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Chapter XVII28 verses

अथ सप्तदशोऽध्यायः

श्रद्धात्रयविभागयोगः

The Yoga of the Threefold Division of Faith

Śraddhā-traya-vibhāga-yoga

Man is made of his faith: turn yours to the highest, and let every sacrifice, gift and askesis begin with OM and be offered to That which is. — The Delight of Krishna

The soul enters in
daivī sampad — the divine endowment, disciplined by the law of the Shastra
and is led towards
oṃ tat sat — works of faith consecrated to the Real
Begin at 17 · 1 Play chapter

Recitations

  1. Swami Sarvagananda ji0:00
  2. Ashit Desai0:00
In this chapter

28 verses

Summary of chapter 17

The Gunas, Faith and Works - The Gila next gives an analysis of action in the light of the fundamental idea of the three gunas and the transcendence of them by a self-exceeding culmination of the highest sattwic discipline. in this chapter it lays special stress on Faith. shraddha, the will to believe and to be, know, live and enact the Truth as the principal factor.

Chapter 17 illustration, titled श्रद्धात्रयविभागयोगः
Illustration · Sushanto Nath, Sri Aurobindo Society

Chapter outline

Choose a range to read just those verses.

  1. 17·1–6Faith according to the three Gunas.
  2. 17·7–10Foods according to the three Gunas.
  3. 17·11–13Sacrifice according to the three Gunas.
  4. 17·14–16Tapas of the body, speech and mind.
  5. 17·17–18Tapas according to the three Gunas.
  6. 17·19–22dana according to the three Gunas.
  7. 17·23–28The significance Om, Tat, Sat.
  8. 17·1–28Show all 28 verses

The verses

Arjuna uvācaअर्जुन उवाच

  1. 17·1ये शास्त्रविधिमुत्सृज्य यजन्ते श्रद्धयान्विताः । तेषां निष्ठा तु का कृष्ण सत्त्वमाहो रजस्तमः ॥ १ ॥ye śāstravidhimutsṛjya yajante śraddhayānvitāḥ, teṣāṁ niṣṭhā tu kā kṛṣṇa sattvamāho rajastamaḥ.When men sacrifice to God or the gods with faith, but abandon the rule of the Shastra, what is that…

Śrī Bhagavān uvācaश्रीभगवानुवाच

  1. 17·2त्रिविधा भवति श्रद्धा देहिनां सा स्वभावजा । सात्त्विकी राजसी चैव तामसी चेति तां शृणु ॥ २ ॥trividhā bhavati śraddhā dehināṁ sā svabhāvajā, sāttvikī rājasī caiva tāmasī ceti tāṁ śṛṇu.The faith in embodied beings is of a triple kind like all things in Nature and varies according to the…
  2. 17·3, a key verseसत्त्वानुरूपा सर्वस्य श्रद्धा भवति भारत । श्रद्धामयोऽयं पुरुषो यो यच्छ्रद्धः स एव सः ॥ ३ ॥sattvānurūpā sarvasya śraddhā bhavati bhārata, śraddhāmayo’yaṁ puruṣo yo yacchraddhaḥ sa eva saḥ.The faith of each man takes the shape given to it by his stuff of being, O Bharata.
  3. 17·4यजन्ते सात्त्विका देवान्यक्षरक्षांसि राजसाः । प्रेतान्भूतगणांश्चान्ये यजन्ते तामसा जनाः ॥ ४ ॥yajante sāttvikā devānyakṣarakṣāṁsi rājasāḥ, pretānbhūtagaṇāṁścānye yajante tāmasā janāḥ.Sattwic men offer sacrifice to the gods, the rajasic to the Yakshas (the keepers of wealth) and the rakshasic…
  4. 17·5अशास्त्रविहितं घोरं तप्यन्ते ये तपो जनाः । दम्भाहङ्कारसंयुक्ताः कामरागबलान्विताः ॥ ५ ॥aśāstravihitaṁ ghoraṁ tapyante ye tapo janāḥ, dambhāhaṅkārasaṁyuktāḥ kāmarāgabalānvitāḥ.The men who perform violent austerities, contrary to the Shastra, with arrogance and egoism, impelled by the…
  5. 17·6कर्षयन्तः शरीरस्थं भूतग्राममचेतसः । मां चैवान्तःशरीरस्थं तान्विद्ध्यासुरनिश्चयान् ॥ ६ ॥karṣayantaḥ śarīrasthaṁ bhūtagrāmamacetasaḥ, māṁ caivāntaḥśarīrasthaṁ tānviddhyāsuraniścayān.The men who perform violent austerities, contrary to the Shastra, with arrogance and egoism, impelled by the…
  6. 17·7आहारस्त्वपि सर्वस्य त्रिविधो भवति प्रियः । यज्ञस्तपस्तथा दानं तेषां भेदमिमं शृणु ॥ ७ ॥āhārastvapi sarvasya trividho bhavati priyaḥ, yajñastapastathā dānaṁ teṣāṁ bhedamimaṁ śṛṇu.The food also which is dear to each is of triple character, as also sacrifice, askesis and giving.
  7. 17·8आयुःसत्त्वबलारोग्यसुखप्रीतिविवर्धनाः । रस्याः स्निग्धाः स्थिरा हृद्या आहाराः सात्त्विकप्रियाः ॥ ८ ॥āyuḥsattvabalārogyasukhaprītivivardhanāḥ, rasyāḥ snigdhāḥ sthirā hṛdyā āhārāḥ sāttvikapriyāḥ.The sattwic temperament in the mental and physical body turns naturally to the things that increase the life…
  8. 17·9कट्वम्ललवणात्युष्णतीक्ष्णरूक्षविदाहिनः । आहारा राजसस्येष्टा दुःखशोकामयप्रदाः ॥ ९ ॥kaṭvamlalavaṇātyuṣṇatīkṣṇarūkṣavidāhinaḥ, āhārā rājasasyeṣṭā duḥkhaśokāmayapradāḥ.The rajasic temperament prefers naturally food that is violently sour, pungent, hot, acrid, rough and strong…
  9. 17·10यातयामं गतरसं पूति पर्युषितं च यत् । उच्छिष्टमपि चामेध्यं भोजनं तामसप्रियम् ॥ १० ॥yātayāmaṁ gatarasaṁ pūti paryuṣitaṁ ca yat, ucchiṣṭamapi cāmedhyaṁ bhojanaṁ tāmasapriyam.The tamasic temperament takes a perverse pleasure in cold, impure, stale, rotten or tasteless food or even…
  10. 17·11, a key verseअफलाङ्क्षिभिर्यज्ञो विधिदृष्टो य इज्यते । यष्टव्यमेवेति मनः समाधाय स सात्त्विकः ॥ ११ ॥aphalāṅkṣibhiryajño vidhidṛṣṭo ya ijyate, yaṣṭavyameveti manaḥ samādhāya sa sāttvikaḥ.The sacrifice which is offered by men without desire for the personal fruit, which is executed according to…
  11. 17·12अभिसन्धाय तु फलं दम्भार्थमपि चैव यत् । इज्यते भरतश्रेष्ठ तं यज्ञं विद्धि राजसम् ॥ १२ ॥abhisandhāya tu phalaṁ dambhārthamapi caiva yat, ijyate bharataśreṣṭha taṁ yajñaṁ viddhi rājasam.The sacrifice offered with a view to the personal fruit, and also for ostentation, O best of the Bharatas…
  12. 17·13विधिहीनमसृष्टान्नं मन्त्रहीनमदक्षिणम् । श्रद्धाविरहितं यज्ञं तामसं परिचक्षते ॥ १३ ॥vidhihīnamasṛṣṭānnaṁ mantrahīnamadakṣiṇam, śraddhāvirahitaṁ yajñaṁ tāmasaṁ paricakṣate.The sacrifice not performed according to the right rule of the Shastra, without giving of food, without the…
  13. 17·14देवद्विजगुरुप्राज्ञपूजनं शौचमार्जवम् । ब्रह्मचर्यमहिंसा च शारीरं तप उच्यते ॥ १४ ॥devadvijaguruprājñapūjanaṁ śaucamārjavam, brahmacaryamahiṁsā ca śārīraṁ tapa ucyate.Worship given to the godhead, to the twice-born, to the spiritual guide, to the wise, cleanness, candid…
  14. 17·15अनुद्वेगकरं वाक्यं सत्यं प्रियहितं च यत् । स्वाध्यायाभ्यसनं चैव वाङ्मयं तप उच्यते ॥ १५ ॥anudvegakaraṁ vākyaṁ satyaṁ priyahitaṁ ca yat, svādhyāyābhyasanaṁ caiva vāṅmayaṁ tapa ucyate.Speech causing no trouble to others, true, kind and beneficial, the study of Scripture, are called the askesis…
  15. 17·16, a key verseमनः प्रसादः सौम्यत्वं मौनमात्मविनिग्रहः । भावसंशुद्धिरित्येतत्तपो मानसमुच्यते ॥ १६ ॥manaḥ prasādaḥ saumyatvaṁ maunamātmavinigrahaḥ, bhāvasaṁśuddhirityetattapo mānasamucyate.A clear and calm gladness of mind, gentleness, silence, self-control, the purifying of the whole temperament -…
  16. 17·17, a key verseश्रद्धया परया तप्तं तपस्तत्त्रिविधं नरैः । अफलाकाङ्क्षिभिर्युक्तैः सात्त्विकं परिचक्षते ॥ १७ ॥śraddhayā parayā taptaṁ tapastattrividhaṁ naraiḥ, aphalākāṅkṣibhiryuktaiḥ sāttvikaṁ paricakṣate.This threefold askesis, done with a highest enlightened faith, with no desire for fruit, harmonised, is said…
  17. 17·18सत्कारमानपूजार्थं तपो दम्भेन चैव यत् । क्रियते तदिह प्रोक्तं राजसं चलमध्रुवम् ॥ १८ ॥satkāramānapūjārthaṁ tapo dambhena caiva yat, kriyate tadiha proktaṁ rājasaṁ calamadhruvam.The askesis which is undertaken to get honour and worship from men, for the sake of outward glory and…
  18. 17·19मूढग्राहेणात्मनो यत्पीडया क्रियते तपः । परस्योत्सादनार्थं वा तत्तामसमुदाहृतम् ॥ १९ ॥mūḍhagrāheṇātmano yatpīḍayā kriyate tapaḥ, parasyotsādanārthaṁ vā tattāmasamudāhṛtam.That askesis which is pursued under a clouded and deluded idea, performed with effort and suffering imposed on…
  19. 17·20दातव्यमिति यद्दानं दीयतेऽनुपकारिणे । देशे काले च पात्रे च तद्दानं सात्त्विकं स्मृतम् ॥ २० ॥dātavyamiti yaddānaṁ dīyate’nupakāriṇe, deśe kāle ca pātre ca taddānaṁ sāttvikaṁ smṛtam.The sattwic way of giving is to do it for the sake of the giving and the beneficence and to one who does no…
  20. 17·21यत्तु प्रत्त्युपकारार्थं फलमुद्दिश्य वा पुनः । दीयते च परिक्लिष्टं तद्दानं राजसं स्मृतम् ॥ २१ ॥yattu prattyupakārārthaṁ phalamuddiśya vā punaḥ, dīyate ca parikliṣṭaṁ taddānaṁ rājasaṁ smṛtam.The rajasic kind of giving is that which is done with unwillingness or violence to oneself or with a personal…
  21. 17·22अदेशकाले यद्दानमपात्रेभ्यश्च दीयते । असत्कृतमवज्ञातं तत्तामसमुदाहृतम् ॥ २२ ॥adeśakāle yaddānamapātrebhyaśca dīyate, asatkṛtamavajñātaṁ tattāmasamudāhṛtam.The tamasic gift is offered with no consideration of the right conditions of time, place and object…
  22. 17·23, a key verseओं तत्सदिति निर्देशो ब्रह्मणस्त्रिविधः स्मृतः । ब्राह्मणास्तेन वेदाश्च यज्ञाश्च विहिताः पुरा ॥ २३ ॥oṁ tatsaditi nirdeśo brahmaṇastrividhaḥ smṛtaḥ, brāhmaṇāstena vedāśca yajñāśca vihitāḥ purā.The formula OM Tat Sat, is the triple definition of the Brahman, by whom the Brahmanas, the Vedas and…
  23. 17·24तस्मादोमित्युदाहृत्य यज्ञदानतपःक्रियाः । प्रवर्तन्ते विधानोक्ताः सततं ब्रह्मवादिनाम् ॥ २४ ॥tasmādomityudāhṛtya yajñadānatapaḥkriyāḥ, pravartante vidhānoktāḥ satataṁ brahmavādinām.Therefore with the pronunciation of OM the acts of sacrifice, giving and askesis as laid down in the rules are…
  24. 17·25तदित्यनभिसन्धाय फलं यज्ञतपःक्रियाः । दानक्रियाश्च विविधाः क्रियन्ते मोक्षकाङ्क्षिभिः ॥ २५ ॥tadityanabhisandhāya phalaṁ yajñatapaḥkriyāḥ, dānakriyāśca vividhāḥ kriyante mokṣakāṅkṣibhiḥ.With the pronunciation of Tat and without desire of fruit are performed the various acts of sacrifice, askesis…
  25. 17·26सद्भावे साधुभावे च सदित्येतत्प्रयुज्यते । प्रशस्ते कर्मणि तथा सच्छब्दः पार्थ युज्यते ॥ २६ ॥sadbhāve sādhubhāve ca sadityetatprayujyate, praśaste karmaṇi tathā sacchabdaḥ pārtha yujyate.Sat means good and it means existence; likewise, O Partha, the word Sat is used in the sense of a good work…
  26. 17·27यज्ञे तपसि दाने च स्थितिः सदिति चोच्यते । कर्म चैव तदर्थीयं सदित्येवाभिधीयते ॥ २७ ॥yajñe tapasi dāne ca sthitiḥ saditi cocyate, karma caiva tadarthīyaṁ sadityevābhidhīyate.All firm abiding in sacrifice, giving and askesis and all works done with that central view, as sacrifice, as…
  27. 17·28, a key verseअश्रद्धया हुतं दत्तं तपस्तप्तं कृतं च यत् । असदित्युच्यते पार्थ न च तत्प्रेत्य नो इह ॥ २८ ॥aśraddhayā hutaṁ dattaṁ tapastaptaṁ kṛtaṁ ca yat, asadityucyate pārtha na ca tatpretya no iha.Whatever is wrought without faith, oblation, giving, askesis or other work, Asat it is called, O Partha…

End of the chapter

ॐ तत्सदिति श्रीमद्भगवद्गीतासूपनिषत्सुब्रह्मविद्यायां योगशास्त्रे श्रीकृष्णार्जुनसंवादेश्रद्धात्रयविभागयोगो नाम सप्तदशोऽध्यायः ॥ १७॥

om tatsaditi śrīmadbhagavadgītāsūpaniṣatsubrahmavidyāyāṁ yogaśāstre śrīkṛṣṇārjunasaṁvādeśraddhātrayavibhāgayogo nāma saptadaśo’dhyāyaḥ

Thus, in the Upanishad sung by the Lord, the science of Brahman, the scripture of Yoga, the dialogue between Sri Krishna and Arjuna, ends the seventeenth chapter entitled “The Yoga of the Threefold Faith”

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