Bhagavadgita Parayana - Chapter 17 - Grantha

The seventeenth chapter of the Bhagavad Gita, called 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑌦𑍍𑌧𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌯𑌵𑌿𑌭𑌾𑌗𑌯𑍋𑌗𑌃 or the 𑌯𑍋𑌗 of the Threefold Faith, unfolds on the battlefield of 𑌕𑍁𑌰𑍁𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍇𑌤𑍍𑌰, in the heart of the 𑌮𑌹𑌾𑌭𑌾𑌰𑌤 epic. Here, amidst the tension between the 𑌪𑌾𑌂𑌡𑌵𑌾𑌃 and the 𑌕𑍌𑌰𑌵𑌾𑌃, 𑌅𑌰𑍍𑌜𑍁𑌨 continues his profound conversation with 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌕𑍃𑌷𑍍𑌣.

In the previous chapter, 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌕𑍃𑌷𑍍𑌣 described the contrast between divine and demonic qualities, warning how arrogance, anger, and disregard for scripture lead away from freedom. Yet, 𑌅𑌰𑍍𑌜𑍁𑌨 is left wondering: what about those who act with faith but do not know the scriptures?

As the Gita nears its conclusion, this chapter sets the stage for the final teachings. The next and last chapter will bring together all the threads-action, knowledge, and devotion (𑌕𑌰𑍍𑌮-𑌯𑍋𑌗, 𑌜𑍍𑌞𑌾𑌨-𑌯𑍋𑌗, 𑌭𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌿-𑌯𑍋𑌗)-offering a grand synthesis and ultimate guidance for a life of meaning and freedom.

𑌓𑌂 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀 𑌪𑌰𑌮𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌮𑌨𑍇 𑌨𑌮𑌃
𑌅𑌥 𑌸𑌪𑍍𑌤𑌦𑌶𑍋𑌽𑌧𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌯𑌃
𑌶𑍍𑌰𑌦𑍍𑌧𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌯𑌵𑌿𑌭𑌾𑌗𑌯𑍋𑌗𑌃

Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
Om. Salutations to the Supreme Self. Now begins the seventeenth chapter, called The Yoga of the Threefold Division of Faith.

𑌅𑌰𑍍𑌜𑍁𑌨 𑌉𑌵𑌾𑌚
𑌯𑍇 𑌶𑌾𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌵𑌿𑌧𑌿𑌮𑍁𑌤𑍍𑌸𑍃𑌜𑍍𑌯 𑌯𑌜𑌂𑌤𑍇 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑌦𑍍𑌧𑌯𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌵𑌿𑌤𑌾𑌃 ।
𑌤𑍇𑌷𑌾𑌂 𑌨𑌿𑌷𑍍𑌠𑌾 𑌤𑍁 𑌕𑌾 𑌕𑍃𑌷𑍍𑌣 𑌸𑌤𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌮𑌾𑌹𑍋 𑌰𑌜𑌸𑍍𑌤𑌮𑌃 ॥1॥

Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
Arjuna said: O Krishna, what is the condition of those who, setting aside the rules of scripture, worship with sincere faith? Is their foundation in clarity (sattva), passion (rajas), or ignorance (tamas)?

𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀 𑌭𑌗𑌵𑌾𑌨𑍁𑌵𑌾𑌚
𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌵𑌿𑌧𑌾 𑌭𑌵𑌤𑌿 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑌦𑍍𑌧𑌾 𑌦𑍇𑌹𑌿𑌨𑌾𑌂 𑌸𑌾 𑌸𑍍𑌵𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌜𑌾 ।
𑌸𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌿𑌕𑍀 𑌰𑌾𑌜𑌸𑍀 𑌚𑍈𑌵 𑌤𑌾𑌮𑌸𑍀 𑌚𑍇𑌤𑌿 𑌤𑌾𑌂 𑌶𑍃𑌣𑍁 ॥2॥

Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
The Blessed Lord said: Faith in people arises from their own nature and is of three types: shaped by clarity, passion, or inertia. Listen as I explain this further.

𑌸𑌤𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌨𑍁𑌰𑍂𑌪𑌾 𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌸𑍍𑌯 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑌦𑍍𑌧𑌾 𑌭𑌵𑌤𑌿 𑌭𑌾𑌰𑌤 ।
𑌶𑍍𑌰𑌦𑍍𑌧𑌾𑌮𑌯𑍋𑌽𑌯𑌂 𑌪𑍁𑌰𑍁𑌷𑌃 𑌯𑍋 𑌯𑌚𑍍𑌛𑍍𑌰𑌦𑍍𑌧𑌃 𑌸 𑌏𑌵 𑌸𑌃 ॥3॥

Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
O Arjuna, the faith of every person matches their inner nature. A person is shaped by their faith; whatever their faith is, that is what they become.

𑌯𑌜𑌂𑌤𑍇 𑌸𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌿𑌕𑌾 𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌾𑌨𑍍 𑌯𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌰𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌾𑌂𑌸𑌿 𑌰𑌾𑌜𑌸𑌾𑌃 ।
𑌪𑍍𑌰𑍇𑌤𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌭𑍂𑌤𑌗𑌣𑌾𑌂𑌶𑍍𑌚𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌯𑍇 𑌯𑌜𑌂𑌤𑍇 𑌤𑌾𑌮𑌸𑌾 𑌜𑌨𑌾𑌃 ॥4॥

Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
Those with a predominance of clarity and harmony worship the gods. Those driven by passion and restlessness turn to nature spirits and powerful beings. Others, whose minds are clouded by ignorance, direct their worship toward ghosts and various lower spirits.

𑌅𑌶𑌾𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌵𑌿𑌹𑌿𑌤𑌂 𑌘𑍋𑌰𑌂 𑌤𑌪𑍍𑌯𑌂𑌤𑍇 𑌯𑍇 𑌤𑌪𑍋 𑌜𑌨𑌾𑌃 ।
𑌦𑌂𑌭𑌾𑌹𑌂𑌕𑌾𑌰𑌸𑌂𑌯𑍁𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌾𑌃 𑌕𑌾𑌮𑌰𑌾𑌗𑌬𑌲𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌵𑌿𑌤𑌾𑌃 ॥5॥

Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
Those people who, driven by hypocrisy and pride, and fueled by desire, attachment, and the force of passion, undertake harsh austerities that are not authorized by scripture-such individuals engage in practices that are not truly spiritual.

𑌕𑌰𑍍𑌶𑌯𑌂𑌤𑌃 𑌶𑌰𑍀𑌰𑌸𑍍𑌥𑌂 𑌭𑍂𑌤𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌾𑌮𑌮𑌚𑍇𑌤𑌸𑌃 ।
𑌮𑌾𑌂 𑌚𑍈𑌵𑌾𑌂𑌤𑌃 𑌶𑌰𑍀𑌰𑌸𑍍𑌥𑌂 𑌤𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌵𑌿𑌦𑍍𑌧𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌸𑍁𑌰𑌨𑌿𑌶𑍍𑌚𑌯𑌾𑌨𑍍 ॥6॥

Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
Those who, lacking understanding, torment the elements of their own bodies and even Me who dwell within, know them to be driven by demonic resolve.

𑌆𑌹𑌾𑌰𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌪𑌿 𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌸𑍍𑌯 𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌵𑌿𑌧𑍋 𑌭𑌵𑌤𑌿 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌯𑌃 ।
𑌯𑌜𑍍𑌞𑌸𑍍𑌤𑌪𑌸𑍍𑌤𑌥𑌾 𑌦𑌾𑌨𑌂 𑌤𑍇𑌷𑌾𑌂 𑌭𑍇𑌦𑌮𑌿𑌮𑌂 𑌶𑍃𑌣𑍁 ॥𑍭॥

Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
Food, which everyone values, can be divided into three types. The same is true for sacrifice, austerity, and charity. Now, listen as I explain the differences among them.

𑌆𑌯𑍁𑌃𑌸𑌤𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌬𑌲𑌾𑌰𑍋𑌗𑍍𑌯-𑌸𑍁𑌖𑌪𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌤𑌿𑌵𑌿𑌵𑌰𑍍𑌧𑌨𑌾𑌃 ।
𑌰𑌸𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌃 𑌸𑍍𑌨𑌿𑌗𑍍𑌧𑌾𑌃 𑌸𑍍𑌥𑌿𑌰𑌾 𑌹𑍃𑌦𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌃 𑌆𑌹𑌾𑌰𑌾𑌃 𑌸𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌿𑌕𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌯𑌾𑌃 ॥𑍮॥

Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
Foods that nourish life, mental clarity, strength, health, happiness, and contentment, and which are juicy, mildly oily, substantial, and pleasing to the senses, are favored by those with a pure and balanced disposition.

𑌕𑌟𑍍𑌵𑌮𑍍𑌲𑌲𑌵𑌣𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌯𑍁𑌷𑍍𑌣-𑌤𑍀𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍍𑌣𑌰𑍂𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌵𑌿𑌦𑌾𑌹𑌿𑌨𑌃 ।
𑌆𑌹𑌾𑌰𑌾 𑌰𑌾𑌜𑌸𑌸𑍍𑌯𑍇𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌾𑌃 𑌦𑍁𑌃𑌖𑌶𑍋𑌕𑌾𑌮𑌯𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌦𑌾𑌃 ॥𑍯॥

Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
Foods that are extremely bitter, sour, salty, overly hot, intensely pungent, dry, or that cause a burning feeling are favored by those with a passionate temperament. Such foods tend to bring about pain, distress, and illness.

𑌯𑌾𑌤𑌯𑌾𑌮𑌂 𑌗𑌤𑌰𑌸𑌂 𑌪𑍂𑌤𑌿 𑌪𑌰𑍍𑌯𑍁𑌷𑌿𑌤𑌂 𑌚 𑌯𑌤𑍍 ।
𑌉𑌚𑍍𑌛𑌿𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌮𑌪𑌿 𑌚𑌾𑌮𑍇𑌧𑍍𑌯𑌂 𑌭𑍋𑌜𑌨𑌂 𑌤𑌾𑌮𑌸𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌯𑌮𑍍 ॥10॥

Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
Food that is stale, tasteless, foul-smelling, left over from previous days, remnants from others, or impure and unfit for ritual use is preferred by those with a tamasic disposition.

𑌅𑌫𑌲𑌾𑌕𑌾𑌂𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌿𑌭𑌿𑌰𑍍𑌯𑌜𑍍𑌞𑌃 𑌵𑌿𑌧𑌿𑌦𑍃𑌷𑍍𑌟𑍋 𑌯 𑌇𑌜𑍍𑌯𑌤𑍇 ।
𑌯𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌵𑍍𑌯𑌮𑍇𑌵𑍇𑌤𑌿 𑌮𑌨𑌃 𑌸𑌮𑌾𑌧𑌾𑌯 𑌸 𑌸𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌿𑌕𑌃 ॥11॥

Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
A sacrifice that is performed as prescribed in the scriptures, by people who have no expectation of personal gain, and with a steady conviction that it should be done simply because it is a duty-such a sacrifice is considered to be pure and guided by clarity.

𑌅𑌭𑌿𑌸𑌂𑌧𑌾𑌯 𑌤𑍁 𑌫𑌲𑌂 𑌦𑌂𑌭𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥𑌮𑌪𑌿 𑌚𑍈𑌵 𑌯𑌤𑍍 ।
𑌇𑌜𑍍𑌯𑌤𑍇 𑌭𑌰𑌤𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍇𑌷𑍍𑌠 𑌤𑌂 𑌯𑌜𑍍𑌞𑌂 𑌵𑌿𑌦𑍍𑌧𑌿 𑌰𑌾𑌜𑌸𑌮𑍍 ॥12॥

Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
But that sacrifice which is performed with the aim of gaining some result, or for the sake of showing off, know that sacrifice to be driven by passion, Arjuna.

𑌵𑌿𑌧𑌿𑌹𑍀𑌨𑌮𑌸𑍃𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌨𑌂 𑌮𑌂𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌹𑍀𑌨𑌮𑌦𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌿𑌣𑌮𑍍 ।
𑌶𑍍𑌰𑌦𑍍𑌧𑌾𑌵𑌿𑌰𑌹𑌿𑌤𑌂 𑌯𑌜𑍍𑌞𑌂 𑌤𑌾𑌮𑌸𑌂 𑌪𑌰𑌿𑌚𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌤𑍇 ॥13॥

Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
A sacrifice is called tamasic when it disregards scriptural guidelines, does not share food, omits the chanting of mantras, neglects to offer gifts to priests, and is performed without genuine faith.

𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌦𑍍𑌵𑌿𑌜𑌗𑍁𑌰𑍁𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌾𑌜𑍍𑌞-𑌪𑍂𑌜𑌨𑌂 𑌶𑍌𑌚𑌮𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌜𑌵𑌮𑍍 ।
𑌬𑍍𑌰𑌹𑍍𑌮𑌚𑌰𑍍𑌯𑌮𑌹𑌿𑌂𑌸𑌾 𑌚 𑌶𑌾𑌰𑍀𑌰𑌂 𑌤𑌪 𑌉𑌚𑍍𑌯𑌤𑍇 ॥14॥

Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
Revering the divine, the learned, teachers, and the wise; maintaining cleanliness, honesty, self-control in conduct, and not harming others-these are considered bodily forms of discipline.

𑌅𑌨𑍁𑌦𑍍𑌵𑍇𑌗𑌕𑌰𑌂 𑌵𑌾𑌕𑍍𑌯𑌂 𑌸𑌤𑍍𑌯𑌂 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌯𑌹𑌿𑌤𑌂 𑌚 𑌯𑌤𑍍 ।
𑌸𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌧𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌯𑌾𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌸𑌨𑌂 𑌚𑍈𑌵 𑌵𑌾𑌙𑍍𑌮𑌯𑌂 𑌤𑌪 𑌉𑌚𑍍𑌯𑌤𑍇 ॥15॥

Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
Speech that does not disturb or hurt others, that is truthful, pleasant, and helpful, along with the regular study and recitation of sacred texts, is considered the discipline of speech.

𑌮𑌨𑌃 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌸𑌾𑌦𑌃 𑌸𑍌𑌮𑍍𑌯𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌂 𑌮𑍌𑌨𑌮𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌮𑌵𑌿𑌨𑌿𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌹𑌃 ।
𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌸𑌂𑌶𑍁𑌦𑍍𑌧𑌿𑌰𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌯𑍇𑌤𑌤𑍍 𑌤𑌪𑍋 𑌮𑌾𑌨𑌸𑌮𑍁𑌚𑍍𑌯𑌤𑍇 ॥16॥

Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
Calmness of mind, kindness, thoughtful silence, self-mastery, and sincerity of heart are considered the disciplines of mental austerity.

𑌶𑍍𑌰𑌦𑍍𑌧𑌯𑌾 𑌪𑌰𑌯𑌾 𑌤𑌪𑍍𑌤𑌂 𑌤𑌪𑌸𑍍𑌤𑌤𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌵𑌿𑌧𑌂 𑌨𑌰𑍈𑌃 ।
𑌅𑌫𑌲𑌾𑌕𑌾𑌂𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌿𑌭𑌿𑌰𑍍𑌯𑍁𑌕𑍍𑌤𑍈𑌃 𑌸𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌿𑌕𑌂 𑌪𑌰𑌿𑌚𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌤𑍇 ॥1𑍭॥

Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
When people practice this threefold discipline with deep faith, without seeking any personal gain, and with self-mastery, it is recognized as an austerity rooted in purity.

𑌸𑌤𑍍𑌕𑌾𑌰𑌮𑌾𑌨𑌪𑍂𑌜𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥𑌂 𑌤𑌪𑍋 𑌦𑌂𑌭𑍇𑌨 𑌚𑍈𑌵 𑌯𑌤𑍍 ।
𑌕𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌯𑌤𑍇 𑌤𑌦𑌿𑌹 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑍋𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌂 𑌰𑌾𑌜𑌸𑌂 𑌚𑌲𑌮𑌧𑍍𑌰𑍁𑌵𑌮𑍍 ॥1𑍮॥

Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
Austerity performed for the sake of gaining honor, respect, or worship, and carried out with show or hypocrisy, is described as rajasic. Such discipline is unstable and its results are fleeting, lasting only in this world.

𑌮𑍂𑌢𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌾𑌹𑍇𑌣𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌮𑌨𑍋 𑌯𑌤𑍍 𑌪𑍀𑌡𑌯𑌾 𑌕𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌯𑌤𑍇 𑌤𑌪𑌃 ।
𑌪𑌰𑌸𑍍𑌯𑍋𑌤𑍍𑌸𑌾𑌦𑌨𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥𑌂 𑌵𑌾 𑌤𑌤𑍍𑌤𑌾𑌮𑌸𑌮𑍁𑌦𑌾𑌹𑍃𑌤𑌮𑍍 ॥1𑍯॥

Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
Austerity performed with a misguided mindset, causing pain to oneself or intended to harm others, is considered to be of the nature of darkness and ignorance.

𑌦𑌾𑌤𑌵𑍍𑌯𑌮𑌿𑌤𑌿 𑌯𑌦𑍍𑌦𑌾𑌨𑌂 𑌦𑍀𑌯𑌤𑍇𑌽𑌨𑍁𑌪𑌕𑌾𑌰𑌿𑌣𑍇 ।
𑌦𑍇𑌶𑍇 𑌕𑌾𑌲𑍇 𑌚 𑌪𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌰𑍇 𑌚 𑌤𑌦𑍍𑌦𑌾𑌨𑌂 𑌸𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌿𑌕𑌂 𑌸𑍍𑌮𑍃𑌤𑌮𑍍 ॥20॥

Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
A gift is considered sattvic when it is given simply because it should be given, to someone who cannot repay, at the right place and time, and to a deserving person.

𑌯𑌤𑍍𑌤𑍁 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌤𑍍𑌯𑍁𑌪𑌕𑌾𑌰𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥𑌂 𑌫𑌲𑌮𑍁𑌦𑍍𑌦𑌿𑌶𑍍𑌯 𑌵𑌾 𑌪𑍁𑌨𑌃 ।
𑌦𑍀𑌯𑌤𑍇 𑌚 𑌪𑌰𑌿𑌕𑍍𑌲𑌿𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌂 𑌤𑌦𑍍𑌦𑌾𑌨𑌂 𑌰𑌾𑌜𑌸𑌂 𑌸𑍍𑌮𑍃𑌤𑌮𑍍 ॥21॥

Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
But that gift which is given with the expectation of getting something in return, or with the hope of some personal benefit, or is offered unwillingly, is understood to be a gift influenced by passion.

𑌅𑌦𑍇𑌶𑌕𑌾𑌲𑍇 𑌯𑌦𑍍𑌦𑌾𑌨𑌮𑍍 𑌅𑌪𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌰𑍇𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌶𑍍𑌚 𑌦𑍀𑌯𑌤𑍇 ।
𑌅𑌸𑌤𑍍𑌕𑍃𑌤𑌮𑌵𑌜𑍍𑌞𑌾𑌤𑌂 𑌤𑌤𑍍𑌤𑌾𑌮𑌸𑌮𑍁𑌦𑌾𑌹𑍃𑌤𑌮𑍍 ॥22॥

Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
A gift that is given at the wrong place or time, to people who are not worthy, without proper respect or with contempt, is considered to be of tamasic nature.

𑌓𑌂 𑌤𑌤𑍍𑌸𑌦𑌿𑌤𑌿 𑌨𑌿𑌰𑍍𑌦𑍇𑌶𑌃 𑌬𑍍𑌰𑌹𑍍𑌮𑌣𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌵𑌿𑌧𑌃 𑌸𑍍𑌮𑍃𑌤𑌃 ।
𑌬𑍍𑌰𑌾𑌹𑍍𑌮𑌣𑌾𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍇𑌨 𑌵𑍇𑌦𑌾𑌶𑍍𑌚 𑌯𑌜𑍍𑌞𑌾𑌶𑍍𑌚 𑌵𑌿𑌹𑌿𑌤𑌾𑌃 𑌪𑍁𑌰𑌾 ॥23॥

Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
The words OM, Tat, and Sat are said to be the threefold designation of Brahman. By these, in ancient times, the Brahmanas, the Vedas, and the sacrifices were prescribed and set forth.

𑌤𑌸𑍍𑌮𑌾𑌦𑍋𑌮𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌯𑍁𑌦𑌾𑌹𑍃𑌤𑍍𑌯 𑌯𑌜𑍍𑌞𑌦𑌾𑌨𑌤𑌪𑌃𑌕𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌯𑌾𑌃 ।
𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌵𑌰𑍍𑌤𑌂𑌤𑍇 𑌵𑌿𑌧𑌾𑌨𑍋𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌾𑌃 𑌸𑌤𑌤𑌂 𑌬𑍍𑌰𑌹𑍍𑌮𑌵𑌾𑌦𑌿𑌨𑌾𑌮𑍍 ॥24॥

Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
Therefore, those who follow the scriptural path and speak of the Vedas always begin acts of sacrifice, charity, and austerity, as prescribed, by first uttering the sacred syllable Om.

𑌤𑌦𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌯𑌨𑌭𑌿𑌸𑌂𑌧𑌾𑌯 𑌫𑌲𑌂 𑌯𑌜𑍍𑌞𑌤𑌪𑌃𑌕𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌯𑌾𑌃 ।
𑌦𑌾𑌨𑌕𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌯𑌾𑌶𑍍𑌚 𑌵𑌿𑌵𑌿𑌧𑌾𑌃 𑌕𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌯𑌂𑌤𑍇 𑌮𑍋𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌕𑌾𑌂𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌿𑌭𑌿𑌃 ॥25॥

Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
By uttering the word 'Tat', seekers of liberation perform sacrifices, austerities, and various acts of charity without any desire for personal reward.

𑌸𑌦𑍍𑌭𑌾𑌵𑍇 𑌸𑌾𑌧𑍁𑌭𑌾𑌵𑍇 𑌚 𑌸𑌦𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌯𑍇𑌤𑌤𑍍𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌯𑍁𑌜𑍍𑌯𑌤𑍇 ।
𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌶𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍇 𑌕𑌰𑍍𑌮𑌣𑌿 𑌤𑌥𑌾 𑌸𑌚𑍍𑌛𑌬𑍍𑌦𑌃 𑌪𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥 𑌯𑍁𑌜𑍍𑌯𑌤𑍇 ॥26॥

Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
The word 'sat' is used to indicate existence or reality, and also to signify goodness. In the same way, Arjuna, 'sat' is applied to any auspicious or commendable action.

𑌯𑌜𑍍𑌞𑍇 𑌤𑌪𑌸𑌿 𑌦𑌾𑌨𑍇 𑌚 𑌸𑍍𑌥𑌿𑌤𑌿𑌃 𑌸𑌦𑌿𑌤𑌿 𑌚𑍋𑌚𑍍𑌯𑌤𑍇 ।
𑌕𑌰𑍍𑌮 𑌚𑍈𑌵 𑌤𑌦𑌰𑍍𑌥𑍀𑌯𑌂 𑌸𑌦𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌯𑍇𑌵𑌾𑌭𑌿𑌧𑍀𑌯𑌤𑍇 ॥2𑍭॥

Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
Steadfastness in sacrifice, austerity, and charity is described as 'sat'-meaning true or good. Any action performed for the sake of these practices is also regarded as 'sat' or auspicious.

𑌅𑌶𑍍𑌰𑌦𑍍𑌧𑌯𑌾 𑌹𑍁𑌤𑌂 𑌦𑌤𑍍𑌤𑌂 𑌤𑌪𑌸𑍍𑌤𑌪𑍍𑌤𑌂 𑌕𑍃𑌤𑌂 𑌚 𑌯𑌤𑍍 ।
𑌅𑌸𑌦𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌯𑍁𑌚𑍍𑌯𑌤𑍇 𑌪𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥 𑌨 𑌚 𑌤𑌤𑍍𑌪𑍍𑌰𑍇𑌤𑍍𑌯 𑌨𑍋 𑌇𑌹 ॥2𑍮॥

Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
O Arjuna, whatever is offered in sacrifice, given in charity, performed as austerity, or done as an action without faith is considered ineffective and meaningless. Such acts are called 'asat'-they bear no fruit either in this life or after death.

॥ 𑌓𑌂 𑌤𑌤𑍍𑌸𑌦𑌿𑌤𑌿 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌮𑌦𑍍𑌭𑌗𑌵𑌦𑍍𑌗𑍀𑌤𑌾𑌸𑍁 𑌉𑌪𑌨𑌿𑌷𑌤𑍍𑌸𑍁 𑌬𑍍𑌰𑌹𑍍𑌮𑌵𑌿𑌦𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌯𑌾𑌂
𑌯𑍋𑌗𑌶𑌾𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌰𑍇 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌕𑍃𑌷𑍍𑌣𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌜𑍁𑌨𑌸𑌂𑌵𑌾𑌦𑍇 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑌦𑍍𑌧𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌯𑌵𑌿𑌭𑌾𑌗𑌯𑍋𑌗𑍋 𑌨𑌾𑌮 𑌸𑌪𑍍𑌤𑌦𑌶𑍋𑌽𑌧𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌯𑌃 ॥

Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
Thus ends the seventeenth chapter, called the Yoga of the Division of the Threefold Faith, in the Upanishads of the Bhagavad Gita, which is the scripture of yoga and the teaching of knowledge of Brahman, presented as a dialogue between Sri Krishna and Arjuna.

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