Chapter 17. "Division of the Threefold Faith".
Arjuna said:
1. O Krishna, those who, disregarding the injunctions of the Scriptures, perform sacrifice with faith, what is their state? I sit Sattwa (goodness), Rajas (passion) or Tamas (darkness)?
The Blessed Lord said:
2. Threefold is the faith of the embodied, born of their inherent nature: Sattwica (good), Rajasica (passionate), Tamasica (ignorant). Do thou hear of that.
3. O descendant of Bharata, the faith of each is according to his inherent nature. The man consists of his faith; he is verily what his faith is.
4. The men of purity worship the gods; the menof passionate nature worship Yakshas and Rakshasas; while the others, men of Tamasica (ignorant) nature, worship ghosts (departed spirits) and goblins.
5. The men who practise severe austerities, not enjoined by the Scriptures, being possessed with hypocrisy and egoism, impelled by lust and attachment.
6. Torturing, senseless as they are, all the organs of the senses, and Me, dwelling in the body, know them to be of demonic resolve.
7. The foods also are of threefold nature which are liked respectively by each of these; and so also sacrifice, austerity and charitable gifts. Do thou hear the distinction of these.
8. The foods which increase life-force, energy, strength, health, joy and cheerfulness, and which are savory, soothing, substantial and agreeable, are like by the Sattwica nature.
9. The Rajasica nature likes foods which are bitter, sour, saline, overhot, pungent, dry, burning, and which produce pain, grief ad disease.
10. that which is stale, insipid, putrid, cooked over night, even leavings or unclean food is liked by the Tamasica nature.
11. That sacrifice is Sattwica which is performed by men desiring no fruit, as it is enjoined by the Scriptural laws, with the mind fixed on the sacrifice alone, just for its own sake.
12. But, O best of the Bharatas, that which is performed with the desire for fruits and for ostentation, know that to be Rajasica sacrifice.
13. The sacrifice which is performed, without regard to Scriptural injunctions, in which no food is distributed, and which is without sacred texts, charitable gifts and faiths, is said to be Tamasica.
14. Worship of the gods, of the twice-born, of Gurus and wise men; purity, simplicity, continence, non-injury; these are called the austerity of the body.
15. Speech, which causes no pain (to others) and is true as well as pleasant and beneficial; regular study of the Scriptures: these are called the austerity of speech.
16. Cheerfulness of mind, kindliness, silence, self-control, purity of heart: these are called austerity of the mind.
17. When this threefold austerity is practised, by men of steadfast devotion, with great faith, without desiring fruits, it is said to be Sattwica.
18. When this austerity is performed with the object of gaining welcome, honor and worship, or from ostentation, it is said to be Rajasica, unstable and fleeting.
19. The austerity which is performed with deluded understanding, by self-torture or for the purpose of injuring another, that is said to be Tamasica.
20. "To give is right": with this thought, giving to one who does nothing in return, in a fit place, time and to a worthy person, is regarded as a Sattwica gift.
21. That gift which is made with the thought of receiving in return or of looking for the fruits, or given reluctantly, is known as a Rajasica gift.
22. The gift whichis made in the wrong place or time, to unworthy persons, with disrespect and contempt, that is said to be a Tamasica gift.
23. "Om, Tat, Sat" (Yes, That, the Real), this is declared to be the triple name of Brahman, by which were made of old the Brahmanas, the Vedas and sacrifices.
24. Therefore the followers of the Vedas always begin their acts of sacrifice, gift and austerity by uttering "Om" as enjoined in the Scriptures.
25. By uttering "Tat," without looking for fruits, the seekers after liberation perform various acts of sacrifice, austerity and gift.
26. O Partha, the word "Sat" is used in the sense of reality and of goodness; and the word "Sat" is also used in the sense of auspicious act.
27. Steadfastness in sacrifice, austerity and gift is called "Sat," and action performed for the sake of That (Supreme) is also called "Sat."
28. O Partha, whatever is sacrificed, or given, or performed, or whatever austerities are practised without faith, that is called "Asat" (Unreal). It is neither good for her nor for hereafter.
Here ends the Seventeenth Chapter called "Division of the Threefold Faith"
Arjuna said:
1. O Krishna, those who, disregarding the injunctions of the Scriptures, perform sacrifice with faith, what is their state? I sit Sattwa (goodness), Rajas (passion) or Tamas (darkness)?
The Blessed Lord said:
2. Threefold is the faith of the embodied, born of their inherent nature: Sattwica (good), Rajasica (passionate), Tamasica (ignorant). Do thou hear of that.
3. O descendant of Bharata, the faith of each is according to his inherent nature. The man consists of his faith; he is verily what his faith is.
4. The men of purity worship the gods; the menof passionate nature worship Yakshas and Rakshasas; while the others, men of Tamasica (ignorant) nature, worship ghosts (departed spirits) and goblins.
5. The men who practise severe austerities, not enjoined by the Scriptures, being possessed with hypocrisy and egoism, impelled by lust and attachment.
6. Torturing, senseless as they are, all the organs of the senses, and Me, dwelling in the body, know them to be of demonic resolve.
7. The foods also are of threefold nature which are liked respectively by each of these; and so also sacrifice, austerity and charitable gifts. Do thou hear the distinction of these.
8. The foods which increase life-force, energy, strength, health, joy and cheerfulness, and which are savory, soothing, substantial and agreeable, are like by the Sattwica nature.
9. The Rajasica nature likes foods which are bitter, sour, saline, overhot, pungent, dry, burning, and which produce pain, grief ad disease.
10. that which is stale, insipid, putrid, cooked over night, even leavings or unclean food is liked by the Tamasica nature.
11. That sacrifice is Sattwica which is performed by men desiring no fruit, as it is enjoined by the Scriptural laws, with the mind fixed on the sacrifice alone, just for its own sake.
12. But, O best of the Bharatas, that which is performed with the desire for fruits and for ostentation, know that to be Rajasica sacrifice.
13. The sacrifice which is performed, without regard to Scriptural injunctions, in which no food is distributed, and which is without sacred texts, charitable gifts and faiths, is said to be Tamasica.
14. Worship of the gods, of the twice-born, of Gurus and wise men; purity, simplicity, continence, non-injury; these are called the austerity of the body.
15. Speech, which causes no pain (to others) and is true as well as pleasant and beneficial; regular study of the Scriptures: these are called the austerity of speech.
16. Cheerfulness of mind, kindliness, silence, self-control, purity of heart: these are called austerity of the mind.
17. When this threefold austerity is practised, by men of steadfast devotion, with great faith, without desiring fruits, it is said to be Sattwica.
18. When this austerity is performed with the object of gaining welcome, honor and worship, or from ostentation, it is said to be Rajasica, unstable and fleeting.
19. The austerity which is performed with deluded understanding, by self-torture or for the purpose of injuring another, that is said to be Tamasica.
20. "To give is right": with this thought, giving to one who does nothing in return, in a fit place, time and to a worthy person, is regarded as a Sattwica gift.
21. That gift which is made with the thought of receiving in return or of looking for the fruits, or given reluctantly, is known as a Rajasica gift.
22. The gift whichis made in the wrong place or time, to unworthy persons, with disrespect and contempt, that is said to be a Tamasica gift.
23. "Om, Tat, Sat" (Yes, That, the Real), this is declared to be the triple name of Brahman, by which were made of old the Brahmanas, the Vedas and sacrifices.
24. Therefore the followers of the Vedas always begin their acts of sacrifice, gift and austerity by uttering "Om" as enjoined in the Scriptures.
25. By uttering "Tat," without looking for fruits, the seekers after liberation perform various acts of sacrifice, austerity and gift.
26. O Partha, the word "Sat" is used in the sense of reality and of goodness; and the word "Sat" is also used in the sense of auspicious act.
27. Steadfastness in sacrifice, austerity and gift is called "Sat," and action performed for the sake of That (Supreme) is also called "Sat."
28. O Partha, whatever is sacrificed, or given, or performed, or whatever austerities are practised without faith, that is called "Asat" (Unreal). It is neither good for her nor for hereafter.
Here ends the Seventeenth Chapter called "Division of the Threefold Faith"
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Text source: Srimad-Bhagavad-Gita. Translated by Swami Paramananda.
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