Chapter 17

श्रद्धात्रयविभागयोग

Sraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga

The seventeenth chapter of the Bhagavad Gita is "Sraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga". In this chapter, Krishna describes the three types of faith corresponding to the three modes of the material nature. Lord Krishna further reveals that it is the nature of faith that determines the quality of life and the character of living entities. Those who have faith in passion and ignorance perform actions that yield temporary, material results while those who have faith in goodness perform actions in accordance with scriptural instructions and hence their hearts get further purified.

28 Verses
Verse 1

अर्जुन उवाच |...

17.1 Arjuna said Those who, setting aside the ordinances of the scriptures, perform sacrifice with ...

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Verse 2

श्रीभगवानुवाच |...

17.2 The Blessed Lord said Threefold is the faith of the embodied, which is inherent in their natur...

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Verse 3

सत्त्वानुरूपा सर्वस्य श्रद्धा भवति भारत |...

17.3 The faith of each is in accordance with his nature, O Arjuna. The man consists of his faith; as...

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Verse 4

यजन्ते सात्त्विका देवान्यक्षरक्षांसि राजसाः |...

17.4 The Sattvic or the pure men worship the gods; the Rajasic or the passionate worship the Yakshas...

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Verse 5

अशास्त्रविहितं घोरं तप्यन्ते ये तपो जनाः |...

17.5 Those men who practise terrific austerities not enjoined by the scriptures, given to hypocrisy ...

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Verse 6

कर्षयन्तः शरीरस्थं भूतग्राममचेतसः |...

17.6 Senseless, torturing all the elements in the body and Me also, Who dwell in the body, know tho...

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Verse 7

आहारस्त्वपि सर्वस्य त्रिविधो भवति प्रियः |...

17.7 The food also which is dear to each is threefold, as also sacrifice, austerity and almsgiving. ...

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Verse 8

आयुःसत्त्वबलारोग्यसुखप्रीतिविवर्धनाः |...

17.8 The foods which increase life, purity, strength, health, joy and cheerfulness (good appetite), ...

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Verse 9

कट्वम्ललवणात्युष्णतीक्ष्णरूक्षविदाहिनः |...

17.9 The foods that are bitter, sour, saline, excessively hot, pungent, dry and burning, are liked b...

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Verse 10

यातयामं गतरसं पूति पर्युषितं च यत् |...

17.10 That which is state, tasteless, putrid, rotten, refuse and impure, is the food liked by the Ta...

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Verse 11

अफलाङ्क्षिभिर्यज्ञो विधिदृष्टो य इज्यते |...

17.11 That sacrifice which is offered by men without desire for reward as enjoined by the ordinance ...

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Verse 12

अभिसन्धाय तु फलं दम्भार्थमपि चैव यत् |...

17.12 The sacrifice which is offered, O Arjuna, seeking a reward and for ostentation, know thou that...

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Verse 13

विधिहीनमसृष्टान्नं मन्त्रहीनमदक्षिणम् |...

17.13 They declare that sacrifice to be Tamasic which is contrary to the ordinances of the scripture...

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Verse 14

देवद्विजगुरुप्राज्ञपूजनं शौचमार्जवम् |...

17.14 Worship of the gods, the twice-born, the teachers and the wise, purity, straightforwardness, c...

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Verse 15

अनुद्वेगकरं वाक्यं सत्यं प्रियहितं च यत् |...

17.15 Speech which causes no excitement, truthful, pleasant and beneficial, the practice of the stud...

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Verse 16

मनः प्रसादः सौम्यत्वं मौनमात्मविनिग्रहः |...

17.16 Serenity of mind, good-heartedness, self-control, purity of nature this is called mental aust...

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Verse 17

श्रद्धया परया तप्तं तपस्तत्त्रिविधं नरैः |...

17.17 This threefold austerity, practised by steadfast men, with the utmost faith, desiring no rewar...

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Verse 18

सत्कारमानपूजार्थं तपो दम्भेन चैव यत् |...

17.18 The austerity which is practised with the object of gaining good reception, honour and worship...

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Verse 19

मूढग्राहेणात्मनो यत्पीडया क्रियते तपः |...

17.19 That austerity which is practised out of a foolish notion, with self-torture, or for the purpo...

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Verse 20

दातव्यमिति यद्दानं दीयतेऽनुपकारिणे |...

17.20 That gift which is given to one who does nothing in return, knowing it to be a duty to give in...

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Verse 21

यत्तु प्रत्युपकारार्थं फलमुद्दिश्य वा पुनः |...

17.21 And, that gift which is given with a view to receive something in return, or looking for a rew...

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Verse 22

अदेशकाले यद्दानमपात्रेभ्यश्च दीयते |...

17.22 The gift that is given at a wrong place and time, to unworthy persons, without respect or with...

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Verse 23

ॐतत्सदिति निर्देशो ब्रह्मणस्त्रिविधः स्मृतः |...

17.23 "Om Tat Sat": This has been declared to be the triple designation of Brahman. By that were cre...

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Verse 24

तस्मादोमित्युदाहृत्य यज्ञदानतपःक्रियाः |...

17.24 Therefore, with the utterance of "Om" are the acts of sacrifice, gift and austerity as enjoine...

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Verse 25

तदित्यनभिसन्धाय फलं यज्ञतपःक्रियाः |...

17.25 Uttering ï1Tatï1, without aiming at the fruits, are the acts of sacrifice and austerity and th...

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Verse 26

सद्भावे साधुभावे च सदित्येतत्प्रयुज्यते |...

17.26 The word ï1Satï1 is used in the sense of reality and of goodness; and so also, O Arjuna, the w...

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Verse 27

यज्ञे तपसि दाने च स्थितिः सदिति चोच्यते |...

17.27 Steadfastness in sacrifice, austerity and gift, is also called 'Sat' and also action in connec...

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Verse 28

अश्रद्धया हुतं दत्तं तपस्तप्तं कृतं च यत् |...

17.28 Whatever is sacrificed, given or performed, and whatever austerity is practised without faith,...

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