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Chapter 17
sraddhatrayavibhagayoga · 28 verses
A mirror
These three moods run through everything the Gita describes here. See which is loudest in you today
अर्जुन उवाच ये शास्त्रविधिमुत्सृज्य यजन्ते श्रद्धयाऽन्विताः। तेषां निष्ठा तु का कृष्ण सत्त्वमाहो रजस्तमः৷৷
arjuna uvāca yē śāstravidhimutsṛjya yajantē śraddhayā.nvitāḥ. tēṣāṅ niṣṭhā tu kā kṛṣṇa sattvamāhō rajastamaḥ৷৷
"Arjuna asked: My Lord! Those who do acts of sacrifice, not according to the scriptures but nevertheless with implicit faith, what is their condition? Is it one of Purity, of Passion or of Ignorance?
श्री भगवानुवाच त्रिविधा भवति श्रद्धा देहिनां सा स्वभावजा। सात्त्विकी राजसी चैव तामसी चेति तां श्रृणु৷৷
śrī bhagavānuvāca trividhā bhavati śraddhā dēhināṅ sā svabhāvajā. sāttvikī rājasī caiva tāmasī cēti tāṅ śrṛṇu৷৷
Lord Shri Krishna replied: Man has an inherent faith in one or another of the Qualities -Purity, Passion and Ignorance. Now listen.
सत्त्वानुरूपा सर्वस्य श्रद्धा भवति भारत। श्रद्धामयोऽयं पुरुषो यो यच्छ्रद्धः स एव सः৷৷
sattvānurūpā sarvasya śraddhā bhavati bhārata. śraddhāmayō.yaṅ puruṣō yō yacchraddhaḥ sa ēva saḥ৷৷
The faith of every man conforms to his nature. By nature he is full of faith. He is in fact what his faith makes him.
यजन्ते सात्त्विका देवान्यक्षरक्षांसि राजसाः। प्रेतान्भूतगणांश्चान्ये यजन्ते तामसा जनाः৷৷
yajantē sāttvikā dēvānyakṣarakṣāṅsi rājasāḥ. prētānbhūtagaṇāṅścānyē yajantē tāmasā janāḥ৷৷
The Pure worship the true God; the Passionate, the powers of wealth and magic; the Ignorant, the spirits of the dead and of the lower orders of nature.
अशास्त्रविहितं घोरं तप्यन्ते ये तपो जनाः। दम्भाहङ्कारसंयुक्ताः कामरागबलान्विताः৷৷
aśāstravihitaṅ ghōraṅ tapyantē yē tapō janāḥ. dambhāhaṅkārasaṅyuktāḥ kāmarāgabalānvitāḥ৷৷
Those who practise austerities not commanded by scripture, who are slaves to hypocrisy and egotism, who are carried away by the fury of desire and passion,
कर्षयन्तः शरीरस्थं भूतग्राममचेतसः। मां चैवान्तःशरीरस्थं तान्विद्ध्यासुरनिश्चयान्৷৷
karṣayantaḥ śarīrasthaṅ bhūtagrāmamacētasaḥ. māṅ caivāntaḥśarīrasthaṅ tānviddhyāsuraniścayān৷৷
They are ignorant. They torment the organs of the body; and they harass Me also, Who lives within. Know that they are devoted to evil.
आहारस्त्वपि सर्वस्य त्रिविधो भवति प्रियः। यज्ञस्तपस्तथा दानं तेषां भेदमिमं श्रृणु৷৷
āhārastvapi sarvasya trividhō bhavati priyaḥ. yajñastapastathā dānaṅ tēṣāṅ bhēdamimaṅ śrṛṇu৷৷
The food which men enjoy is also threefold, like the ways of sacrifice, austerity and almsgiving. Listen to the distinction.
आयुःसत्त्वबलारोग्यसुखप्रीतिविवर्धनाः। रस्याः स्निग्धाः स्थिरा हृद्या आहाराः सात्त्विकप्रियाः৷৷
āyuḥsattvabalārōgyasukhaprītivivardhanāḥ. rasyāḥ snigdhāḥ sthirā hṛdyā āhārāḥ sāttvikapriyāḥ৷৷
The foods that prolong life and increase purity, vigour, health, cheerfulness and happiness are those that are delicious, soothing, substantial and agreeable. These are loved by the Pure.
कट्वम्ललवणात्युष्णतीक्ष्णरूक्षविदाहिनः। आहारा राजसस्येष्टा दुःखशोकामयप्रदाः৷৷
kaṭvamlalavaṇātyuṣṇatīkṣṇarūkṣavidāhinaḥ. āhārā rājasasyēṣṭā duḥkhaśōkāmayapradāḥ৷৷
Those in whom Passion is dominant like foods that are bitter, sour, salty, over-hot, pungent, dry and burning. These produce unhappiness, repentance and disease.
यातयामं गतरसं पूति पर्युषितं च यत्। उच्छिष्टमपि चामेध्यं भोजनं तामसप्रियम्৷৷
yātayāmaṅ gatarasaṅ pūti paryuṣitaṅ ca yat. ucchiṣṭamapi cāmēdhyaṅ bhōjanaṅ tāmasapriyam৷৷
The Ignorant love food which is stale, not nourishing, putrid and corrupt, the leavings of others and unclean.
अफलाकाङ्क्षिभिर्यज्ञो विधिदृष्टो य इज्यते। यष्टव्यमेवेति मनः समाधाय स सात्त्विकः৷৷
aphalākāṅkṣibhiryajñō vidhidṛṣṭō ya ijyatē. yaṣṭavyamēvēti manaḥ samādhāya sa sāttvikaḥ৷৷
Sacrifice is Pure when it is offered by one who does not covet the fruit thereof, when it is done according to the commands of scripture, and with implicit faith that the sacrifice is a duty.
अभिसंधाय तु फलं दम्भार्थमपि चैव यत्। इज्यते भरतश्रेष्ठ तं यज्ञं विद्धि राजसम्৷৷
abhisaṅdhāya tu phalaṅ dambhārthamapi caiva yat. ijyatē bharataśrēṣṭha taṅ yajñaṅ viddhi rājasam৷৷
Sacrifice which is performed for the sake of its results, or for self-glorification - that, O best of Aryans, is the product of Passion.
विधिहीनमसृष्टान्नं मन्त्रहीनमदक्षिणम्। श्रद्धाविरहितं यज्ञं तामसं परिचक्षते৷৷
vidhihīnamasṛṣṭānnaṅ mantrahīnamadakṣiṇam. śraddhāvirahitaṅ yajñaṅ tāmasaṅ paricakṣatē৷৷
Sacrifice that is contrary to scriptural command, that is unaccompanied by prayers or gifts of food or money, and is without faith - that is the product of Ignorance.
देवद्विजगुरुप्राज्ञपूजनं शौचमार्जवम्। ब्रह्मचर्यमहिंसा च शारीरं तप उच्यते৷৷
dēvadvijaguruprājñapūjanaṅ śaucamārjavam. brahmacaryamahiṅsā ca śārīraṅ tapa ucyatē৷৷
Worship of God and the Master; respect for the preacher and the philosopher; purity, rectitude, continence and harmlessness - all this is physical austerity.
अनुद्वेगकरं वाक्यं सत्यं प्रियहितं च यत्। स्वाध्यायाभ्यसनं चैव वाङ्मयं तप उच्यते৷৷
anudvēgakaraṅ vākyaṅ satyaṅ priyahitaṅ ca yat. svādhyāyābhyasanaṅ caiva vāṅmayaṅ tapa ucyatē৷৷
Speech that hurts no one, that is true, is pleasant to listen to and beneficial, and the constant study of the scriptures - this is austerity in speech.
मनःप्रसादः सौम्यत्वं मौनमात्मविनिग्रहः। भावसंशुद्धिरित्येतत्तपो मानसमुच्यते৷৷
manaḥprasādaḥ saumyatvaṅ maunamātmavinigrahaḥ. bhāvasaṅśuddhirityētattapō mānasamucyatē৷৷
Serenity, kindness, silence, self-control and purity - this is austerity of mind.
श्रद्धया परया तप्तं तपस्तत्ित्रविधं नरैः। अफलाकाङ्क्षिभिर्युक्तैः सात्त्विकं परिचक्षते৷৷
śraddhayā parayā taptaṅ tapastatitravidhaṅ naraiḥ. aphalākāṅkṣibhiryuktaiḥ sāttvikaṅ paricakṣatē৷৷
These threefold austerities performed with faith, and without thought of reward, may truly be accounted Pure.
सत्कारमानपूजार्थं तपो दम्भेन चैव यत्। क्रियते तदिह प्रोक्तं राजसं चलमध्रुवम्৷৷
satkāramānapūjārthaṅ tapō dambhēna caiva yat. kriyatē tadiha prōktaṅ rājasaṅ calamadhruvam৷৷
Austerity coupled with hypocrisy or performed for the sake of self-glorification, popularity or vanity, comes from Passion, and its result is always doubtful and temporary.
मूढग्राहेणात्मनो यत्पीडया क्रियते तपः। परस्योत्सादनार्थं वा तत्तामसमुदाहृतम्৷৷
mūḍhagrāhēṇātmanō yatpīḍayā kriyatē tapaḥ. parasyōtsādanārthaṅ vā tattāmasamudāhṛtam৷৷
Austerity done under delusion, and accompanied with sorcery or torture to oneself or another, may be assumed to spring from Ignorance.
दातव्यमिति यद्दानं दीयतेऽनुपकारिणे। देशे काले च पात्रे च तद्दानं सात्त्विकं स्मृतम्৷৷
dātavyamiti yaddānaṅ dīyatē.nupakāriṇē. dēśē kālē ca pātrē ca taddānaṅ sāttvikaṅ smṛtam৷৷
The gift which is given without thought of recompense, in the belief that it ought to be made, in a fit place, at an opportune time and to a deserving person - such a gift is Pure.
यत्तु प्रत्युपकारार्थं फलमुद्दिश्य वा पुनः। दीयते च परिक्लिष्टं तद्दानं राजसं स्मृतम्৷৷
yattu pratyupakārārthaṅ phalamuddiśya vā punaḥ. dīyatē ca parikliṣṭaṅ taddānaṅ rājasaṅ smṛtam৷৷
That which is given for the sake of the results it will produce, or with the hope of recompense,or grudgingly - that may truly be said to be the outcome of Passion.
अदेशकाले यद्दानमपात्रेभ्यश्च दीयते। असत्कृतमवज्ञातं तत्तामसमुदाहृतम्৷৷
adēśakālē yaddānamapātrēbhyaśca dīyatē. asatkṛtamavajñātaṅ tattāmasamudāhṛtam৷৷
And that which is given at an unsuitable place or time or to one who is unworthy, or with disrespect or contempt - such a gift is the result of Ignorance.
ॐ तत्सदिति निर्देशो ब्रह्मणस्त्रिविधः स्मृतः। ब्राह्मणास्तेन वेदाश्च यज्ञाश्च विहिताः पुरा৷৷
tatsaditi nirdēśō brahmaṇastrividhaḥ smṛtaḥ. brāhmaṇāstēna vēdāśca yajñāśca vihitāḥ purā৷৷
Om Tat Sat' is the triple designation of the Eternal Spirit, by which of old the Vedic Scriptures, the ceremonials and the sacrifices were ordained.
तस्मादोमित्युदाहृत्य यज्ञदानतपःक्रियाः। प्रवर्तन्ते विधानोक्ताः सततं ब्रह्मवादिनाम्৷৷
tasmādōmityudāhṛtya yajñadānatapaḥkriyāḥ. pravartantē vidhānōktāḥ satataṅ brahmavādinām৷৷
Therefore all acts of sacrifice, gifts and austerities, prescribed by the scriptures, are always begun by those who understand the Spirit with the word Om.
तदित्यनभिसन्धाय फलं यज्ञतपःक्रियाः। दानक्रियाश्च विविधाः क्रियन्ते मोक्षकाङ्क्षिभि:৷৷
tadityanabhisandhāya phalaṅ yajñatapaḥkriyāḥ. dānakriyāśca vividhāḥ kriyantē mōkṣakāṅkṣi৷৷
Those who desire deliverance begin their acts of sacrifice, austerity or gift with the word Tat' (meaning That'), without thought of reward.
सद्भावे साधुभावे च सदित्येतत्प्रयुज्यते। प्रशस्ते कर्मणि तथा सच्छब्दः पार्थ युज्यते৷৷
sadbhāvē sādhubhāvē ca sadityētatprayujyatē. praśastē karmaṇi tathā sacchabdaḥ pārtha yujyatē৷৷
Sat' means Reality or the highest Good, and also, O Arjuna, it is used to mean an action of exceptional merit.
यज्ञे तपसि दाने च स्थितिः सदिति चोच्यते। कर्म चैव तदर्थीयं सदित्येवाभिधीयते৷৷
yajñē tapasi dānē ca sthitiḥ saditi cōcyatē. karma caiva tadarthīyaṅ sadityēvābhidhīyatē৷৷
Conviction in sacrifice, in austerity and in giving is also called Sat.' So too an action done only for the Lord's sake.
अश्रद्धया हुतं दत्तं तपस्तप्तं कृतं च यत्। असदित्युच्यते पार्थ न च तत्प्रेत्य नो इह৷৷
aśraddhayā hutaṅ dattaṅ tapastaptaṅ kṛtaṅ ca yat. asadityucyatē pārtha na ca tatprētya nō iha৷৷
Whatsoever is done without faith, whether it be sacrifice, austerity or gift or anything else, as called Asat' (meaning Unreal') for it is the negation of Sat,' O Arjuna! Such an act has no significance, here or hereafter."