Chapter 17

Shraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga

श्रद्धात्रय विभाग योग

Total Shlokas: 28Sanskrit + English Meaning

Shloka 1

अर्जुन उवाच।
ये शास्त्रविधिमुत्सृज्य यजन्ते श्रद्धयान्विताः।
तेषां निष्ठा तु का कृष्ण सत्त्वमाहो रजस्तमः।।17.1।।

Show Meaning

Arjuna asks: What is the state of those who worship with faith but set aside the scriptural injunctions? Is their faith sattvic, rajasic, or tamasic?

Shloka 2

श्री भगवानुवाच।
त्रिविधा भवति श्रद्धा देहिनां सा स्वभावजा।
सात्त्विकी राजसी चैव तामसी चेति तां शृणु।।17.2।।

Show Meaning

Krishna answers: The faith of each person is of three kinds — born of their own nature — sattvic, rajasic, or tamasic. The nature of one's faith reflects the quality of one's being.

Shloka 3

सत्त्वानुरूपा सर्वस्य श्रद्धा भवति भारत।
श्रद्धामयोऽयं पुरुषो यो यच्छ्रद्धः स एव सः।।17.3।।

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The faith of each person accords with their nature. A person is made of their faith; as their faith is, so are they. We become what we believe.

Shloka 4

यजन्ते सात्त्विका देवान्यक्षरक्षांसि राजसाः।
प्रेतान्भूतगणांश्चान्ये यजन्ते तामसा जनाः।।17.4।।

Show Meaning

Sattvic people worship the gods; rajasic people worship the yakshas and rakshasas; tamasic people worship ghosts and spirits. The object of worship reveals the worshipper's nature.

Shloka 5

अशास्त्रविहितं घोरं तप्यन्ते ये तपो जनाः।
दम्भाहङ्कारसंयुक्ताः कामरागबलान्विताः।।17.5।।

Show Meaning

Those who practice severe austerities not enjoined by the scriptures, driven by hypocrisy and ego, impelled by the force of desire and attachment...

Shloka 6

कर्षयन्तः शरीरस्थं भूतग्राममचेतसः।
मां चैवान्तःशरीरस्थं तान्विद्ध्यासुरनिश्चयान्।।17.6।।

Show Meaning

...torturing the elements in their body and also the Supreme dwelling within — know such people to be of demonic resolve. Self-torture is not true spirituality.

Shloka 7

आहारस्त्वपि सर्वस्य त्रिविधो भवति प्रियः।
यज्ञस्तपस्तथा दानं तेषां भेदमिमं शृणु।।17.7।।

Show Meaning

Even the food each person prefers is of three kinds, as are sacrifice, austerity, and charity. Now hear about the distinction between them.

Shloka 8

आयुःसत्त्वबलारोग्यसुखप्रीतिविवर्धनाः।
रस्याः स्निग्धाः स्थिरा हृद्या आहाराः सात्त्विकप्रियाः।।17.8।।

Show Meaning

Foods that promote life, vitality, strength, health, happiness, and satisfaction, which are juicy, fatty, wholesome, and agreeable to the heart — these are dear to the sattvic person.

Shloka 9

कट्वम्ललवणात्युष्णतीक्ष्णरूक्षविदाहिनः।
आहारा राजसस्येष्टा दुःखशोकामयप्रदाः।।17.9।।

Show Meaning

Foods that are bitter, sour, salty, excessively hot, pungent, dry, and burning — these are preferred by the rajasic person. They cause pain, grief, and disease.

Shloka 10

यातयामं गतरसं पूति पर्युषितं च यत्।
उच्छिष्टमपि चामेध्यं भोजनं तामसप्रियम्।।17.10।।

Show Meaning

Food that is stale, tasteless, putrid, leftover, and impure is dear to the tamasic person.

Shloka 11

अफलाकाङ्क्षिभिर्यज्ञो विधिदृष्टो य इज्यते।
यष्टव्यमेवेति मनः समाधाय स सात्त्विकः।।17.11।।

Show Meaning

That sacrifice which is offered according to scriptural rules, without desire for rewards, with a firm conviction that it is duty — that is sattvic sacrifice.

Shloka 12

अभिसन्धाय तु फलं दम्भार्थमपि चैव यत्।
इज्यते भरतश्रेष्ठ तं यज्ञं विद्धि राजसम्।।17.12।।

Show Meaning

Sacrifice offered with expectation of reward or for the sake of display — know that to be rajasic sacrifice, performed with selfish motives.

Shloka 13

विधिहीनमसृष्टान्नं मन्त्रहीनमदक्षिणम्।
श्रद्धाविरहितं यज्ञं तामसं परिचक्षते।।17.13।।

Show Meaning

Sacrifice performed without regard for scriptural injunctions, without distributing food, without mantras, without gifts to the priests, and without faith — that is tamasic sacrifice.

Shloka 14

देवद्विजगुरुप्राज्ञपूजनं शौचमार्जवम्।
ब्रह्मचर्यमहिंसा च शारीरं तप उच्यते।।17.14।।

Show Meaning

Worship of the gods, teachers, the wise, and the learned; purity, straightforwardness, celibacy, and non-violence — these constitute the austerity of the body.

Shloka 15

अनुद्वेगकरं वाक्यं सत्यं प्रियहितं च यत्।
स्वाध्यायाभ्यसनं चैव वाङ्मयं तप उच्यते।।17.15।।

Show Meaning

Speech that causes no agitation, that is truthful, pleasant, and beneficial, and also the practice of self-study — these constitute the austerity of speech.

Shloka 16

मनःप्रसादः सौम्यत्वं मौनमात्मविनिग्रहः।
भावसंशुद्धिरित्येतत्तपो मानसमुच्यते।।17.16।।

Show Meaning

Serenity of mind, gentleness, silence, self-control, and purity of the inner nature — this is called the austerity of the mind.

Shloka 17

श्रद्धया परया तप्तं तपस्तत्त्रिविधं नरैः।
अफलाकाङ्क्षिभिर्युक्तैः सात्त्विकं परिचक्षते।।17.17।।

Show Meaning

This threefold austerity, practiced with utmost faith by people who are not desirous of fruit and who are united with the Lord, is said to be sattvic.

Shloka 18

सत्कारमानपूजार्थं तपो दम्भेन चैव यत्।
क्रियते तदिह प्रोक्तं राजसं चलमध्रुवम्।।17.18।।

Show Meaning

Austerity performed with the aim of gaining respect, honor, and reverence, and for the sake of show — that is rajasic, unstable, and transitory.

Shloka 19

मूढग्राहेणात्मनो यत्पीडया क्रियते तपः।
परस्योत्सादनार्थं वा तत्तामसमुदाहृतम्।।17.19।।

Show Meaning

Austerity performed with foolish stubbornness or with self-torture, or for the purpose of destroying another — that is declared to be tamasic.

Shloka 20

दातव्यमिति यद्दानं दीयतेऽनुपकारिणे।
देशे काले च पात्रे च तद्दानं सात्त्विकं स्मृतम्।।17.20।।

Show Meaning

That gift which is given out of duty, at the right time and place, to a worthy person, without expectation of return — that is considered sattvic charity.

Shloka 21

यत्तु प्रत्युपकारार्थं फलमुद्दिश्य वा पुनः।
दीयते च परिक्लिष्टं तद्दानं राजसं स्मृतम्।।17.21।।

Show Meaning

That gift which is given reluctantly, with expectation of something in return, or looking for some reward — that is considered rajasic charity.

Shloka 22

अदेशकाले यद्दानमपात्रेभ्यश्च दीयते।
असत्कृतमवज्ञातं तत्तामसमुदाहृतम्।।17.22।।

Show Meaning

That gift which is given at an improper time and place, to unworthy persons, without respect, or with contempt — that is declared to be tamasic charity.

Shloka 23

ॐ तत्सदिति निर्देशो ब्रह्मणस्त्रिविधः स्मृतः।
ब्राह्मणास्तेन वेदाश्च यज्ञाश्च विहिताः पुरा।।17.23।।

Show Meaning

'Om Tat Sat' — this has been declared as the threefold designation of Brahman. By this, the brahmanas, the Vedas, and the sacrifices were created in the beginning.

Shloka 24

तस्मादोमित्युदाहृत्य यज्ञदानतपःक्रियाः।
प्रवर्तन्ते विधानोक्ताः सततं ब्रह्मवादिनाम्।।17.24।।

Show Meaning

Therefore, acts of sacrifice, charity, and austerity prescribed by the scriptures are always commenced by the utterance of 'Om' by the knowers of Brahman.

Shloka 25

तदित्यनभिसन्धाय फलं यज्ञतपःक्रियाः।
दानक्रियाश्च विविधाः क्रियन्ते मोक्षकाङ्क्षिभिः।।17.25।।

Show Meaning

With the word 'Tat,' without aiming at any result, acts of sacrifice, austerity, and charity are performed by seekers of liberation.

Shloka 26

सद्भावे साधुभावे च सदित्येतत्प्रयुज्यते।
प्रशस्ते कर्मणि तथा सच्छब्दः पार्थ युज्यते।।17.26।।

Show Meaning

The word 'Sat' is used in the sense of goodness and reality. The word 'Sat' is also used for auspicious actions, O Arjuna.

Shloka 27

यज्ञे तपसि दाने च स्थितिः सदिति चोच्यते।
कर्म चैव तदर्थीयं सदित्येवाभिधीयते।।17.27।।

Show Meaning

Steadfastness in sacrifice, austerity, and charity is also called 'Sat.' Any action performed for the sake of the Supreme is also called 'Sat.'

Shloka 28

अश्रद्धया हुतं दत्तं तपस्तप्तं कृतं च यत्।
असदित्युच्यते पार्थ न च तत्प्रेत्य नो इह।।17.28।।

Show Meaning

Whatever sacrifice, charity, or austerity is performed without faith — it is called 'Asat' (unreal). It is of no value here or hereafter. Faith is the essential ingredient that gives spiritual value to all actions.

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