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Chapter 17 of 18

The Threefold Faith

श्रद्धात्रयविभागयोगः

The Yoga of the Division of the Threefold Faith

28 verses
1
अर्जुन उवाचये शास्त्रविधिमुत्सृज्य यजन्ते श्र…
Arjuna said: O Krishna, those who, abandoning scriptural rules, worship with faith—what is their nat
2
श्री भगवानुवाचत्रिविधा भवति श्रद्धा देहिनां स…
The Blessed Lord said: The faith of embodied beings, born of their own nature, is threefold—sattvic,
3
सत्त्वानुरूपा सर्वस्य श्रद्धा भवति भारत।श्रद्…
O Bharata, everyone's faith aligns with their nature
4
यजन्ते सात्त्विका देवान्यक्षरक्षांसि राजसाः।प…
The sattvic worship the gods; the rajasic worship the demigods and demons; the tamasic worship ghost
5
अशास्त्रविहितं घोरं तप्यन्ते ये तपो जनाः।दम्भ…
Those who practice terrible austerities not sanctioned by scripture, filled with hypocrisy and ego,
6
कर्षयन्तः शरीरस्थं भूतग्राममचेतसः।मां चैवान्त…
Know those senseless ones who torture the elements in the body and Me within the body as having demo
7
आहारस्त्वपि सर्वस्य त्रिविधो भवति प्रियः।यज्ञ…
Food dear to all is of three kinds; so are sacrifice, austerity, and charity
8
आयुःसत्त्वबलारोग्यसुखप्रीतिविवर्धनाः।रस्याः स…
Foods that augment life, firmness of mind, strength, health, happiness, and delight, and which are s
9
कट्वम्ललवणात्युष्णतीक्ष्णरूक्षविदाहिनः।आहारा …
Foods that are bitter, sour, salty, very hot, pungent, dry, and burning, which cause pain, grief, an
10
यातयामं गतरसं पूति पर्युषितं च यत्।उच्छिष्टमप…
Food that is tasteless, stale, putrid, leftover, and impure is dear to the tamasic
11
अफलाकाङ्क्षिभिर्यज्ञो विधिदृष्टो य इज्यते।यष्…
That sacrifice performed without desire for results, in accordance with scriptural rules, with the f
12
अभिसंधाय तु फलं दम्भार्थमपि चैव यत्।इज्यते भर…
But that sacrifice which is performed with an aim for a result, as well as for show—know that sacrif
13
विधिहीनमसृष्टान्नं मन्त्रहीनमदक्षिणम्।श्रद्धा…
They call a sacrifice tamasic which is without procedure, without food, without mantras, without gif
14
देवद्विजगुरुप्राज्ञपूजनं शौचमार्जवम्।ब्रह्मचर…
Worship of gods, twice-borns, gurus, and the wise; purity, honesty, celibacy, and non-violence are c
15
अनुद्वेगकरं वाक्यं सत्यं प्रियहितं च यत्।स्वा…
That speech which causes no pain, is true, agreeable, and beneficial; as well as the practice of stu
16
मनःप्रसादः सौम्यत्वं मौनमात्मविनिग्रहः।भावसंश…
Tranquility of mind, gentleness, silence, self-control, and purity of heart are called mental auster
17
श्रद्धया परया तप्तं तपस्तत्ित्रविधं नरैः।अफला…
That threefold austerity practiced by men with supreme faith, without desiring results and being sel
18
सत्कारमानपूजार्थं तपो दम्भेन चैव यत्।क्रियते …
That austerity which is undertaken for earning a name, being honored and worshipped, and also ostent
19
मूढग्राहेणात्मनो यत्पीडया क्रियते तपः।परस्योत…
That austerity done with foolish intent, causing self-pain or for destroying others, is declared Tam
20
दातव्यमिति यद्दानं दीयतेऽनुपकारिणे।देशे काले …
That gift which is given with the notion that it ought to be given, to one who does not serve in ret
21
यत्तु प्रत्युपकारार्थं फलमुद्दिश्य वा पुनः।दी…
But that gift given for return, or expecting a result, and reluctantly, is known as Rajasic
22
अदेशकाले यद्दानमपात्रेभ्यश्च दीयते।असत्कृतमवज…
A gift given at the wrong time and place, to unworthy persons, without respect and with contempt, is
23
तत्सदिति निर्देशो ब्रह्मणस्त्रिविधः स्मृतः।ब्…
Om Tat Sat is considered to be the threefold designation of Brahman
24
तस्मादोमित्युदाहृत्य यज्ञदानतपःक्रियाः।प्रवर्…
Therefore, uttering 'Om', the acts of sacrifice, charity, and austerity, prescribed by scripture, al
25
तदित्यनभिसन्धाय फलं यज्ञतपःक्रियाः।दानक्रियाश…
After uttering the word 'tat,' acts of sacrifice and austerity, as well as various acts of charity,
26
सद्भावे साधुभावे च सदित्येतत्प्रयुज्यते।प्रशस…
The word 'Sat' is used for existence and goodness; O Partha, it is also used for auspicious actions
27
यज्ञे तपसि दाने च स्थितिः सदिति चोच्यते।कर्म …
And the steadfastness in sacrifice, austerity, and charity is spoken of as sat
28
अश्रद्धया हुतं दत्तं तपस्तप्तं कृतं च यत्।असद…
Whatever is sacrificed, given, or done without faith, O Partha, is called Asat; it has no value here

About Chapter 17

Chapter 17 of the Bhagavad Gita is titled "The Threefold Faith" (श्रद्धात्रयविभागयोगः). This chapter contains 28 verses and explores the three divisions of faith. The core teaching focuses on how faith, food, worship, austerity, and charity are influenced by the three modes. The Yoga of the Division of the Threefold Faith The Bhagavad Gita consists of 18 chapters and 700 verses in total, forming a dialogue between Lord Krishna and Prince Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra. This chapter is part of the ancient Hindu scripture Mahabharata.

Frequently Asked Questions
What is Bhagavad Gita Chapter 17 about?

Chapter 17, titled "The Threefold Faith" (श्रद्धात्रयविभागयोगः), contains 28 verses. The Yoga of the Division of the Threefold Faith This chapter focuses on how faith, food, worship, austerity, and charity are influenced by the three modes.

How many verses are in Chapter 17 of the Bhagavad Gita?

Chapter 17 — The Threefold Faith — contains 28 verses. Each verse is available in original Sanskrit with transliteration. Full translations in 22 languages, word-by-word meanings, and audio recitation are available in the free Bhagavad Gita app.

What is the Sanskrit name of Chapter 17?

The Sanskrit name of Chapter 17 is "श्रद्धात्रयविभागयोगः," which translates to "The Threefold Faith" in English. The Bhagavad Gita's 18 chapters each have a Sanskrit title ending in "Yoga," indicating a spiritual discipline or path.

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