Chapter 17 — The Yoga of the Threefold Division of Faith

Om

Homage to the blessed Supreme Self

Arjuna said

Those who set aside the rule of scripture yet worship, endowed with faith— what is their condition, Krishna: sattva, rajas, or tamas? ॥१७- १॥

The Blessed Lord said

Threefold is the faith of embodied beings, born of their own nature: sattvic, rajasic, and tamasic. Hear of it now. ॥१७- २॥

Each person’s faith accords with their inner nature, O Bharata. A person is made of faith; whatever one’s faith, that indeed one is. ॥१७- ३॥

The sattvic worship the gods; the rajasic, yakshas and rakshasas; others, the tamasic, worship ghosts and hosts of spirits. ॥१७- ४॥

Those who undertake fierce austerities not prescribed by scripture, joined with hypocrisy and arrogance, driven by desire, attachment, and force— ॥१७- ५॥

senselessly tormenting the elements that form the body, and Me as well, dwelling within the body— know them to be resolved upon the demonic. ॥१७- ६॥

The food dear to each is also threefold, as are sacrifice, austerity, and giving. Hear now the distinction among them. ॥१७- ७॥

Foods that increase life, purity, strength, health, happiness, and delight, that are succulent, rich, sustaining, and pleasing, are dear to the sattvic. ॥१७- ८॥

Foods that are bitter, sour, salty, excessively hot, pungent, dry, and burning, and that bring pain, grief, and illness, are desired by the rajasic. ॥१७- ९॥

Food that has stood too long, has lost its taste, is putrid or stale, and food that is leftover and impure, is dear to the tamasic. ॥१७- १०॥

A sacrifice offered according to rule by those who seek no fruit, their minds resolved that sacrifice must be offered— that sacrifice is sattvic. ॥१७- ११॥

But a sacrifice offered with its fruit in view, or for the sake of display— know that sacrifice to be rajasic, O best of the Bharatas. ॥१७- १२॥

A sacrifice without prescribed rule, without food shared, without sacred formulas or gifts, and devoid of faith— that is declared tamasic. ॥१७- १३॥

Reverence for the gods, the twice-born, teachers, and the wise, purity, uprightness, chastity, and nonviolence— this is called austerity of the body. ॥१७- १४॥

Speech that causes no distress, that is truthful, pleasing, and beneficial, together with the practice of sacred recitation— this is called austerity of speech. ॥१७- १५॥

Serenity of mind, gentleness, silence, self-mastery, and purity of disposition— this is called austerity of the mind. ॥१७- १६॥

This threefold austerity, practiced with supreme faith by disciplined people who seek no fruit, is declared sattvic. ॥१७- १७॥

Austerity practiced for the sake of recognition, honor, and reverence, and out of hypocrisy, is declared rajasic here— unstable and impermanent. ॥१७- १८॥

Austerity practiced through deluded resolve, with torment to oneself, or for the destruction of another— that is declared tamasic. ॥१७- १९॥

A gift given from the conviction that it should be given, to one who cannot repay, at the proper place and time and to a worthy recipient— that gift is remembered as sattvic. ॥१७- २०॥

But a gift given in expectation of return, or with its fruit in view, and given grudgingly— that gift is remembered as rajasic. ॥१७- २१॥

A gift given at the wrong place or time, to unworthy recipients, without respect and with contempt— that is declared tamasic. ॥१७- २२॥

“Om Tat Sat” is remembered as the threefold designation of Brahman. By it, the brahmins, the Vedas, and sacrifices were ordained in ancient times. ॥१७- २३॥

Therefore, uttering “Om,” the acts of sacrifice, giving, and austerity prescribed by sacred rule are always begun by those who speak of Brahman. ॥१७- २४॥

Uttering “Tat,” and without intending their fruit, acts of sacrifice and austerity and the many acts of giving are performed by those who seek liberation. ॥१७- २५॥

“Sat” is used of being and of goodness; and the word “Sat,” Partha, is likewise used of a praiseworthy act. ॥१७- २६॥

Steadfastness in sacrifice, austerity, and giving is also called “Sat”; and action undertaken for their sake is likewise called “Sat.” ॥१७- २७॥

Whatever is offered, given, or practiced as austerity and whatever is done without faith is called “Asat,” Partha; it avails neither after death nor here. ॥१७- २८॥

Om Tat Sat. Thus, in the glorious Bhagavad Gita Upanishads, in the knowledge of Brahman, in the scripture of yoga, in the dialogue between Sri Krishna and Arjuna, ends the seventeenth chapter, entitled “The Yoga of the Threefold Division of Faith.” ॥१७॥

Om Salutations to the Supreme Self

Arjuna said:

Those who set aside the scriptural rule but worship filled with faith— what is their standing, Krishna: sattva, rajas, or tamas? ॥१७- १॥

The Blessed Lord said:

The faith of embodied beings is of three kinds, arising from their own nature: sattvic, rajasic, and tamasic. Hear about it. ॥१७- २॥

Everyone’s faith conforms to their inner nature, O descendant of Bharata. A person is made of faith; whatever one’s faith is, that is what one is. ॥१७- ३॥

Sattvic people worship the gods; rajasic people worship yakshas and rakshasas; other people, who are tamasic, worship ghosts and hosts of spirits. ॥१७- ४॥

Those people who practice harsh austerities not prescribed by scripture, filled with hypocrisy and pride, driven by desire, attachment, and force— ॥१७- ५॥

senselessly tormenting the group of elements within the body, and also me, dwelling within the body— know them to be of demonic resolve. ॥१७- ६॥

The food each person likes is also of three kinds, and so are sacrifice, austerity, and giving. Hear now the distinction among them. ॥१७- ७॥

Foods that increase life, vitality, strength, health, happiness, and satisfaction, and that are juicy, rich, nourishing, and pleasing, are dear to sattvic people. ॥१७- ८॥

Foods that are bitter, sour, salty, excessively hot, sharp, dry, and burning are desired by rajasic people and bring pain, grief, and illness. ॥१७- ९॥

Food that has been left too long, has lost its taste, is putrid or stale, and food that is leftover or impure is dear to tamasic people. ॥१७- १०॥

A sacrifice offered according to the prescribed rule by those who do not seek its fruit, with the mind resolved, “It must be offered,” is sattvic. ॥१७- ११॥

But a sacrifice offered with the fruit in view, or also for show— know that sacrifice to be rajasic, O best of the Bharatas. ॥१७- १२॥

A sacrifice without the prescribed rule, in which no food is given, without sacred formulas and without a priestly gift, and devoid of faith, is said to be tamasic. ॥१७- १३॥

Honoring the gods, the twice-born, teachers, and the wise; purity, sincerity, celibacy, and nonviolence— these are called austerity of the body. ॥१७- १४॥

Speech that causes no distress, that is truthful, pleasing, and beneficial, together with the regular practice of sacred recitation, is called austerity of speech. ॥१७- १५॥

Serenity of mind, gentleness, silence, self-control, and purity of intention— these are called austerity of mind. ॥१७- १६॥

When these three kinds of austerity are practiced with supreme faith by disciplined people who do not seek their fruit, they are said to be sattvic. ॥१७- १७॥

Austerity practiced for respect, honor, and reverence, and also out of hypocrisy, is declared here to be rajasic, unstable and impermanent. ॥१७- १८॥

Austerity practiced with deluded stubbornness, by tormenting oneself, or for the purpose of destroying another, is declared to be tamasic. ॥१७- १९॥

A gift given with the thought, “It should be given,” to one who cannot repay it, at the proper place and time and to a worthy recipient, is remembered as sattvic giving. ॥१७- २०॥

But a gift given in expectation of repayment, or with some fruit in view, and given reluctantly, is remembered as rajasic giving. ॥१७- २१॥

A gift given at the wrong place or time, to unworthy recipients, without respect and with contempt, is declared to be tamasic. ॥१७- २२॥

“Om Tat Sat” is remembered as the threefold designation of Brahman. By it, the brahmins, the Vedas, and sacrifices were established in ancient times. ॥१७- २३॥

Therefore, after uttering “Om,” acts of sacrifice, giving, and austerity prescribed by the rules are always begun by those who speak of Brahman. ॥१७- २४॥

Uttering “Tat,” and without aiming at the fruit, acts of sacrifice and austerity and various acts of giving are performed by those who seek liberation. ॥१७- २५॥

“Sat” is used to mean true being and also goodness. Likewise, the word “Sat” is used for a praiseworthy action, Partha. ॥१७- २६॥

Steadfastness in sacrifice, austerity, and giving is also called “Sat,” and action performed for their sake is likewise called “Sat.” ॥१७- २७॥

Whatever offering is made, gift is given, austerity is practiced, or action is performed without faith is called “Asat,” Partha; it has no value either after death or here. ॥१७- २८॥

Om Tat Sat. Thus, in the glorious Bhagavad Gita Upanishads, in the knowledge of Brahman, in the teaching of yoga, in the dialogue between Shri Krishna and Arjuna, the seventeenth chapter, named “The Yoga of the Division of Threefold Faith.” ॥१७॥