The seventeenth chapter of the Bhagavad Gita, called श्रद्धात्रयविभागयोगः or the योग of the Threefold Faith, unfolds on the battlefield of कुरुक्षेत्र, in the heart of the महाभारत epic. Here, amidst the tension between the पाण्डवाः and the कौरवाः, अर्जुन continues his profound conversation with श्रीकृष्ण.
In the previous chapter, श्रीकृष्ण described the contrast between divine and demonic qualities, warning how arrogance, anger, and disregard for scripture lead away from freedom. Yet, अर्जुन 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 (कर्म-योग, ज्ञान-योग, भक्ति-योग)-offering a grand synthesis and ultimate guidance for a life of meaning and freedom.
ॐ श्री परमात्मने नमः
अथ सप्तदशोऽध्यायः
श्रद्धात्रयविभागयोगः
Translation (भावार्थ):
Om. Salutations to the Supreme Self. Now begins the seventeenth chapter, called The Yoga of the Threefold Division of Faith.
अर्जुन उवाच
ये शास्त्रविधिमुत्सृज्य यजन्ते श्रद्धयान्विताः ।
तेषां निष्ठा तु का कृष्ण सत्त्वमाहो रजस्तमः ॥1॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
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)?
श्री भगवानुवाच
त्रिविधा भवति श्रद्धा देहिनां सा स्वभावजा ।
सात्त्विकी राजसी चैव तामसी चेति तां शृणु ॥2॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
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.
सत्त्वानुरूपा सर्वस्य श्रद्धा भवति भारत ।
श्रद्धामयोऽयं पुरुषः यो यच्छ्रद्धः स एव सः ॥3॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
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.
यजन्ते सात्त्विका देवान् यक्षरक्षांसि राजसाः ।
प्रेतान्भूतगणांश्चान्ये यजन्ते तामसा जनाः ॥4॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
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.
अशास्त्रविहितं घोरं तप्यन्ते ये तपो जनाः ।
दम्भाहङ्कारसंयुक्ताः कामरागबलान्विताः ॥5॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
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.
कर्शयन्तः शरीरस्थं भूतग्राममचेतसः ।
मां चैवान्तः शरीरस्थं तान्विद्ध्यासुरनिश्चयान् ॥6॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
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.
आहारस्त्वपि सर्वस्य त्रिविधो भवति प्रियः ।
यज्ञस्तपस्तथा दानं तेषां भेदमिमं शृणु ॥7॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
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.
आयुःसत्त्वबलारोग्य-सुखप्रीतिविवर्धनाः ।
रस्याः स्निग्धाः स्थिरा हृद्याः आहाराः सात्त्विकप्रियाः ॥8॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
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.
कट्वम्ललवणात्युष्ण-तीक्ष्णरूक्षविदाहिनः ।
आहारा राजसस्येष्टाः दुःखशोकामयप्रदाः ॥9॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
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.
यातयामं गतरसं पूति पर्युषितं च यत् ।
उच्छिष्टमपि चामेध्यं भोजनं तामसप्रियम् ॥10॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
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.
अफलाकाङ्क्षिभिर्यज्ञः विधिदृष्टो य इज्यते ।
यष्टव्यमेवेति मनः समाधाय स सात्त्विकः ॥11॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
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.
अभिसन्धाय तु फलं दम्भार्थमपि चैव यत् ।
इज्यते भरतश्रेष्ठ तं यज्ञं विद्धि राजसम् ॥12॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
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.
विधिहीनमसृष्टान्नं मन्त्रहीनमदक्षिणम् ।
श्रद्धाविरहितं यज्ञं तामसं परिचक्षते ॥13॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
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.
देवद्विजगुरुप्राज्ञ-पूजनं शौचमार्जवम् ।
ब्रह्मचर्यमहिंसा च शारीरं तप उच्यते ॥14॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
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.
अनुद्वेगकरं वाक्यं सत्यं प्रियहितं च यत् ।
स्वाध्यायाभ्यसनं चैव वाङ्मयं तप उच्यते ॥15॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
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.
मनः प्रसादः सौम्यत्वं मौनमात्मविनिग्रहः ।
भावसंशुद्धिरित्येतत् तपो मानसमुच्यते ॥16॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
Calmness of mind, kindness, thoughtful silence, self-mastery, and sincerity of heart are considered the disciplines of mental austerity.
श्रद्धया परया तप्तं तपस्तत्त्रिविधं नरैः ।
अफलाकाङ्क्षिभिर्युक्तैः सात्त्विकं परिचक्षते ॥17॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
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.
सत्कारमानपूजार्थं तपो दम्भेन चैव यत् ।
क्रियते तदिह प्रोक्तं राजसं चलमध्रुवम् ॥18॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
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.
मूढग्राहेणात्मनो यत् पीडया क्रियते तपः ।
परस्योत्सादनार्थं वा तत्तामसमुदाहृतम् ॥19॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
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.
दातव्यमिति यद्दानं दीयतेऽनुपकारिणे ।
देशे काले च पात्रे च तद्दानं सात्त्विकं स्मृतम् ॥20॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
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.
यत्तु प्रत्युपकारार्थं फलमुद्दिश्य वा पुनः ।
दीयते च परिक्लिष्टं तद्दानं राजसं स्मृतम् ॥21॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
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.
अदेशकाले यद्दानम् अपात्रेभ्यश्च दीयते ।
असत्कृतमवज्ञातं तत्तामसमुदाहृतम् ॥22॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
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.
ॐ तत्सदिति निर्देशः ब्रह्मणस्त्रिविधः स्मृतः ।
ब्राह्मणास्तेन वेदाश्च यज्ञाश्च विहिताः पुरा ॥23॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
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.
तस्मादोमित्युदाहृत्य यज्ञदानतपःक्रियाः ।
प्रवर्तन्ते विधानोक्ताः सततं ब्रह्मवादिनाम् ॥24॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
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.
तदित्यनभिसन्धाय फलं यज्ञतपःक्रियाः ।
दानक्रियाश्च विविधाः क्रियन्ते मोक्षकाङ्क्षिभिः ॥25॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
By uttering the word 'Tat', seekers of liberation perform sacrifices, austerities, and various acts of charity without any desire for personal reward.
सद्भावे साधुभावे च सदित्येतत्प्रयुज्यते ।
प्रशस्ते कर्मणि तथा सच्छब्दः पार्थ युज्यते ॥26॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
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.
यज्ञे तपसि दाने च स्थितिः सदिति चोच्यते ।
कर्म चैव तदर्थीयं सदित्येवाभिधीयते ॥27॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
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.
अश्रद्धया हुतं दत्तं तपस्तप्तं कृतं च यत् ।
असदित्युच्यते पार्थ न च तत्प्रेत्य नो इह ॥28॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
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.
॥ ॐ तत्सदिति श्रीमद्भगवद्गीतासु उपनिषत्सु ब्रह्मविद्यायां
योगशास्त्रे श्रीकृष्णार्जुनसंवादे श्रद्धात्रयविभागयोगो नाम सप्तदशोऽध्यायः ॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
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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