 TraiguNya viShayaavEda nistraiguNyObhavaarjunaa | [Gita Ch.2. Verse 45]

   There are Veda mantra that are meant for invoking Gods like Agni, Rudra, Varuna, Maruta and others to protect us and fulfill our wishes. We conduct yajnya, yaga to propitiate Gods and request them to grant us wealth, children cows, servants, and the like. These wishes are fulfilled and we live a sensuous life and we forget the larger more important purpose of life.  Hence, the Lord asks us, through Arjuna, to give up these worldly aspirations. He even asks us to take to nirasakti yoga, not to aspire for anything that lasts for only short time. The jiva must strive for eternality, immortality? Hence the advise nistraigunyobhava.

  The Veda is said to be 'knowledge' concerning the three aspects of nature- prakRuti guNaih. It is the combination of Tamas, Rajas, and Sattva. These qualities of nature decide the nature of our existence. These imbalance in the three qualities create dominant characters that we see in this world. Bhagavan Sri Krishna advises Arjuna to be bereft of the three gunas, conquer the qualities of nature, and become a yogi, This is the most beautiful advise given by the supreme Lord for all mortals to attain to the highest seat, param padam. One should overcome these three powerful qualities of nature and this includes, not surprisingly(?), the sattva guna, as well! To be good is not enough! All the dualities are created by the qualities of nature and, as such, one has to overcome these completely. In fact, by doing good, one may acquire the good fruits of action (punya phala) and the jiva has to take birth again to experience or enjoy this! But this is not emancipation, liberation from the cycle of repeated  births and deaths. The purpose  is to break the shackle, the chain. Hence the Veda will not help; at best, the veda will get good fruits of action. The jiva should strive for total emancipation.