17:01 अर्जुन उवाच | ये शास्त्रविधिमुत्सृज्य यजन्ते श्रद्धयान्विताः | तेषां निष्ठा तु का कृष्ण सत्त्वमाहो रजस्तमः || १७ १ || Arjuna uvaacha: ye shaastra-vidhimutsrujya yajante shraddha-yaanvitaaha teshaam nisht-haa tu kaa krushNa sattva-maaho rajastamaha (SBG 17:01)
Arjuna said: O Krishna, what is the condition of those who disregard the teachings of the scriptures but perform with devotion and faith? Is it Sattva, Rajas or Tamas?
—————————— 17:02 श्रीभगवानुवाच | त्रिविधा भवति श्रद्धा देहिनां सा स्वभावजा | सात्त्विकी राजसी चैव तामसी चेति तां शृणु || १७ २ || Sri Bhagavaan Uvaacha: trividhaa bhavati shraddhaa dehinaam saa svabhaa-vajaa saattvikee raajasee chaiva taamasee cheti taam shruNu (SBG 17:02)
Shri Bhagavan Krishna said: The natural faith of humans are of three kinds. They are Sattvika, Rajasika and Tamasika. Now hear about them from Me.
—————————— 17:03 सत्त्वानुरूपा सर्वस्य श्रद्धा भवति भारत | श्रद्धामयोऽयं पुरुषो यो यच्छ्रद्धः स एव सः || १७ ३ || sattvaa-nuroopaa sarvasya shraddhaa bhavati bhaarata shraddhaamayo’yam purusho yo yacchraddhaha sa eva saha (SBG 17:03)
The faith of everyone is as per their nature, O Arjuna. People are what the nature of their faith is.
—————————— 17:04 यजन्ते सात्त्विका देवान्यक्षरक्षांसि राजसाः | प्रेतान्भूतगणांश्चान्ये यजन्ते तामसा जनाः || १७ ४ || yajante saattvikaa devaan yaksha-rakshaamsi raajasaaha pretaan bhoota-gaNaamsh-chaanye yajante taama-saa janaaha (SBG 17:04)
Those who are Sattvic, worship Celestial Beings of light; the Rajasic or the passionate, worship the Yakshas and the Rakshasas; the Tamasic who are deluded, worship the deceased, ghosts, spirits and other elemental beings.
—————————— 17:05 अशास्त्रविहितं घोरं तप्यन्ते ये तपो जनाः | दम्भाहंकारसंयुक्ताः कामरागबलान्विताः || १७ ५ || ashaastra-vihitam ghoram tapyante ye tapo janaaha dambhaa-hamkaara-samyuktaaha kaama-raaga-balaan-vitaaha (SBG 17:05)
Those who are impelled by the forces of egotism, passions and attachments, practise terrible austerities which are not taught in the scriptures.
—————————— 17:06 कर्षयन्तः शरीरस्थं भूतग्राममचेतसः | मां चैवान्तःशरीरस्थं तान्विद्ध्यासुरनिश्चयान् || १७ ६ || karshayantaha shareerastham bhoota-graama-machetasaha maam chaivaantah-shareerastham taan-viddhyaa-suranish-chayaan (SBG 17:06)
These senseless men torture not only all the elements in their own bodies but also Me residing within it. You should know them to be of demoniacal qualities.
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Even the food that people prefer is of three kinds, just as worship, austerity and alms-giving are. Hear from Me now the differentiation between these.
Foods which augment life, purity, strength, health, happiness and contentment, which are delicious, succulent, substantial and agreeable, are dear to people with the Sattva Guna.
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17:09 कट्वम्ललवणात्युष्णतीक्ष्णरूक्षविदाहिनः | आहारा राजसस्येष्टा दुःखशोकामयप्रदाः || १७ ९ || katvamla-lavaNaat-yushNa- teekshNa-rooksha-vidaahinaha aahaaraa raaja-sasyeshtaa duhkha-shokaa-maya-pradaaha (SBG 17:09)
Foods that Rajasic people like are bitter, sour, salty, stinging, extremely hot, pungent and burning. Such foods cause pain, grief, indigestion and disease.
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17:10 यातयामं गतरसं पूति पर्युषितं च यत् | उच्छिष्टमपि चामेध्यं भोजनं तामसप्रियम् || १७ १० || yaata-yaamam gatarasam pooti paryushitam cha yat ucchishtamapi chaamedhyam bhojanam taamasa-priyam (SBG 17:10)
Foods that are stale, tasteless, stinking, rotten, left over and impure, are what Tamasic people like.
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17:11 अफलाकाङ्क्षिभिर्यज्ञो विधिदृष्टो य इज्यते | यष्टव्यमेवेति मनः समाधाय स सात्त्विकः || १७ ११ || aphalaa-kaangkshi-bhir-yajno vidhi-drushto ya ijyate yashtavya-meveti manaha samaa-dhaaya sa saattvikaha (SBG 17:11)
The sacrifice which is offered by people as taught in the scriptures, without expecting any reward but with the faith to do it as a duty, is considered to be Sattvic or pure.
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17:12 अभिसंधाय तु फलं दम्भार्थमपि चैव यत् | इज्यते भरतश्रेष्ठ तं यज्ञं विद्धि राजसम् || १७ १२ || abhisandhaaya tu phalam dambhaartha-mapi chaiva yat ijyate bharata-shresht-ha tam yajnam viddhi raajasam (SBG 17:12)
O Arjuna, the sacrifice which is offered, with the intention of getting a reward and other benefits or as an act of hypocrisy, is known to be Rajasic.
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17:13 विधिहीनमसृष्टान्नं मन्त्रहीनमदक्षिणम् | श्रद्धाविरहितं यज्ञं तामसं परिचक्षते || १७ १३ || vidhi-heenam-asrushtaannam mantra-heenam-adakshiNam shraddhaa-virahitam yajnam taamasam pari-chakshate (SBG 17:13)
A sacrifice which is not in accordance with the scriptures, in which no food is distributed, no gifts are given, no Mantras are chanted and in which there is no faith, is known to be Tamasic.
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17:14 देवद्विजगुरुप्राज्ञपूजनं शौचमार्जवम् | ब्रह्मचर्यमहिंसा च शारीरं तप उच्यते || १७ १४ || deva-dvija-guru-praajna- poojanam shaucha-maar-javam brahma-charya-mahimsaa cha shaareeram tapa uchyate (SBG 17:14)
Worship of the Gods, the twice-born, the spiritual masters and the wise, a pure attitude, honesty, not causing harm to others and celibacy, are known as austerities of the body.
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17:15 अनुद्वेगकरं वाक्यं सत्यं प्रियहितं च यत् | स्वाध्यायाभ्यसनं चैव वाङ्मयं तप उच्यते || १७ १५ || anud-vegakaram vaakyam satyam priyahitam cha yat svaadhyaa-yaabhyasanam chaiva vaangmayam tapa uchyate (SBG 17:15)
Speech that does not cause offence, is truthful, pleasing and useful; along with the recitation of the Vedas; is called Tapas or austerity of speech.
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17:16 मनःप्रसादः सौम्यत्वं मौनमात्मविनिग्रहः | भावसंशुद्धिरित्येतत्तपो मानसमुच्यते || १७ १६ || manah-prasaadah saumyatvam mauna-maatma-vini-grahaha bhaava-samshuddhir-ityetat- tapo maanasam-uchyate (SBG 17:16)
The tranquility of the mind, inner contentment, silence, self-control and purification of one’s own mind are qualities called mental Tapas or austerity of the mind.
The threefold Tapas or austerity undertaken by devout people with absolute faith but with no desire for rewards, is known to be Sattvic.
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17:18 सत्कारमानपूजार्थं तपो दम्भेन चैव यत् | क्रियते तदिह प्रोक्तं राजसं चलमध्रुवम् || १७ १८ || sat-kaara-maana-poojaartham tapo dambhena chaiva yat kriyate tadiha proktam raajasam chalama-dhruvam (SBG 17:18)
The kind of Tapas or austerity performed in a pompous way with the objective of gaining reputation, honour and adoration is said to be Rajasic which is unstable and impermanent.
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17:19 मूढग्राहेणात्मनो यत्पीडया क्रियते तपः | परस्योत्सादनार्थं वा तत्तामसमुदाहृतम् || १७ १९ || mood-hagraahe-Naat-mano yatpeedayaa kriyate tapaha paras-yotsaa-danaar-tham vaa tattaa-masa-mudaa-hrutam (SBG 17:19)
The Tapas or austerity done with a foolish notion, involving self-injury, or causing harm to others, is known to be Tamasic.
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17:20 दातव्यमिति यद्दानं दीयतेऽनुपकारिणे | देशे काले च पात्रे च तद्दानं सात्त्विकं स्मृतम् || १७ २० || daatavya-miti yaddaanam deeyate-’nupa-kaariNe deshe kaale cha paatre cha taddaanam saattvikam smrutam (SBG 17:20)
Charity, which is done to a deserving person at the right place, without awaiting anything in return but as something that needs to be done as a duty, is stated to be Sattvic.
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17:21 यत्तु प्रत्युपकारार्थं फलमुद्दिश्य वा पुनः | दीयते च परिक्लिष्टं तद्दानं राजसं स्मृतम् || १७ २१ || yattu prat-yupakaar-aartham phala-muddishya vaa punaha deeyate cha pariklishtam taddaanam raajasam smrutam (SBG 17:21)
However, what is given reluctantly or expecting something in return for a favour or as a reward, is said to be Rajasic.
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17:22 अदेशकाले यद्दानमपात्रेभ्यश्च दीयते | असत्कृतमवज्ञातं तत्तामसमुदाहृतम् || १७ २२ || adeshakaale yaddaana- ma-paatre-bhyash-cha deeyate asat-krutama-vajnaatam tattaa-masamu-daahrutam (SBG 17:22)
Charity which is done at a wrong place and time to unworthy persons; without respect; or done in a disdainful manner; is known to be Tamasic.
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17:23 ॐ तत्सदिति निर्देशो ब्रह्मणस्त्रिविधः स्मृतः | ब्राह्मणास्तेन वेदाश्च यज्ञाश्च विहिताः पुरा || १७ २३ || om tatsa-diti nirdesho brahmaNas-trividhah smrutaha braahmaNaa-stena vedaash-cha yajnaash-cha vihitaah puraa (SBG 17:23)
“Om Tat Sat”: this has been handed down as the threefold name of Brahman. From that came priests, Vedas and sacrifices.
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17:24 तस्मादोमित्युदाहृत्य यज्ञदानतपःक्रियाः | प्रवर्तन्ते विधानोक्ताः सततं ब्रह्मवादिनाम् || १७ २४ || tasmaa-domi-tyudaa-hritya yajna-daana-tapah-kriyaaha pravar-tante vidhaa-noktaaha satatam brahma-vaadi-naam (SBG 17:24)
Therefore, consecration, generosity and acts of Tapas or sacrifices by followers of Brahman, as per scriptures, are always begun by uttering “Aum”.
Those seekers of liberation who do not expect rewards, utter the word “Tat” while performing various acts of sacrifice and austerity.
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17:26 सद्भावे साधुभावे च सदित्येतत्प्रयुज्यते | प्रशस्ते कर्मणि तथा सच्छब्दः पार्थ युज्यते || १७ २६ || sadbhaave saadhubhaave cha sadit-yetat-prayujyate prashaste karmaNi tathaa sacchab-daha paartha yujyate (SBG 17:26)
O Arjuna, for whatever is true and good, the word “Sat” is used in order to describe it as an auspicious act.
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17:27 यज्ञे तपसि दाने च स्थितिः सदिति चोच्यते | कर्म चैव तदर्थीयं सदित्येवाभिधीयते || १७ २७ || yajne tapasi daane cha sthitih saditi chochyate karma chaiva tadar-theeyam saditye-vaabhi-dheeyate (SBG 17:27)
Being steadfast in sacrifice, austerity and charity, is also called Sat. Work done indirectly for the sake of the Supreme Bhagavan is also called “Sat”.
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17:28 अश्रद्धया हुतं दत्तं तपस्तप्तं कृतं च यत् | असदित्युच्यते पार्थ न च तत्प्रेत्य नो इह || १७ २८ || ashraddhayaa hutam dattam tapas-taptam krutam cha yat asadit-yuchyate paartha na cha tat-pretya no iha (SBG 17:28)
O Arjuna, sacrifices that are done, austerities practised or anything else done without faith, are called Asat. They are of no use, both here as well as after death.
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ॐ तत्सदिति श्रीमद् भगवद्गीतासूपनिषत्सु ब्रह्मविद्यायां योगशास्त्रे श्रीकृष्णार्जुनसंवादे श्रद्धात्रयविभागयोगो नाम सप्तदशोऽध्यायः || १७ || Hari Om Tat Sat Iti Srimad Bhagavadgeetaasoopanishatsu Brahmavidyaayaam Yogashaastre Sri Krishnaarjunasamvaade Shraddhaatrayavibhaagayogo Naama Saptadasho’dhyaayaha
Thus ends the seventeenth part of the Bhagavad Gita “ The Yoga of the Three Kinds of Faith” -The Science of the Eternal, the Scripture of Yoga, the dialogue between Shri Krishna and Arjuna.
TVM Gita Samiti 