Chapter 17 · 28 verses
श्रद्धात्रयविभागयोगः
Śraddhā-traya-vibhāga-yogaḥ
- 17.1ये शास्त्रविधिमुत्सृज्य यजन्ते श्रद्धयाऽन्विताः।Arjuna said, "What is the condition of those who, disregarding the injunctions of the scriptures, perform…
- 17.2त्रिविधा भवति श्रद्धा देहिनां सा स्वभावजा।The Blessed Lord said, "There are threefold faiths inherent in the nature of the embodied: the sattvic…
- 17.3सत्त्वानुरूपा सर्वस्य श्रद्धा भवति भारत।The faith of each is in accordance with their nature, O Arjuna. People consist of their faith; as a person's…
- 17.4यजन्ते सात्त्विका देवान्यक्षरक्षांसि राजसाः।The sattvic, or pure, men worship the gods; the rajasic, or passionate, worship the yakshas and rakshasas;…
- 17.5अशास्त्रविहितं घोरं तप्यन्ते ये तपो जनाः।Those men who practice terrific austerities not prescribed by the scriptures, given to hypocrisy and egoism,…
- 17.6कर्षयन्तः शरीरस्थं भूतग्राममचेतसः।Know thou these to be of demonical resolves, senselessly torturing all the elements in the body and Me who…
- 17.7आहारस्त्वपि सर्वस्य त्रिविधो भवति प्रियः।The food that is dear to each is threefold, as well as sacrifice, austerity, and almsgiving. Hear the…
- 17.8आयुःसत्त्वबलारोग्यसुखप्रीतिविवर्धनाः।The foods that increase life, purity, strength, health, joy, and cheerfulness (good appetite), which are…
- 17.9कट्वम्ललवणात्युष्णतीक्ष्णरूक्षविदाहिनः।The foods that are bitter, sour, salty, overly hot, pungent, dry, and burning are liked by the Rajasic and…
- 17.10यातयामं गतरसं पूति पर्युषितं च यत्।That which is stale, tasteless, putrid, rotten, rejected, and impure is the food liked by the Tamasic.
- 17.11अफलाकाङ्क्षिभिर्यज्ञो विधिदृष्टो य इज्यते।That sacrifice which is offered by men without desire for reward, as enjoined by the ordinance (scripture),…
- 17.12अभिसंधाय तु फलं दम्भार्थमपि चैव यत्।The sacrifice that is offered, O Arjuna, seeking a reward and for show, know that to be a Rajasic Yajna.
- 17.13विधिहीनमसृष्टान्नं मन्त्रहीनमदक्षिणम्।They declare that sacrifice to be Tamasic which is contrary to the ordinances of the scriptures, in which no…
- 17.14देवद्विजगुरुप्राज्ञपूजनं शौचमार्जवम्।Worship of the gods, the twice-born, the teachers, and the wise; purity, straightforwardness, celibacy, and…
- 17.15अनुद्वेगकरं वाक्यं सत्यं प्रियहितं च यत्।Speech that causes no excitement, is truthful, pleasant, and beneficial; the practice of studying the Vedas…
- 17.16मनःप्रसादः सौम्यत्वं मौनमात्मविनिग्रहः।Serenity of mind, good-heartedness, self-control, and purity of nature—this is called mental austerity.
- 17.17श्रद्धया परया तप्तं तपस्तत्ित्रविधं नरैः।This threefold austerity, practiced by steadfast men, with the utmost faith, desiring no reward, is called…
- 17.18सत्कारमानपूजार्थं तपो दम्भेन चैव यत्।The austerity that is practiced with the aim of gaining good reception, honor, and worship, and with…
- 17.19मूढग्राहेणात्मनो यत्पीडया क्रियते तपः।That austerity which is practised out of a foolish notion, with self-torture, or for the purpose of…
- 17.20दातव्यमिति यद्दानं दीयतेऽनुपकारिणे।That gift which is given to one who does nothing in return, knowing it to be a duty to give in a suitable…
- 17.21यत्तु प्रत्युपकारार्थं फलमुद्दिश्य वा पुनः।And, that gift which is given with the intention of receiving something in return, or expecting a reward, or…
- 17.22अदेशकाले यद्दानमपात्रेभ्यश्च दीयते।The gift that is given in the wrong place and at the wrong time, to unworthy persons, without respect or with…
- 17.23तत्सदिति निर्देशो ब्रह्मणस्त्रिविधः स्मृतः।"Om Tat Sat": This has been declared to be the triple designation of Brahman. By that, the Brahmanas, the…
- 17.24तस्मादोमित्युदाहृत्य यज्ञदानतपःक्रियाः।Therefore, with the utterance of "Om," the acts of sacrifice, gift, and austerity, as enjoined in the…
- 17.25तदित्यनभिसन्धाय फलं यज्ञतपःक्रियाः।Uttering "Tat," without aiming for the fruits, are the acts of sacrifice, austerity, and the various acts of…
- 17.26सद्भावे साधुभावे च सदित्येतत्प्रयुज्यते।The word "Sat" is used to refer to reality and goodness; likewise, O Arjuna, the word "Sat" is used to refer…
- 17.27यज्ञे तपसि दाने च स्थितिः सदिति चोच्यते।Steadfastness in sacrifice, austerity, and gift is also called 'Sat', and action in connection with these, or…
- 17.28अश्रद्धया हुतं दत्तं तपस्तप्तं कृतं च यत्।Whatever is sacrificed, given, or performed, and whatever austerity is practiced without faith, it is called…