Texts 1-3] King Purafijana Goes to the Forest to Hunt 1207
tribhir gunamayair bhavair
ebhih sarvam idam jagat
mohitam nabhijanati
mam ebhyah param avyayam
‘“Deluded by the three modes (goodness, passion and ignorance ] , the whole
world does not know Me, who am above the modes and inexhaustible.”
(Bg. 7.13)

The living entity is thus bewildered by the three qualities of material
nature. These three qualities are described in this verse as three flags. By a
flag, one can come to know who the owner of the chariot is; similarly, by
the influence of the three qualities of material nature, one can easily know
the direction in which the chariot is moving. In other words, one who has
eyes to see can understand how the body is being driven, influenced by
the particular type or quality of material nature. In these three verses the
activity of the living entity is described to prove how the body becomes
influenced by the quality of ignorance, even when a person wants to be
religious. Narada Muni wanted to prove to King Pracinabarhisat that the
King was being influenced by the tamo-guna, the quality of ignorance,
even though the King was supposed to be very religious.

According to karma-kandiya, the process of fruitive activities, a person
performs various sacrifices directed by the Vedas, and in all those sacrifices
animal killing, or experimenting on the life of animals to test the power of
Vedic mantras, is enjoined. Animal killing is certainly conducted under
the influence of the mode of ignorance. Even though one may be religiously
inclined, animal sacrifice is nonetheless recommended in the sdstras, not
only in the Vedas but even in the modern scriptures of other sects. These
animal sacrifices are recommended in the name of religion, but actually
animal sacrifice is meant for persons in the mode of ignorance. When such
people kill animals, they can at least do so in the name of religion. How-
ever, when the religious system is transcendental, like the Vaismava religion,
there is no place for animal sacrifice. Such a transcendental religious
system is recommended by Krsna in Bhagavad-gita:

sarva-dharman parityajya
mam ekam Saranam vraja
aham tvam sarva-papebhyo
moksayisyami ma sucah
‘Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver
you from all sinful reaction. Do not fear.” (Bg. 18.66)
