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Bhagwad Gita (English) | Chapter 17 | Verse 1

Chapter 17, Verse 1

The Divisions of Faith

Arjuna said, O Krsna, what is the situation of one who does not follow the principles of scripture but worships according to his own imagination? Is he in goodness, in passion or in ignorance?

Verse

अर्जुन उवाचये शास्त्रविधिमुत्सृज्य यजन्ते श्रद्धयाऽन्विताः।तेषां निष्ठा तु का कृष्ण सत्त्वमाहो रजस्तमः।।17.1।।


arjuna uvācha
ye śhāstra-vidhim utsṛijya yajante śhraddhayānvitāḥ
teṣhāṁ niṣhṭhā tu kā kṛiṣhṇa sattvam āho rajas tamaḥ

Meaning of each word

arjunaḥ uvācha — Arjun said;
ye — who;
śhāstra-vidhim — scriptural injunctions;
utsṛijya — disregard;
yajante — worship;
śhraddhayā-anvitāḥ — with faith;
teṣhām — their;
niṣhṭhā — faith;
tu — indeed;
kā — what;
kṛiṣhṇa — Krishna;
sattvam — mode of goodness;
āho — or;
rajaḥ — mode of passion;
tamaḥ — mode of ignorance

Interpretation

In this verse, Arjuna is asking Krishna about people who create their own ways of worship instead of following traditional scripture, which are the holy texts that guide spiritual practices. Arjuna wonders what happens to these people. Do they worship from a place of goodness, passion, or ignorance?

To understand this better, let’s look at what Arjuna is really asking. He is curious about people who might choose to worship in a way that feels good to them personally, but doesn’t align with the rules set by these ancient texts. For example, imagine someone who believes in a higher power but decides to pray in a way that doesn’t follow any established religious practices. They may feel strong faith but are not doing things as laid out by holy scriptures.

Arjuna is thinking about certain serious points here. He recalls earlier teachings where it was said that following scriptures leads to higher understanding and peace. In a previous chapter, the idea that ignoring scripture could classify someone as a demon was introduced. This indicates that there are consequences for not adhering to the scriptures, which makes Arjuna uneasy. He is urgently seeking clarity from Krishna on this matter.

Arjuna’s questions touch on important themes:
1. **Goodness, Passion, and Ignorance**: These words refer to different states of being or ways of living, known as the three gunas in Hindu philosophy. Goodness (sattva) is about purity and wisdom. Passion (rajas) relates to activity and desire, while Ignorance (tamas) signifies a lack of awareness or laziness. Arjuna wants to know where these self-directed worshipers fit among these categories.

2. **The Nature of Faith**: Arjuna understands that faith can be powerful. He is asking whether people who have faith but don’t follow the traditional rules can actually achieve something meaningful in life. Can they discover true knowledge? Can they reach their highest potential?

3. **Success in Worship**: Are these individuals, who create their own godly ideas based on personal choices, eventually successful in life? Arjuna wants to know if their efforts lead to true fulfillment or if they are missing something crucial by not following the traditional paths.

In essence, Arjuna is exploring the uncertainty of spiritual paths. He wonders whether sincere faith that does not comply with scripture can lead to genuine success and higher understanding. This concern reflects the complexity of faith, and Krishna’s response will aim to shed light on these important questions.

Other Verses of Chapter 17
Verse 2
The Supreme Lord said, according to the modes of nature acquired by the embodied soul, one's faith can be of three kinds-goodness, passion or ignorance. Now hear about these.
Verse 3
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.
Verse 4
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.
Verse 5
Those men who practice terrific austerities not prescribed by the scriptures, given to hypocrisy and egoism, driven by the force of lust and attachment.
Verse 6
Know thou these to be of demonical resolves, senselessly torturing all the elements in the body and Me who dwell in the body.
Verse 7
Even food of which all partake is of three kinds, according to the three modes of material nature. The same is true of sacrifices, austerities and charity. Listen, and I shall tell you of the distinctions of these.
Verse 8
The foods that increase life, purity, strength, health, joy, and cheerfulness (good appetite), which are savory, oily, substantial, and agreeable, are dear to the Sattvic (pure) people.
Verse 9
The foods that are bitter, sour, salty, overly hot, pungent, dry, and burning are liked by the Rajasic and are productive of pain, grief, and disease.
Verse 10
That which is stale, tasteless, putrid, rotten, rejected, and impure is the food liked by the Tamasic.
Verse 11
Of sacrifices, that sacrifice performed according to duty and to scriptural rules, and with no expectation of reward, is of the nature of goodness.
Verse 12
But that sacrifice performed for some material end or benefit or performed ostentatiously, out of pride, is of the nature of passion, O chief of the Bharatas.
Verse 13
And that sacrifice performed in defiance of scriptural injunctions, in which no spiritual food is distributed, no hymns are chanted and no remunerations are made to the priests, and which is faithless—that sacrifice is of the nature of ignorance.
Verse 14
The austerity of the body consists in this: worship of the Supreme Lord, the brahmanas, the spiritual master, and superiors like the father and mother. Cleanliness, simplicity, celibacy and nonviolence are also austerities of the body.
Verse 15
Austerity of speech consists in speaking truthfully and beneficially and in avoiding speech that offends. One should also recite the Vedas regularly.
Verse 16
And serenity, simplicity, gravity, self-control and purity of thought are the austerities of the mind.
Verse 17
This threefold austerity, practiced by men whose aim is not to benefit themselves materially but to please the Supreme, is of the nature of goodness.
Verse 18
Those ostentatious penances and austerities which are performed in order to gain respect, honor and reverence are said to be in the mode of passion. They are neither stable nor permanent.
Verse 19
And those penances and austerities which are performed foolishly by means of obstinate self-torture, or to destroy or injure others, are said to be in the mode of ignorance.
Verse 20
That gift which is given out of duty, at the proper time and place, to a worthy person, and without expectation of return, is considered to be charity in the mode of goodness.
Verse 21
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.
Verse 22
And charity performed at an improper place and time and given to unworthy persons without respect and with contempt is charity in the mode of ignorance.
Verse 23
From the beginning of creation, the three syllables-om tat sat-have been used to indicate the Supreme Absolute Truth [Brahman]. They were uttered by brahmanas while chanting Vedic hymns and during sacrifices, for the satisfaction of the Supreme.
Verse 24
Thus the transcendentalists undertake sacrifices, charities, and penances, beginning always with om, to attain the Supreme.
Verse 25
One should perform sacrifice, penance and charity with the word tat. The purpose of such transcendental activities is to get free from the material entanglement.
Verse 26
The word "Sat" is used to refer to reality and goodness; likewise, O Arjuna, the word "Sat" is used to refer to an auspicious act.
Verse 27
Steadfastness in sacrifice, austerity, and gift is also called 'Sat', and action in connection with these, or for the sake of the Supreme, is also called 'Sat'.
Verse 28
But sacrifices, austerities and charities performed without faith in the Supreme are nonpermanent, O son of Prtha, regardless of whatever rites are performed. They are called asat and are useless both in this life and the next.
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