With commentry by Swami Shivananda
Author: Krishna
The Bhagavad Gita, often called the "Song of God," is a 700-verse sacred Hindu scripture embedded within the ancient Indian epic, the Mahabharata. It is a philosophical dialogue between the warrior Arjuna and his charioteer, the god Krishna, offering profound guidance on duty, ethics, and spiritual liberation.
Chapter 17: Shraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga
The Threefold Division of Faith
Verse #1
अर्जुन उवाच ये शास्त्रविधिमुत्सृज्य यजन्ते |
श्रद्धया अन्विताः तेषां निष्ठा तु का |
कृष्ण सत्त्वम् आहो रजः तमः ||
arjuna uvāca ye śāstravidhimutsṛjya yajante | śraddhayā anvitāḥ teṣām niṣṭhā tu kā | kṛṣṇa sattvam āho rajaḥ tamaḥ ||
arjuna uvaca ye sastravidhimutsjya yajante | sraddhaya anvita tesam nistha tu ka | ksna sattvam aho raja tama ||
Arjuna said: Those who, setting aside the ordinances of the scriptures, perform sacrifice with faith, what is their condition, O Krishna? Is it SATTWA, RAJAS or TAMAS?
Verse #2
श्रीभगवानुवाच त्रिविधा भवति श्रद्धा देहिनां |
सा स्वभावजा सात्त्विकी राजसी च एव |
तामसी च इति तां शृणु ||
śrībhagavānuvāca trividhā bhavati śraddhā dehinām | sā svabhāvajā sāttvikī rājasī ca eva | tāmasī ca tām śṛṇu ||
sribhagavanuvaca trividha bhavati sraddha dehinam | sa svabhavaja sattviki rajasi ca eva | tamasi ca tam snu ||
The Blessed Lord said: Three-fold is the faith of the embodied, which is inherent in their nature --- the SATTVIC (pure) , the RAJASIC (passionate) and the TAMASIC (dull, dark) . Thus thou hear of it.
Verse #3
सत्त्वानुरूपा सर्वस्य श्रद्धा भवति भारत श्रद्धामयः अयम् |
पुरुषः यः यत् श्रद्धः सः एव सः ||
sattvānurūpā sarvasya śraddhā bhavati bhārata śraddhāmayaḥ ayam | puruṣaḥ yaḥ yat śraddhaḥ saḥ eva saḥ ||
sattvanurupa sarvasya sraddha bhavati bharata sraddhamaya ayam | purusa ya yat sraddha sa eva sa ||
The faith of each is in accordance with his nature, O Bharata. Man consists of his faith; as a man's faith is, so is he.
Verse #4
यजन्ते सात्त्विकाः देवान् यक्षरक्षांसि राजसाः प्रेतान् |
भूतगणान् च अन्ये यजन्ते तामसाः जनाः ||
yajante sāttvikāḥ devān yakṣarakṣāṃsi rājasāḥ pretān | bhūtagaṇān ca anye yajante tāmasāḥ janāḥ ||
yajante sattvika devan yaksaraksasi rajasa pretan | bhutaganan ca anye yajante tamasa jana ||
The SATTVIC , or pure men worship the gods (DEVAS); the RAJASIC or the passionate the YAKSHAS and the RAKSHASAS; the others --- TAMASIC people, or the dark or dull folk worship the ghosts (PRETAS) and the hosts of BHUTAS or the nature/spirits.
Verse #5
अशास्त्रविहितं घोरं तप्यन्ते ये |
तपो जनाः दम्भाहङ्कारसंयुक्ताः कामरागबलान्विताः ||
aśāstravihitaṃ ghoraṃ tapyante ye | tapo janāḥ dambhāhaṅkārasaṃyuktāḥ kāmarāgabalānvitāḥ ||
asastravihita ghora tapyante ye | tapo jana dambhahankarasayukta kamaragabalanvita ||
Those men who practise terrific austerities, not enjoined by the scriptures, given to hypocrisy and egoism, impelled by the force of lust and attachment . . .
Verse #6
कर्षयन्तः शरीरस्थं भूतग्रामम् अचेतसः माम् च |
एव अन्तःशरीरस्थं तान् विद्धि असुरनिश्चयान् ||
karṣayantaḥ śarīrastham bhūtagrāmam acetasaḥ mām ca | eva antaḥśarīrastham tān viddhi asuraniścayān ||
karsayanta sarirastham bhutagramam acetasa mam ca | eva antasarirastham tan viddhi asuraniscayan ||
Senselessly torturing all the elements in the body, and Me also who dwells within the body --- you may know these to be of demoniacal resolves.
Verse #7
आहारः तु अपि सर्वस्य त्रिविधः भवति प्रियः यज्ञः |
तपः तथा दानं तेषां भेदम् इमं शृणु ||
āhāraḥ tu api sarvasya trividhaḥ bhavati priyaḥ yajñaḥ | tapaḥ tathā dānaṃ teṣām bhedam imaṃ śṛṇu ||
ahara tu api sarvasya trividha bhavati priya yajna | tapa tatha dana tesam bhedam ima snu ||
The food also which is dear to each is three-fold, as also sacrifice, austerity and alms-giving. You may now hear the distinction of these.
Verse #8
आयुः सत्त्व बल आरोग्य सुख प्रीति विवर्धनाः |
रस्याः स्निग्धाः स्थिराः हृद्याः आहाराः सात्त्विकप्रियाः ||
āyuḥ sattva bala ārogya sukha prīti vivardhanāḥ | rasyāḥ snigdhāḥ sthirāḥ hṛdyāḥ āhārāḥ sāttvikapriyāḥ ||
ayu sattva bala arogya sukha priti vivardhana | rasya snigdha sthira hdya ahara sattvikapriya ||
The foods which increase life, purity, strength, health, joy and cheerfulness (good appetite) , which are savoury and oleaginous, substantial and agreeable, are dear to the SATTVIC (Pure) .
Verse #9
कटु अम्ल लवण अत्युष्ण तीक्ष्ण रूक्ष विदाहिनः |
आहाराः राजसस्य इष्टाः दुःख शोक अमय प्रदाः ||
kaṭu amla lavaṇa atyuṣṇa tīkṣṇa rūkṣa vidāhinaḥ | āhārāḥ rājasasya iṣṭāḥ duḥkha śoka amaya pradāḥ ||
katu amla lavana atyusna tiksna ruksa vidahina | ahara rajasasya ista dukha soka amaya prada ||
The foods that are bitter, sour, saline, excessively hot, pungent, dry and burning, are liked by the RAJASIC , and are productive of pain, grief and disease.
Verse #10
यातयामं गतरसं पूति पर्युषितं च यत् |
उच्छिष्टम् अपि च अमेध्यं भोजनं तामसप्रियम् ||
yātayāmam gatarasam pūti paryuṣitam ca yat | ucchiṣṭam api ca amedhyam bhojanam tāmasapriyam ||
yatayamam gatarasam puti paryusitam ca yat | ucchistam api ca amedhyam bhojanam tamasapriyam ||
That which is stale, tasteless, putrid and rotten, refuse and impure, is the food liked by the TAMASIC.
Verse #11
अफलाकाङ्क्षिभिः यज्ञः विधिदृष्टः यः इज्यते यष्टव्यम् |
एव इति मनः समाधाय स सात्त्विकः ||
aphalākāṅkṣibhiḥ yajñaḥ vidhidṛṣṭaḥ yaḥ ijyate yaṣṭavyam | eva manaḥ samādhāya sa sāttvikaḥ ||
aphalakanksibhi yajna vidhidsta ya ijyate yastavyam | eva mana samadhaya sa sattvika ||
That sacrifice which is offered by men without desire for fruit, and as enjoined by ordinance, with a firm faith that sacrifice is a duty, is SATTVIC or pure.
Verse #12
अभिसन्धाय तु फलं दम्भार्थम् अपि च एव |
यत् इज्यते भरतश्रेष्ठ तं यज्ञं विद्धि राजसम् ||
abhisandhāya tu phalam dambhārtham api ca eva | yat ijyate bharataśreṣṭha taṃ yajñaṃ viddhi rājasam ||
abhisandhaya tu phalam dambhartham api ca eva | yat ijyate bharatasrestha ta yajna viddhi rajasam ||
The sacrifice which is offered, O best of the Bharatas, seeking for fruit and for ostentation, you may know that to be a RAJASIC YAJNA.
Verse #13
विधिहीनम् असृष्टान्नम् मन्त्रहीनम् अदक्षिणम् |
श्रद्धाविरहितम् यज्ञम् तामसम् परिचक्षते ||
vidhihīnam asṛṣṭānnam mantrahīnam adakṣiṇam | śraddhāvirahitam yajñam tāmasam paricakṣate ||
vidhihinam asstannam mantrahinam adaksinam | sraddhavirahitam yajnam tamasam paricaksate ||
They declare that sacrifice to be TAMASIC which is contrary to the ordinances, in which no food is distributed, which is devoid of MANTRAS and gifts, and which is devoid of faith.
Verse #14
देवद्विजगुरुप्राज्ञपूजनं शौचम् आर्जवम् ब्रह्मचर्यमहिंसा |
च शारीरं तप उच्यते ||
devadvijaguruprājñapūjanam śaucam ārjavam brahmacaryamahiṃsā | ca śārīram tapa ucyate ||
devadvijaguruprajnapujanam saucam arjavam brahmacaryamahisa | ca sariram tapa ucyate ||
Worship of the gods, the twice-born, the teachers and the wise; purity, straight-forwardness, celibacy, and non-injury; these are called the austerity of the body.
Verse #15
अनुद्वेगकरं वाक्यं सत्यं प्रियहितं च यत् |
स्वाध्यायाभ्यसनं चैव वाङ्मयं तप उच्यते ||
anudvegakaraṃ vākyaṃ satyaṃ priyahitaṃ ca yat | svādhyāyābhyasanaṃ caiva vāṅmayaṃ tapa ucyate ||
anudvegakara vakya satya priyahita ca yat | svadhyayabhyasana caiva vanmaya tapa ucyate ||
Speech which causes no excitement, and is truthful, pleasant and beneficial, and the practice of the study of the VEDAS, these constitute the austerity of speech.
Verse #16
मनः प्रसादः सौम्यत्वं मौनम् आत्मविनिग्रहः भावसंशुद्धिः |
इति एतत् तपः मानसम् उच्यते ||
manaḥ prasādaḥ saumyatvaṃ maunam ātmavinigrahaḥ bhāvasaṃśuddhiḥ | etat tapaḥ mānasam ucyate ||
mana prasada saumyatva maunam atmavinigraha bhavasasuddhi | etat tapa manasam ucyate ||
Serenity of mind, good-heartedness, silence, self-control, purity of nature --- these together are called the mental austerity.
Verse #17
श्रद्धया परया तप्तं तपः तत् त्रिविधं |
नरैः अफलाकाङ्क्षिभिः युक्तैः सात्त्विकं परिचक्षते ||
śraddhayā parayā taptaṃ tapaḥ tat trividhaṃ | naraiḥ aphalākāṅkṣibhiḥ yuktaiḥ sāttvikaṃ paricakṣate ||
sraddhaya paraya tapta tapa tat trividha | narai aphalakanksibhi yuktai sattvika paricaksate ||
This three-fold austerity, practised by steadfast men, with the utmost faith, desiring no fruit, they call SATTVIC.
Verse #18
सत्कारमानपूजार्थं तपः दम्भेन च एव यत् क्रियते |
तत् इह प्रोक्तं राजसं चलम् अध्रुवम् ||
satkāramānapūjārtham tapaḥ dambhena ca eva yat kriyate | tat iha proktaṃ rājasaṃ calam adhruvam ||
satkaramanapujartham tapa dambhena ca eva yat kriyate | tat iha prokta rajasa calam adhruvam ||
The austerity which is practised with the object of gaining good reception, honour and worship, and with hypocrisy, is here said to be RAJASIC, unstable, and transitory.
Verse #19
मूढग्राहेण आत्मनः यत् पीडया क्रियते तपः |
परस्य उत्सादनार्थम् वा तत् तामसम् उदाहृतम् ||
mūḍhagrāheṇa ātmanaḥ yat pīḍayā kriyate tapaḥ | parasya utsādanārtham vā tat tāmasam udāhṛtam ||
muhagrahena atmana yat piaya kriyate tapa | parasya utsadanartham va tat tamasam udahtam ||
That austerity which is practised with self-torture, out of some foolish notion, for the purpose of destroying another, is declared to be TAMASIC.
Verse #20
दातव्यम् इति यत् दानम् दीयते अनुपकारिणे देशे काले |
च पात्रे च तत् दानम् सात्त्विकम् स्मृतम् ||
dātavyam yat dānam dīyate anupakāriṇe deśe kāle | ca pātre ca tat dānam sāttvikam smṛtam ||
datavyam yat danam diyate anupakarine dese kale | ca patre ca tat danam sattvikam smtam ||
That gift which is given, knowing it to be a duty, in a fit time and place, to a worthy person, from whom we expect nothing in return, is held to be SATTVIC.
Verse #21
यत् तु प्रत्युपकारार्थम् फलम् उद्दिश्य वा पुनः |
दीयते च परिक्लिष्टम् तत् दानम् राजसम् स्मृतम् ||
yat tu pratyupakārārtham phalam uddiśya vā punaḥ | dīyate ca parikliṣṭam tat dānam rājasam smṛtam ||
yat tu pratyupakarartham phalam uddisya va puna | diyate ca pariklistam tat danam rajasam smtam ||
And that gift which is given with a view to receiving in return, or looking for fruit again, or reluctantly, is held to be RAJASIC.
Verse #22
अदेशकाले यत् दानम् अपात्रेभ्यः च दीयते |
असत्कृतम् अवज्ञातम् तत् तामसम् उदाहृतम् ||
adeśakāle yat dānam apātrebhyaḥ ca dīyate | asatkṛtam avajñātam tat tāmasam udāhṛtam ||
adesakale yat danam apatrebhya ca diyate | asatktam avajnatam tat tamasam udahtam ||
The gift that is given at a wrong place and time, to unworthy persons, without respect, or with insult, is declared to be TAMASIC.
Verse #23
ॐ तत् सत् इति निर्देशः ब्रह्मणः त्रिविधः स्मृतः |
ब्राह्मणाः तेन वेदाः च यज्ञाः च विहिताः पुरा ||
oṃ tat sat nirdeśaḥ brahmaṇaḥ trividhaḥ smṛtaḥ | brāhmaṇāḥ tena vedāḥ ca yajñāḥ ca vihitāḥ purā ||
o tat sat nirdesa brahmana trividha smta | brahmana tena veda ca yajna ca vihita pura ||
OM TAT SAT --- this has been declared to be the triple designation of BRAHMAN. By that were created formerly the BRAHMANAS VEDAS and YAJNAS (sacrifices) .
Verse #24
तस्मात् ओम् इति उदाहृत्य यज्ञदानतपःक्रियाः |
प्रवर्तन्ते विधानोक्ताः सततम् ब्रह्मवादिनाम् ||
tasmāt om udāhṛtya yajñadānatapaḥkriyāḥ | pravartante vidhānoktāḥ satatam brahmavādinām ||
tasmat om udahtya yajnadanatapakriya | pravartante vidhanokta satatam brahmavadinam ||
Therefore, with the utterance of OM are begun the acts of sacrifice, gifts and austerity as enjoined in the scriptures, always by the students of BRAHMAN.
Verse #25
तत् इति अनभिसन्धाय फलं यज्ञतपःक्रियाः |
दानक्रियाः च विविधाः क्रियन्ते मोक्षकाङ्क्षिभिः ||
tat anabhisandhāya phalam yajñatapaḥkriyāḥ | dānakriyāḥ ca vividhāḥ kriyante mokṣakāṅkṣibhiḥ ||
tat anabhisandhaya phalam yajnatapakriya | danakriya ca vividha kriyante moksakanksibhi ||
Uttering TAT without aiming at the fruits are the acts of sacrifice and austerity and the various acts of gift performed by the seekers of liberation.
Verse #26
सद्भावे साधुभावे च सत् इति एतत् प्रयुज्यते |
प्रशस्ते कर्मणि तथा सच्छब्दः पार्थ युज्यते ||
sadbhāve sādhubhāve ca sat etat prayujyate | praśaste karmaṇi tathā sacchabdaḥ pārtha yujyate ||
sadbhave sadhubhave ca sat etat prayujyate | prasaste karmani tatha sacchabda partha yujyate ||
The word SAT is used in the sense of Reality and of Goodness; and also O Partha the word SAT is used in the sense of an auspicious act.
Verse #27
यज्ञे तपसि दाने च स्थितिः सत् इति च उच्यते |
कर्म च एव तदर्थीयं सत् इति एव अभिधीयते ||
yajñe tapasi dāne ca sthitiḥ sat ca ucyate | karma ca eva tadarthīyam sat eva abhidhīyate ||
yajne tapasi dane ca sthiti sat ca ucyate | karma ca eva tadarthiyam sat eva abhidhiyate ||
Steadfastness in sacrifice, austerity and gift is also called SAT and also, action in connection with these (for the sake of the Supreme) is called SAT.
Verse #28
अश्रद्धया हुतं दत्तं तपः |
तप्तं कृतं च यत् |
असत् इति उच्यते पार्थ |
न च तत् प्रेत्य |
न उ इह ||
aśraddhayā hutaṃ dattaṃ tapaḥ | taptaṃ kṛtaṃ ca yat | asat ucyate pārtha | na ca tat pretya | na u iha ||
asraddhaya huta datta tapa | tapta kta ca yat | asat ucyate partha | na ca tat pretya | na u iha ||
Whatever is sacrificed, given or performed, and whatever austerity is practised without faith, it is called A-SAT, O Partha; it is not for here or hereafter (after death) .<br><br>Thus in the Upanishads of the glorious Bhagavad Gita, the science of the Eternal, the scripture of Yoga, the dialogue between Sri Krishna and Arjuna, ends the seventeenth discourse entitled "The Yoga of the Threefold Faith."