Bhagavad Gita Chapter 17

“Faith, Action, and Conscious Living: Unraveling the Threefold Path of the Bhagavad Gita”

Chapter 17 delves into the threefold division of faith, revealing how it shapes human behavior and actions. Lord Krishna emphasizes that our nature and belief systems influence our offerings, penance, and dietary choices. He explains that faith grounded in purity, selflessness, and goodness leads to positive outcomes, while faith tainted by ignorance or selfish desires may yield adverse consequences. This chapter encourages self-awareness and introspection, inspiring individuals to align their actions with their highest values and beliefs.

अर्जुन उवाच

 ये शास्त्रविधिमुत्सृज्य यजन्ते श्रद्धयान्विताः।

 तेषां निष्ठा तु का कृष्ण सत्त्वमाहो रजस्तमः॥१॥

arjuna uvaacha

ye shaastravidhimutsrijya yajante shraddhaayaanvitaah

tesham nishthaa tu kaa krishna sattvamaaho rajas tamah

Arjuna said: Those, endowed with faith, who worship gods and others, disregarding the injunctions of the scriptures, where do they stand, Krsna—in Sattva, Rajas or Tamas ?(1)

 श्रीभगवानुवाच

 त्रिविधा भवति श्रद्धा देहिनां सा स्वभावजा।

 सात्त्विकी राजसी चैव तामसी चेति तां शृणु॥२॥

sri bhagavaan uvaacha

trividhaa bhavati shraddhaaa dehinaam saa swabhaavajaa

saatvikee raajasee chaiva taamasee cheti taam shrinu

Śrī Bhagavān said: That untutored innate faith of men is of three kinds—Sāttvika, Rājasika and Tāmasika. Hear of it from Me. (2)

 सत्त्वानुरूपा सर्वस्य श्रद्धा भवति भारत।

 श्रद्धामयोऽयं पुरुषो यो यच्छ्रद्धः स एव सः॥३॥

sattvaanuroopaa sarvasya shraddhaaa bhavati bhaarata

shraddhaaamayo’yam purusho yo yacchraddhah sa eva sah

The faith of all men conforms to their mental disposition, Arjuna. Faith constitutes a man; whatever the nature of his faith, verily he is that.(3)

यजन्ते सात्त्विका देवान्यक्षरक्षांसि राजसाः।

 प्रेतान्भूतगणांश्चान्ये यजन्ते तामसा जनाः॥४॥

yajante saatwikaa devaanyaksharakshaamsi raajasaah

pretaan bhootaganaamshchaanye yajante taamasaa janaah

Men of Sāttvika disposition worship gods; those of Rājasika temperament worship demigods, the demons; while others, who are of Tāmasika disposition, worship the spirits of the dead and ghosts. (4)

 अशास्त्रविहितं घोरं तप्यन्ते ये तपो जनाः।

 दम्भाहङ्कारसंयुक्ताः कामरागबलान्विताः॥५॥

ashaastravihitam ghoram tapyante ye tapo janaah

dambhaahamkaarasamyuktaah kaama raaga balaanvitaah

Men who practise severe penance of an arbitrary type, not sanctioned by the scriptures, and who are full of hypocrisy and egotism and are obsessed with desire, attachment and pride of power; (5)

 कर्शयन्तः शरीरस्थं भूतग्राममचेतसः।

 मां चैवान्तः शरीरस्थं तान्विद्ध्यासुरनिश्चयान्॥६॥

karshayantah shareerastham bhootagraamamachetasah

maam chaivaantahshareerastham taanviddhyaasuranishchayaan

And who emaciate the elements constituting their body as well as Me, the Supreme Spirit, dwelling in their heart—know those senseless people to have a demoniac disposition. (6)

आहारस्त्वपि सर्वस्य त्रिविधो भवति प्रियः।

 यज्ञस्तपस्तथा दानं तेषां भेदमिमं शृणु॥७॥

aahaarastwapi sarvasya trividho bhavati priyah

yajnastapastathaa daanam teshaam bhedamimam shrinu

Food also, which is agreeable to different men according to their innate disposition is of three kinds. And likewise, sacrifice, penance and charity(7)

 आयुः

सत्त्वबलारोग्यसुखप्रीतिविवर्धनाः।

 रस्याः स्निग्धाः स्थिरा हृद्या आहाराः सात्त्विकप्रियाः॥ ८ ॥

aayuh sattvabalaarogya sukha preeti vivardhanaah

rasyaah snigdhaah sthiraa hridyaa aahaarah saatwikapriyaah

Foods which promote longevity, intelligence, vigour, health, happiness and cheerfulness, and which are juicy, succulent, substantial and naturally agreeable, are liked by men of Sāttvika nature.(8)

 कट्वम्ललवणात्युष्णतीक्ष्णरूक्षविदाहिनः ।

 आहारा राजसस्येष्टा दुःखशोकामयप्रदाः॥ ९ ॥

katvamla lavanaatyushna teekshna rooksha vidaahinah

aahaaraah raajasasyeshtaa duhkhashokaamayapradaah

Foods which are bitter, sour, salty, overhot, pungent, dry and burning, and which cause suffering, grief and sickness, are dear to the Rajasika.(9)

यातयामं गतरसं पूति पर्युषितं च यत्।

 उच्छिष्टमपि चामेध्यं भोजनं तामसप्रियम्॥१०॥

yaatayaamam gatarasam pooti paryushitam cha yat

ucchishtamapi chaamedhyam bhojanam taamasapriyam

Food which is ill-cooked or not fully ripe, insipid, putrid, stale and polluted, and which is impure too, is dear to men of Tāmasika disposition.(10)

 अफलाकाक्षिभिर्यज्ञो विधिदृष्टो य इज्यते।

 यष्टव्यमेवेति मनः समाधाय

 स सात्त्विकः॥११॥

aphalaakaangkhibhir yajno vidhidrishto ya ijyate

yashtavyameveti manah samaadhaaya sa saatwikah

The sacrifice which is offered, as ordained by scriptural injunctions, by men who expect no return and who believe that such sacrifices must be performed, is Sāttvika in character. (11)

 अभिसन्धाय तु फलं दम्भार्थमपि चैव यत्।

 इज्यते भरतश्रेष्ठ तं यज्ञं विद्धि राजसम्॥१२॥

abhisandhaaya tu phalam dambhaarthamapi chaiva yat

ijyate bharatashreshtha tam yajnam viddhi raajasam

That sacrifice, however, which is offered for the sake of mere show or even with an eye to its fruit, know it to be Rajasika, Arjuna. (12)

विधिहीनमसृष्टान्नं मन्त्रहीनमदक्षिणम्।

 श्रद्धाविरहितं यज्ञं तामसं परिचक्षते॥१३॥

vidhiheenam asrishtaannam mantraheenam adakshinam

shraddhaaavirahitam yajnam taamasam parichakshate

A sacrifice, which is not in conformity with scriptural injunctions, in which no food is offered, and no sacrificial fees are paid, which is without sacred chant of hymns and devoid of faith, is said to be Tāmasika.(13)

देवद्विजगुरुप्राज्ञपूजनं शौचमार्जवम्।

 ब्रह्मचर्यमहिंसा च शारीरं तप उच्यते॥१४॥

devadwijagurupraajna poojanam shauchamarjavam

brahmacharyamahimsaa cha shaareeram tapa uchyate

Worship of gods, the Brāhmaṇas, one’s guru, elders and wise-men, purity, straightforwardness, continence and non-violence—these are called penance of the body.(14)

 अनुद्वेगकरं वाक्यं सत्यं प्रियहितं च यत्।

 स्वाध्यायाभ्यसनं चैव वाङ्मयं तप उच्यते॥१५॥

anudwegakaram vaakyam satyam priyahitam cha yat

swaadhyaayaabhyaasanam chaiva vaangmayam tapa uchyate

Words which cause no annoyance to others and are truthful, agreeable and beneficial, as well as the study of the Vedas and other Šāstras and the practice of the chanting of Divine Namethis is known as penance of speech. (15)

मनःप्रसादः सौम्यत्वं मौनमात्मविनिग्रहः।

 भावसंशुद्धिरित्येतत्तपो मानसमुच्यते॥१६॥

manahprasaadah saumyatwam maunamaaatmavinigrahah

bhaavasamshuddhirityetat tapo maanasamuchyate

Cheerfulness of mind, placidity, habit of contemplation on God, control of the mind and perfect purity of inner feelings—all this is called austerity of the mind.(16)

 श्रद्धया परया तप्तं तपस्तत्रिविधं नरैः।

 अफलाकाक्षिभिर्युक्तैः सात्त्विकं परिचक्षते॥१७॥

shraddhaayaa parayaa taptam tapastattrividham naraih

aphalaakaangkshibhiryuktaih saattwikam parichakshate

This threefold penance performed with supreme faith by Yogīs expecting no return is called Sāttvika.(17)

 सत्कारमानपूजार्थं तपो दम्भेन चैव यत्।

 क्रियते तदिह प्रोक्तं राजसं चलमध्रुवम्॥१८॥

satkaaramaanapoojaartham tapo dambhena chaiva yat

kriyate tadiha proktam raajasam chalamadhruvam

The austerity which is performed for the sake of renown, honour or adoration, as well as for any other selfish gain, either in all sincerity or by way of ostentation, and yields an uncertain and momentary fruit, has been spoken of here as Rājasika.(18)

मूढग्राहेणात्मनो यत्पीडया क्रियते तपः।

 परस्योत्सादनार्थं वा तत्तामसमुदाहृतम्॥१९॥

moodhagraahenaatmano yat peedayaa kriyate tapah

parasyotsaadanaartham vaa tattaamasamudaahritam

Penance which is resorted to out of foolish notion and is accompanied by self-mortification, or is intended to harm others, such penance has been declared as Tāmasika(19)

 दातव्यमिति यद्दानं दीयतेऽनुपकारिणे।

 देशे काले च पात्रे च तद्दानं सात्त्विकं स्मृतम्॥ २०॥

daatavyamiti yad daanam deeyateanupakaarine

deshe kaale cha paatre cha tad daanam saatwikam smritam

A gift which is bestowed with a sense of duty on one from whom no return is expected, at appropriate time and place, and to a deserving person, that gift has been declared as Sāttvika.(20)

 यत्तु प्रत्युपकारार्थं फलमुद्दिश्य वा पुनः।

 दीयते च परिक्लिष्टं तद्दानं राजसं स्मृतम्॥२१॥

yattu pratyupakaaraartham phalamuddishya vaa punah

deeyate cha pariklishtam taddaanam raajasam smritam

A gift which is bestowed in a grudging spirit and with the object of getting a service in return or in the hope of obtaining a reward, is called Rājasika.(21)

अदेशकाले यद्दानमपात्रेभ्यश्च दीयते।

 असत्कृतमवज्ञातं तत्तामसमुदाहृतम्॥२२॥

adeshakaale yaddaanam apaatrebhyashcha deeyate

asatkritamavajnaatam tattaamasamudaahritam

A gift which is made without good grace and in a disdainful spirit, out of time and place, and to undeserving persons, is said to be Tamasika. (22)

 ॐ तत्सदिति निर्देशो ब्रह्मणस्त्रिविधः स्मृतः।

 ब्राह्मणास्तेन वेदाश्च यज्ञाश्च विहिताः पुरा॥२३॥

om tatsaditi nirdesho brahmanas trividhah smritah

braahmanaastena vedaashcha yajnaashcha vihitaah puraa

OM, TAT and SAT—this has been declared as the triple appellation of Brahma, who is Truth, Consciousness and Bliss. By that were the Brāhmanas and the Vedas as well as sacrifices created at the cosmic dawn.(23)

 तस्मादोमित्युदाहृत्य यज्ञदानतपःक्रियाः।

 प्रवर्तन्ते विधानोक्ताः सततं ब्रह्मवादिनाम्॥२४॥

tasmaadomityudaahritya yajnadaanatapahkriyaah

pravartante vidhaanoktaah satatam brahmavaadinaam

Therefore, acts of sacrifice, charity and austerity, as enjoined by sacred precepts, are always commenced by noble persons, used to the recitation of Vedic chants, with the invocation of the divine name ‘OM’.(24)

तदित्यनभिसन्धाय फलं यज्ञतपःक्रियाः।

 दानक्रियाश्च विविधाः क्रियन्ते मोक्षकाङ्क्षिभिः॥२५॥

tadityanabhisandhaaya phalam yajnatapah kriyaah

daanakriyaashcha vividhaah kriyante mokshakaangkshibhih

With the idea that all this belongs to God, who is denoted by the appellation TAT, acts of sacrifice and austerity as well as acts of charity of various kinds, are performed by the seekers of liberation, expecting no return for them.(25)

 सद्भावे साधुभावे च सदित्येतत्प्रयुज्यते।

 प्रशस्ते कर्मणि तथा सच्छब्दः पार्थ युज्यते॥२६॥

sadbhaave saadhubhaave cha sadityetatprayujyate

prashaste karmani tathaa sacchabdah paartha yujyate

The name of God, ‘SAT’, is used in the sense of reality and goodness. And the word ‘SAT’ is also used in the sense of a praiseworthy, auspicious action, Arjuna.(26)

यज्ञे तपसि दाने च स्थितिः सदिति चोच्यते।

 कर्म चैव तदर्थीयं सदित्येवाभिधीयते॥२७॥

yajne tapasi daane cha sthitih saditi chochyate

karma chaiva tadartheeyam sadityevaabhidheeyate

And steadfastness in sacrifice, austerity and charity is likewise spoken of as ‘SAT’ and action for the sake of God is verily termed as ‘SAT’. (27)

 अश्रद्धया हुतं दत्तं तपस्तप्तं

कृतं च यत्।

 असदित्युच्यते पार्थ न च

 तत्प्रेत्य नो इह॥२८॥

ashraddhaayaa hutam dattam tapastaptam kritam cha yat

asadityuchyate paartha na cha tatpretya no iha

An oblation which is offered, a gift given, an austerity practised, and whatever good deed is performed, if it is without faith, it is termed as naught i.e., ‘asat’; therefore, it is of no avail here or hereafter.(28)

 ॐ तत्सदिति श्रीमद्भगवद्गीतासूपनिषत्सु

 ब्रह्मविद्यायां योगशास्त्रे श्रीकृष्णार्जुनसंवादे

 श्रद्धात्रयविभागयोगोनाम सप्तदशोऽध्यायः ॥ १७॥

om tat sat iti srimadbhagavadgeetaasu upanishatsu

brahma vidyaayaam yogashaastre sri krishnaarjuna samvaade

shraddhaaa traya vibhhaaga yogo naama saptadasho’dhyaayah || 

Thus, in the Upanișad sung by the Lord, the Science of Brahma, the scripture of Yoga, the dialogue between Śrī Krsna and Arjuna, ends the seventeenth chapter entitled “The Yoga of the Division of the Threefold Faith.”