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Chapter 17: Shraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga

Gita GPS: Chapter 17, Shraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga, shows how faith takes the color of the gunas and shapes food, worship, discipline, charity, and speech.

  • Shlokas 1-6: Krishna explains threefold faith and warns against harsh austerity outside scriptural guidance.
  • Shlokas 7-22: Krishna describes three kinds of food, sacrifice, penance, and charity.
  • Shlokas 23-28: Krishna explains the meaning and intention of “Om Tat Sat.”
V1| V2| V3| V4| V5| V6

Shlokas 1-6

Discussion on Faith and on the fate of men who perform austere penance not enjoined by the scriptures.

Reflective Prompt:What drives your faith or core beliefs when making life decisions?

  • ▪Option 1:The guidelines of wisdom, clarity, and scriptural principles (Sattvik).
  • ▪Option 2:Personal ambitions, emotional impulses, or seeking instant gratification (Rajasik).
  • ▪Option 3:Stubborn habits, fear of change, or blind attachment (Tamasik).

Verse 01

अर्जुन उवाच

। ये शास्त्रविधिमुत्सृज्य यजन्ते श्रद्धयान्विताः | | तेषां निष्ठा तु का कृष्ण सत्त्वमाहो रजस्तमः | | १७-१ | |

arjuna uvācha ye śhāstravidhimutsṛijya yajante śhraddhayānvitāḥ teṣhāṁ niṣhṭhā tu kā kṛiṣhṇa sattvamāho rajastamaḥ

Word-by-word guide:
Line 1:
  • अर्जुन(Arjuna) — अर्जुन बोले(Arjuna said)
  • उवाच(uvacha) — बोले(Arjuna said)
  • ये(ye) — जो(those who)
  • शास्त्रविधिम्(shastra-vidhim) — शास्त्र विधि(rules of the scriptures)
  • उत्सृज्य(utsrijya) — छोड़कर(neglecting/casting aside)
  • यजन्ते(yajante) — पूजा(worship)
  • श्रद्धयान्विताः(shraddhaya-anvitah) — श्रद्धा से युक्त(endowed with faith)
Line 2:
  • तेषाम्(tesham) — उनकी(of them)
  • निष्ठा(nishtha) — निष्ठा(state/condition)
  • तु(tu) — परंतु(indeed)
  • का(ka) — क्या(what)
  • कृष्ण(Krishna) — हे कृष्ण(Krishna)
  • सत्त्वम्(sattvam) — सत्त्व(clarity/goodness)
  • आहो(aho) — या(or)
  • रजः(rajah) — रज(passion)
  • तमः(tamah) — तम(ignorance)

English:Arjuna said: Krishna, Those who do acts of worship, not according to the scriptures but nevertheless with implicit faith, what is their condition? Is it one of clarity, of restless desire or of lack of understanding?

Note:

Arjuna asks about the spiritual path of those who worship with faith (shraddha) but disregard scriptural rules. He wants to know if their state is characterized by Sattva, Rajas, or Tamas.

Learnings from Shloka 1:
  • Worship with Faith:: Faith is the core driving force of human behavior, shaping our devotion even when formal rules are not fully followed.
  • The Guna Influence:: A person's inner state and motivation are always categorized under the influence of Sattva, Rajas, or Tamas.

Verse 02

श्रीभगवानुवाच

। त्रिविधा भवति श्रद्धा देहिनां सा स्वभावजा | | सात्त्विकी राजसी चैव तामसी चेति तां शृणु | | १७-२ | |

śhrī bhagavān uvācha trividhā bhavati śhraddhā dehināṁ sā svabhāvajā sāttvikī rājasī chaiva tāmasī cheti tāṁ śhṛiṇu

Word-by-word guide:
Line 1:
  • श्री(Sri) — श्री(the Blessed Lord said)
  • भगवान्(Bhagavan) — भगवान(the Blessed Lord said)
  • उवाच(uvacha) — बोले(the Blessed Lord said)
  • त्रिविधा(tri-vidha) — तीन प्रकार की(threefold)
  • भवति(bhavati) — है(is)
  • श्रद्धा(shraddha) — श्रद्धा(faith)
  • देहिनम्(dehinam) — देही को(of the embodied beings)
  • सा(sa) — वह(that)
  • स्वभावजा(svabhava-ja) — स्वभाव से उत्पन्न(born of their inherent nature)
Line 2:
  • सात्त्विकी(sattiviki) — सात्त्विक(pure/in clarity)
  • रजसि(rajasi) — रज(passionate/in restless desire)
  • च(cha) — और(and)
  • एव(eva) — ही(indeed)
  • तामसी(tamasi) — तामसिक(ignorant/in dullness)
  • च(cha) — और(and)
  • इति(iti) — ऐसा(thus)
  • तम्(tam) — वह(that)
  • शृणु(shrinu) — सुनो(hear)

English:Krishna said: Man has an inherent faith in one or another of the qualities -clarity, restless desire and lack of understanding. Now listen.

Note:

Krishna explains that faith is inherent to human nature and is shaped by past impressions (samskaras). It manifests in three distinct forms: pure (Sattvik), passionate (Rajasik), and ignorant (Tamasik).

Learnings from Shloka 2:
  • Faith is Inherent:: Faith is not superficial; it is born of our inherent nature and past impressions (samskaras).
  • Threefold Nature:: By observing whether our faith is Sattvik, Rajasik, or Tamasik, we can consciously elevate our thoughts.

Verse 03

सत्त्वानुरूपा सर्वस्य श्रद्धा भवति भारत । | श्रद्धामयोऽयं पुरुषो यो यच्छ्रद्धः स एव सः | | १७-३ | |

sattvānurūpā sarvasya śhraddhā bhavati bhārata śhraddhāmayo’yaṁ puruṣho yo yachchhraddhaḥ sa eva saḥ

Word-by-word guide:
Line 1:
  • सत्त्वानुरूपा(sattva-anurupa) — स्वभाव के अनुरूप(according to one's inner nature)
  • सर्वस्य(sarvasya) — सबका(of everyone)
  • श्रद्धा(shraddha) — श्रद्धा(faith)
  • भवति(bhavati) — है(is)
  • भारत(Bharata) — हे भारत(Arjuna)
  • श्रद्धामयः(shraddha-mayah) — श्रद्धामय(made of faith)
Line 2:
  • अयम्(ayam) — है(this)
  • पुरुषः(purushah) — पुरुष/कॉस्मिक चेतना(human/person)
  • यः(yah) — जो(who)
  • यच्छ्रद्धः(yat-shraddhah) — जिसकी जैसी श्रद्धा(whatever his faith is)
  • सः(sah) — वह(he)
  • एव(eva) — ही(indeed)
  • सः(sah) — वह(that)

English: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.

Note:

A person's character and thoughts are built upon their faith. A human being is essentially composed of their deepest convictions; whatever their faith is, that they indeed become.

Learnings from Shloka 3:
  • Defined by Faith:: A person is what their faith makes them; our core beliefs dictate our character and destiny.
  • Sattvik Alignment:: Cultivating pure faith aligns the mind with wisdom, bringing peace and clarity to all actions.

Verse 04

यजन्ते सात्त्विका देवान्यक्षरक्षांसि राजसाः । | प्रेतान्भूतगणांश्चान्ये यजन्ते तामसा जनाः | | १७-४ | |

yajante sāttvikā devānyakṣharakṣhāṁsi rājasāḥ pretānbhūtagaṇāṁśhchānye yajante tāmasā janāḥ

Word-by-word guide:
Line 1:
  • यजन्ते(yajante) — पूजा(worship)
  • सात्त्विकाः(sattvikah) — सात्त्विक लोग(those established in clarity)
  • देवान्(devan) — देवताओं को(the gods)
  • यक्षरक्षांसि(yaksha-rakshansi) — यक्ष और राक्षसों को(the demigods and giants/nature spirits)
  • रजसः(rajasah) — रज(the passionate)
Line 2:
  • प्रेतान्(pretan) — प्रेतों को(the spirits of the dead)
  • भूतगणान्(bhuta-ganan) — भूत गणों को(ghosts/lower spirits)
  • च(cha) — और(and)
  • अन्ये(anye) — अन्य(others)
  • यजन्ते(yajante) — पूजा(worship)
  • तमसः(tamasah) — अंधकार से(the ignorant)
  • जनाः(janah) — लोग(people)

English:The Pure worship the true God; the restless desireate, the powers of wealth and magic; the Ignorant, the spirits of the dead and of the lower orders of nature.

Note:

Sattvik individuals worship divine forces; Rajasik individuals worship powerful spirits, wealth-bringers, and demigods; Tamasik individuals focus on ghosts and lower astral entities.

Learnings from Shloka 4:
  • Focus of Devotion:: The goals and objects of our worship directly reflect the internal quality (guna) of our mind.
  • Elevating Intent:: Directing devotion toward higher, divine principles lifts our consciousness above material desires.

Verse 05

अशास्त्रविहितं घोरं तप्यन्ते ye तपो जनाः । | दम्भाहंकारसंयुक्ताः कामरागबलान्विताः | | १७-५ | |

aśhāstravihitaṁ ghoraṁ tapyante ye tapo janāḥ dambhāhaṁkārasaṁyuktāḥ kāmarāgabalānvitāḥ

Word-by-word guide:
Line 1:
  • अशास्त्रविहितम्(ashastra-vihitam) — शास्त्र-विरुद्ध(not enjoined by the scriptures)
  • घोरम्(ghoram) — घोर(severe/harsh)
  • तप्यन्ते(tapyante) — तप करते हैं(perform)
  • ये(ye) — जो(who)
  • तपः(tapah) — है(austerity/discipline)
  • जनाः(janah) — लोग(people)
Line 2:
  • दम्भाहङ्कारसंयुक्ताः(dambha-ahankara-sanyuktah) — पाखंड और अहंकार से युक्त(filled with hypocrisy and egoism)
  • कामरागबलान्विताः(kama-raga-bala-anvitah) — काम, राग और बल से युक्त(driven by the force of wants and attachment)

English:Those who practise disciplines not commanded by scripture, who are slaves to hypocrisy and egotism, who are carried away by the fury of want and strong desire,

Note:

Krishna warns against severe, non-scriptural penances performed out of pride and hypocrisy. Such practices are driven by personal desire, attachment, and ego rather than true wisdom.

Learnings from Shloka 5:
  • Avoid Ego-Driven Penance:: Extreme physical mortification driven by vanity and show is spiritually empty and harmful.
  • Selfish Desires:: Austerity must be grounded in wisdom and scripture, not in the desire to impress others or seek power.

Reflective Prompt:How does the food you eat affect your mental state and energy levels?

  • ▪Option 1:Fresh, simple, and wholesome food that makes me feel light, cheerful, and calm.
  • ▪Option 2:Overly spicy, rich, or stimulating food that creates restlessness or physical discomfort.
  • ▪Option 3:Heavy, stale, or processed food that leads to lethargy and mental dullness.

Verse 06

कर्षयन्तः शरीरस्थं भूतग्राममचेतसः । | मां चैवान्तःशरीरस्थं तान्विद्ध्यासुरनिश्चयान् | | १७-६ | |

karṣhayantaḥ śharīrasthaṁ bhūtagrāmamachetasaḥ māṁ chaivāntaḥśharīrasthaṁ tānviddhyāsuraniśhchayān Learnings from Shlokas 1-6: Different kinds of food, sacrifice, penance, and charity described.

Word-by-word guide:
Line 1:
  • कर्षयन्तः(karshayantah) — कष्ट देते हुए(tormenting)
  • शरीरस्थम्(sharira-stham) — शरीर में स्थित(situated in the body)
  • भूतग्रामम्(bhuta-gramam) — भूत समूह(the group of elements/organs)
  • अचेतसः(acetasah) — है(senseless/foolish)
  • माम्(mam) — मुझे(Me)
Line 2:
  • च(cha) — और(and)
  • एव(eva) — ही(indeed)
  • अन्तःशरीरस्थम्(antah-sharira-stham) — शरीर के भीतर स्थित(dwelling within the body)
  • त(tan) — त(them)
  • विद्धि(viddhi) — जानो(know)
  • आसुरनिश्चयान्(asura-nishchayan) — आसुरी निश्चय वाले(resolved toward evil/godless)

English: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.

Note:

Ego-driven ascetics torment the physical elements of the body and distress the Divine Self residing within them. Krishna classifies their resolve as demoniac and destructive.

### Shlokas 7-22 **Different kinds of food, sacrifice, penance, and charity described.**

Learnings from Shloka 6:
  • Three Types of Faith:: A person's faith is shaped by their nature (the gunas) and can be pure (sattvik), passionate (rajasik), or ignorant (tamasik). A person is what their faith is.
  • Worship Reflects Faith:: Pure people worship divine powers; passionate people seek wealth or power spirits; ignorant people worship ghosts or lower spirits.
  • Harsh Practices:: Krishna warns against severe, ego-driven disciplines that hurt the body and the inner Divine, calling them godless practices.