Srimad Bhagawad Gita Chapter 17 - Plain English

Meaning
arjunaH uvaaca — Arjuna said; yE — those who; shaastra-vidhim — the regulations of scripture; utsRRijya — giving up; yajantE — worship; shraddhayaa — full faith; anvitaaH — possessed of; tEshhaam — of them; nishhThaa — the faith; tu — but; kaa — what; kRRishhNa — O Kṛṣṇa; sattvam — in goodness; aahO — or else; rajaH — in passion; tamaH — in ignorance.

Translation
Arjuna inquired: O Kṛṣṇa, what is the situation of those who do not follow the principles of scripture but worship according to their own imagination? Are they in goodness, in passion or in ignorance?

shlOkaH
shreebhagavaanuvaacha
trividhaa bhavati shraddhaa dEhinaaM saa svabhaavajaa ।
saattvikee raajasee chaiva taamasee chEti taaM sha‍RRiNu ॥ 2 ॥

Meaning
shree-bhagavaan uvaaca — the Supreme Personality of Godhead said; tri-vidhaa — of three kinds; bhavati — becomes; shraddhaa — the faith; dEhinaam — of the embodied; saa — that; sva-bhaava-jaa — according to his mode of material nature; saattvikee — in the mode of goodness; raajasee — in the mode of passion; ca — also; Eva — certainly; taamasee — in the mode of ignorance; ca — and; iti — thus; taam — that; shRRiNu — hear from Me.

Translation
The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: According to the modes of nature acquired by the embodied soul, one’s faith can be of three kinds – in goodness, in passion or in ignorance. Now hear about this.

shlOkaH
sattvaanuroopaa sarvasya shraddhaa bhavati bhaarata ।
shraddhaamayO.ayaM purushhO yO yachChraddhaH sa Eva saH ॥ 3 ॥

Meaning
sattva-anuroopaa — according to the existence; sarvasya — of everyone; shraddhaa — faith; bhavati — becomes; bhaarata — O son of Bharata; shraddhaa — faith; mayaH — full of; ayam — this; purushhaH — living entity; yaH — who; yat — having which; shraddhaH — faith; saH — thus; Eva — certainly; saH — he.

Translation
O son of Bharata, according to one’s existence under the various modes of nature, one evolves a particular kind of faith. The living being is said to be of a particular faith according to the modes he has acquired.

shlOkaH
yajantE saattvikaa dEvaanyakshharakshhaaMsi raajasaaH ।
prEtaanbhootagaNaaMshchaanyE yajantE taamasaa janaaH ॥ 4 ॥

Meaning
yajantE — worship; saattvikaaH — those who are in the mode of goodness; dEvaan — demigods; yakshha-rakshhaaṁsi — demons; raajasaaH — those who are in the mode of passion; prEtaan — spirits of the dead; bhoota-gaNaan — ghosts; ca — and; anyE — others; yajantE — worship; taamasaaH — in the mode of ignorance; janaaH — people.

Translation
Men in the mode of goodness worship the demigods; those in the mode of passion worship the demons; and those in the mode of ignorance worship ghosts and spirits.

shlOkaH
ashaastravihitaM ghOraM tapyantE yE tapO janaaH ।
dambhaahankaarasaMyuktaaH kaamaraagabalaanvitaaH ॥ 5 ॥
karshhayantaH shareerasthaM bhootagraamamachEtasaH ।
maaM chaivaantaH shareerasthaM taanviddhyaasuranishchayaan ॥ 6 ॥

Meaning
ashaastra — not in the scriptures; vihitam — directed; ghOram — harmful to others; tapyantE — undergo; yE — those who; tapaH — austerities; janaaH — persons; dambha — with pride; ahankaara — and egoism; saṁyuktaaH — engaged; kaama — of lust; raaga — and attachment; bala — by the force; anvitaaH — impelled; karshhayantaH — tormenting; shareera-stham — situated within the body; bhoota-graamam — the combination of material elements; acEtasaH — having a misled mentality; maam — Me; ca — also; Eva — certainly; antaH — within; shareera-stham — situated in the body; taan — them; viddhi — understand; aasura-nishcayaan — demons.

Translation
Those who undergo severe austerities and penances not recommended in the scriptures, performing them out of pride and egoism, who are impelled by lust and attachment, who are foolish and who torture the material elements of the body as well as the Supersoul dwelling within, are to be known as demons.

shlOkaH
aahaarastvapi sarvasya trividhO bhavati priyaH ।
yajjhNastapastathaa daanaM tEshhaaM bhEdamimaM sha‍RRiNu ॥ 7 ॥

Meaning
aahaaraH — eating; tu — certainly; api — also; sarvasya — of everyone; tri-vidhaH — of three kinds; bhavati — there is; priyaH — dear; yajjhNaH — sacrifice; tapaH — austerity; tathaa — also; daanam — charity; tEshhaam — of them; bhEdam — the differences; imam — this; shRRiNu — hear.

Translation
Even the food each person prefers is of three kinds, according to the three modes of material nature. The same is true of sacrifices, austerities and charity. Now hear of the distinctions between them.

shlOkaH
aayuHsattvabalaarOgyasukhapreetivivardhanaaH ।
rasyaaH s‍nigdhaaH sthiraa hRRidyaa aahaaraaH saattvikapriyaaH ॥ 8 ॥

Meaning
aayuH — duration of life; sattva — existence; bala — strength; aarOgya — health; sukha — happiness; preeti — and satisfaction; vivardhanaaH — increasing; rasyaaH — juicy; snigdhaaH — fatty; sthiraaH — enduring; hRRidyaaH — pleasing to the heart; aahaaraaH — food; saattvika — to one in goodness; priyaaH — palatable.

Translation
Foods dear to those in the mode of goodness increase the duration of life, purify one’s existence and give strength, health, happiness and satisfaction. Such foods are juicy, fatty, wholesome, and pleasing to the heart.

shlOkaH
kaT‌vamlalavaNaatyushhNateekshhNarookshhavidaahinaH ।
aahaaraa raajasasyEshhTaa duHkhashOkaamayapradaaH ॥ 9 ॥

Meaning
kaTu — bitter; amla — sour; lavaNa — salty; ati-ushhNa — very hot; teekshhNa — pungent; rookshha — dry; vidaahinaH — burning; aahaaraaH — food; raajasasya — to one in the mode of passion; ishhTaaH — palatable; duHkha — distress; shOka — misery; aamaya — disease; pradaaH — causing.

Translation
Foods that are too bitter, too sour, salty, hot, pungent, dry and burning are dear to those in the mode of passion. Such foods cause distress, misery and disease.

shlOkaH
yaatayaamaM gatarasaM pooti paryushhitaM cha yat ।
uchChishhTamapi chaamEdhyaM bhOjanaM taamasapriyam ॥ 10 ॥

Meaning
yaata-yaamam — food cooked three hours before being eaten; gata-rasam — tasteless; pooti — bad-smelling; paryushhitam — decomposed; ca — also; yat — that which; ucchishhTam — remnants of food eaten by others; api — also; ca — and; amEdhyam — untouchable; bhOjanam — eating; taamasa — to one in the mode of darkness; priyam — dear.

Translation
Food prepared more than three hours before being eaten, food that is tasteless, decomposed and putrid, and food consisting of remnants and untouchable things is dear to those in the mode of darkness.

shlOkaH
aphalaakaan‌‍kshhibhiryajjhNO vidhidishhTO ya ijyatE ।
yashhTavyamEvEti manaH samaadhaaya sa saattvikaH ॥ 11 ॥

Meaning
aphala-aakaankshhibhiH — by those devoid of desire for result; yajjhNaH — sacrifice; vidhi-dishhTaH — according to the direction of scripture; yaH — which; ijyatE — is performed; yashhTavyam — must be performed; Eva — certainly; iti — thus; manaH — mind; samaadhaaya — fixing; saH — it; saattvikaH — in the mode of goodness.

Translation
Of sacrifices, the sacrifice performed according to the directions of scripture, as a matter of duty, by those who desire no reward, is of the nature of goodness.

shlOkaH
abhisandhaaya tu phalaM dambhaarthamapi chaiva yat ।
ijyatE bharatashrEshhTha taM yajjhNaM viddhi raajasam ॥ 12 ॥

Meaning
abhisandhaaya — desiring; tu — but; phalam — the result; dambha — pride; artham — for the sake of; api — also; ca — and; Eva — certainly; yat — that which; ijyatE — is performed; bharata-shrEshhTha — O chief of the Bhāratas; tam — that; yajjhNam — sacrifice; viddhi — know; raajasam — in the mode of passion.

Translation
But the sacrifice performed for some material benefit, or for the sake of pride, O chief of the Bhāratas, you should know to be in the mode of passion.

shlOkaH
vidhiheenamasRRishhTaannaM man‍traheenamadakshhiNam ।
shraddhaavirahitaM yajjhNaM taamasaM parichakshhatE ॥ 13 ॥

Meaning
vidhi-heenam — without scriptural direction; asRRishhTa-annam — without distribution of prasādam; mantra-heenam — with no chanting of the Vedic hymns; adakshhiNam — with no remunerations to the priests; shraddhaa — faith; virahitam — without; yajjhNam — sacrifice; taamasam — in the mode of ignorance; paricakshhatE — is to be considered.

Translation
Any sacrifice performed without regard for the directions of scripture, without distribution of prasādam [spiritual food], without chanting of Vedic hymns and remunerations to the priests, and without faith is considered to be in the mode of ignorance.

shlOkaH
dEvadvijagurupraajjhNapoojanaM shauchamaarjavam ।
brahmacharyamahiMsaa cha shaareeraM tapa uchyatE ॥ 14 ॥

Meaning
dEva — of the Supreme Lord; dvija — the brāhmaṇas; guru — the spiritual master; praajjhNa — and worshipable personalities; poojanam — worship; shaucam — cleanliness; aarjavam — simplicity; brahmacaryam — celibacy; ahiṁsaa — nonviolence; ca — also; shaareeram — pertaining to the body; tapaH — austerity; ucyatE — is said to be.

Translation
Austerity of the body consists in worship of the Supreme Lord, the brāhmaṇas, the spiritual master, and superiors like the father and mother, and in cleanliness, simplicity, celibacy and nonviolence.

shlOkaH
anudvEgakaraM vaakyaM satyaM priyahitaM cha yat ।
svaadhyaayaabhyasanaM chaiva vaan‍mayaM tapa uchyatE ॥ 15 ॥

Meaning
anudvEga-karam — not agitating; vaakyam — words; satyam — truthful; priya — dear; hitam — beneficial; ca — also; yat — which; svaadhyaaya — of Vedic study; abhyasanam — practice; ca — also; Eva — certainly; vaak-mayam — of the voice; tapaH — austerity; ucyatE — is said to be.

Translation
Austerity of speech consists in speaking words that are truthful, pleasing, beneficial, and not agitating to others, and also in regularly reciting Vedic literature.

shlOkaH
manaHprasaadaH saumyatvaM maunamaatmavinigrahaH ।
bhaavasaMsha‍uddhirityEtattapO maanasamuchyatE ॥ 16 ॥

Meaning
manaH-prasaadaH — satisfaction of the mind; saumyatvam — being without duplicity towards others; maunam — gravity; aatma — of the self; vinigrahaH — control; bhaava — of one’s nature; saṁshuddhiH — purification; iti — thus; Etat — this; tapaH — austerity; maanasam — of the mind; ucyatE — is said to be.

Translation
And satisfaction, simplicity, gravity, self-control and purification of one’s existence are the austerities of the mind.

shlOkaH
shraddhayaa parayaa tap‍taM tapastat‍trividhaM naraiH ।
aphalaakaan‌‍kshhibhiryuktaiH saattvikaM parichakshhatE ॥ 17 ॥

Meaning
shraddhayaa — with faith; parayaa — transcendental; taptam — executed; tapaH — austerity; tat — that; tri-vidham — of three kinds; naraiH — by men; aphala-aakaankshhibhiH — who are without desires for fruits; yuktaiH — engaged; saattvikam — in the mode of goodness; paricakshhatE — is called.

Translation
This threefold austerity, performed with transcendental faith by men not expecting material benefits but engaged only for the sake of the Supreme, is called austerity in goodness.

shlOkaH
satkaaramaanapoojaarthaM tapO dambhEna chaiva yat ।
kriyatE tadiha prOktaM raajasaM chalamadhruvam ॥ 18 ॥

Meaning
sat-kaara — respect; maana — honor; poojaa — and worship; artham — for the sake of; tapaH — austerity; dambhEna — with pride; ca — also; Eva — certainly; yat — which; kriyatE — is performed; tat — that; iha — in this world; prOktam — is said; raajasam — in the mode of passion; calam — flickering; adhruvam — temporary.

Translation
Penance performed out of pride and for the sake of gaining respect, honor and worship is said to be in the mode of passion. It is neither stable nor permanent.

shlOkaH
mooDhagraahENaatmanO yatpeeDayaa kriyatE tapaH ।
parasyOtsaadanaarthaM vaa tattaamasamudaahRRitam ॥ 19 ॥

Meaning
mooDha — foolish; graahENa — with endeavor; aatmanaH — of one’s own self; yat — which; peeDayaa — by torture; kriyatE — is performed; tapaH — penance; parasya — to others; utsaadana-artham — for the sake of causing annihilation; vaa — or; tat — that; taamasam — in the mode of darkness; udaahRRitam — is said to be.

Translation
Penance performed out of foolishness, with self-torture or to destroy or injure others, is said to be in the mode of ignorance.

shlOkaH
daatavyamiti yaddaanaM deeyatE.anupakaariNE ।
dEshE kaalE cha paatrE cha taddaanaM saattvikaM smRRitam ॥ 20 ॥

Meaning
daatavyam — worth giving; iti — thus; yat — that which; daanam — charity; deeyatE — is given; anupakaariNE — irrespective of return; dEshE — in a proper place; kaalE — at a proper time; ca — also; paatrE — to a suitable person; ca — and; tat — that; daanam — charity; saattvikam — in the mode of goodness; smRRitam — is considered.

Translation
Charity given out of duty, without expectation of return, at the proper time and place, and to a worthy person is considered to be in the mode of goodness.

shlOkaH
yattu pratyupakaaraarthaM phalamuddishya vaa punaH ।
deeyatE cha parikla‍i‍shhTaM taddaanaM raajasaM smRRitam ॥ 21 ॥

Meaning
yat — that which; tu — but; prati-upakaara-artham — for the sake of getting some return; phalam — a result; uddishya — desiring; vaa — or; punaH — again; deeyatE — is given; ca — also; pariklishhTam — grudgingly; tat — that; daanam — charity; raajasam — in the mode of passion; smRRitam — is understood to be.

Translation
But charity performed with the expectation of some return, or with a desire for fruitive results, or in a grudging mood is said to be charity in the mode of passion.

shlOkaH
adEshakaalE yaddaanamapaatrEbhyashcha deeyatE ।
asatkRRitamavajjhNaataM tattaamasamudaahRRitam ॥ 22 ॥

Meaning
adEsha — at an unpurified place; kaalE — and unpurified time; yat — that which; daanam — charity; apaatrEbhyaH — to unworthy persons; ca — also; deeyatE — is given; asat-kRRitam — without respect; avajjhNaatam — without proper attention; tat — that; taamasam — in the mode of darkness; udaahRRitam — is said to be.

Translation
And charity performed at an impure place, at an improper time, to unworthy persons, or without proper attention and respect is said to be in the mode of ignorance.

shlOkaH
OM tatsaditi nirdEshO brahmaNastrividhaH smRRitaH ।
braahmaNaastEna vEdaashcha yajjhNaashcha vihitaaH puraa ॥ 23 ॥

Meaning
Oṁ — indication of the Supreme; tat — that; sat — eternal; iti — thus; nirdEshaH — indication; brahmaNaH — of the Supreme; tri-vidhaH — threefold; smRRitaH — is considered; braahmaNaaH — the brāhmaṇas; tEna — with that; vEdaaH — the Vedic literature; ca — also; yajjhNaaH — sacrifice; ca — also; vihitaaH — used; puraa — formerly.

Translation
From the beginning of creation, the three words oṁ tat sat were used to indicate the Supreme Absolute Truth. These three symbolic representations were used by brāhmaṇas while chanting the hymns of the Vedas and during sacrifices for the satisfaction of the Supreme.

shlOkaH
tasmaad OM ityudaahRRitya yajjhNadaanatapaHkriyaaH ।
pravartantE vidhaanOktaaH satataM brahmavaadinaam ॥ 24 ॥

Meaning
tasmaat — therefore; Oṁ — beginning with oṁ; iti — thus; udaahRRitya — indicating; yajjhNa — of sacrifice; daana — charity; tapaH — and penance; kriyaaH — performances; pravartantE — begin; vidhaana-uktaaH — according to scriptural regulation; satatam — always; brahma-vaadinaam — of the transcendentalists.

Translation
Therefore, transcendentalists undertaking performances of sacrifice, charity and penance in accordance with scriptural regulations begin always with oṁ, to attain the Supreme.

shlOkaH
tadityanabhisandhaaya phalaM yajjhNatapaHkriyaaH ।
daanakriyaashcha vividhaaH kriyantE mOkshhakaan‌‍kshhibhiH ॥ 25 ॥

Meaning
tat — that; iti — thus; anabhisandhaaya — without desiring; phalam — the fruitive result; yajjhNa — of sacrifice; tapaH — and penance; kriyaaH — activities; daana — of charity; kriyaaH — activities; ca — also; vividhaaH — various; kriyantE — are done; mOkshha-kaankshhibhiH — by those who actually desire liberation.

Translation
Without desiring fruitive results, one should perform various kinds of sacrifice, penance and charity with the word tat. The purpose of such transcendental activities is to get free from material entanglement.

shlOkaH
sadbha‍aavE saadhubhaavE cha sadityEtatprayujyatE ।
prashastE karmaNi tathaa sachChabdaH paartha yujyatE ॥ 26 ॥
yajjhNE tapasi daanE cha sthitiH saditi chOchyatE ।
karma chaiva tadartheeyaM sadityEvaabhidheeyatE ॥ 27 ॥

Meaning
sat-bhaavE — in the sense of the nature of the Supreme; saadhu-bhaavE — in the sense of the nature of the devotee; ca — also; sat — the word sat; iti — thus; Etat — this; prayujyatE — is used; prashastE — in bona fide; karmaNi — activities; tathaa — also; sat-shabdaH — the sound sat; paartha — O son of Pṛthā; yujyatE — is used; yajjhNE — in sacrifice; tapasi — in penance; daanE — in charity; ca — also; sthitiH — the situation; sat — the Supreme; iti — thus; ca — and; ucyatE — is pronounced; karma — work; ca — also; Eva — certainly; tat — for that; artheeyam — meant; sat — the Supreme; iti — thus; Eva — certainly; abhidheeyatE — is indicated.

Translation
The Absolute Truth is the objective of devotional sacrifice, and it is indicated by the word sat. The performer of such sacrifice is also called sat, as are all works of sacrifice, penance and charity which, true to the absolute nature, are performed to please the Supreme Person, O son of Pṛthā.

shlOkaH
ashraddhayaa hutaM dattaM tapastap‍taM kRRitaM cha yat ।
asadityuchyatE paartha na cha tatprEtya nO iha ॥ 28 ॥

Meaning
ashraddhayaa — without faith; hutam — offered in sacrifice; dattam — given; tapaH — penance; taptam — executed; kRRitam — performed; ca — also; yat — that which; asat — false; iti — thus; ucyatE — is said to be; paartha — O son of Pṛthā; na — never; ca — also; tat — that; prEtya — after death; na u — nor; iha — in this life.

Translation
Anything done as sacrifice, charity or penance without faith in the Supreme, O son of Pṛthā, is impermanent. It is called asat and is useless both in this life and the next.

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