Srimad Bhagawad Gita Chapter 17
Gita
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- verse 1ॐ श्री परमात्मने नमःअथ सप्तदशोऽध्यायः ।श्रद्धात्रयविभागयोगःōṃ śrī paramātmanē namaḥatha saptadaśō'dhyāyaḥ ।śraddhātrayavibhāgayōgaḥmeaning
[Chapter heading] Om, salutation to the Supreme Self. Chapter Seventeen: the Yoga of the Threefold Classification of Faith.
- verse 2अर्जुन उवाचये शास्त्रविधिमुत्सृज्य यजन्ते श्रद्धयान्विताः ।तेषां निष्ठा तु का कृष्ण सत्त्वमाहो रजस्तमः ॥ 1 ॥arjuna uvāchayē śāstravidhimutsṛjya yajantē śraddhayānvitāḥ ।tēṣāṃ niṣṭhā tu kā kṛṣṇa sattvamāhō rajastamaḥ ॥ 1 ॥meaning
Those that sacrifice full of faith, but casting aside the ordinances of the Scriptures, what is verily their condition, O Krishna? Is it one of Purity, Passion, or Darkness?
- verse 3श्रीभगवानुवाचत्रिविधा भवति श्रद्धा देहिनां सा स्वभावजा ।सात्त्विकी राजसी चैव तामसी चेति तां शृणु ॥ 2 ॥śrībhagavānuvāchatrividhā bhavati śraddhā dēhināṃ sā svabhāvajā ।sāttvikī rājasī chaiva tāmasī chēti tāṃ śṛṇu ॥ 2 ॥meaning
Threefold is by nature the inborn faith of theembodied—pure, passionate, and dark. Hear thou of these.
- verse 4सत्त्वानुरूपा सर्वस्य श्रद्धा भवति भारत ।श्रद्धामयोऽयं पुरुषो यो यच्छ्रद्धः स एव सः ॥ 3 ॥sattvānurūpā sarvasya śraddhā bhavati bhārata ।śraddhāmayō'yaṃ puruṣō yō yachChraddhaḥ sa ēva saḥ ॥ 3 ॥meaning
The faith of each is shaped to his own nature, O Bhârata. The man consists of his faith; that which his faith is, he is even that.
- verse 5यजन्ते सात्त्विका देवान्यक्षरक्षांसि राजसाः ।प्रेतान्भूतगणांश्चान्ये यजन्ते तामसा जनाः ॥ 4 ॥yajantē sāttvikā dēvānyakṣarakṣāṃsi rājasāḥ ।prētānbhūtagaṇāṃśchānyē yajantē tāmasā janāḥ ॥ 4 ॥meaning
Pure men worship the Gods; the passionate the gnomes and giants; the others, the dark folk, worship ghosts and troops of nature-spirits.
- verse 6अशास्त्रविहितं घोरं तप्यन्ते ये तपो जनाः ।दम्भाहङ्कारसंयुक्ताः कामरागबलान्विताः ॥ 5 ॥aśāstravihitaṃ ghōraṃ tapyantē yē tapō janāḥ ।dambhāhaṅkārasaṃyuktāḥ kāmarāgabalānvitāḥ ॥ 5 ॥meaning
The men who perform severe austerities, unenjoined by the Scriptures, wedded to vanity and egoism, impelled by the force of their desires and passions,
- verse 7कर्षयन्तः शरीरस्थं भूतग्राममचेतसः ।मां चैवान्तःशरीरस्थं तान्विद्ध्यासुरनिश्चयान् ॥ 6 ॥karṣayantaḥ śarīrasthaṃ bhūtagrāmamachētasaḥ ।māṃ chaivāntaḥśarīrasthaṃ tānviddhyāsuraniśchayān ॥ 6 ॥meaning
Unintelligent, tormenting the aggregated elements forming the body, and Me also, seated in the inner body, know these demoniacal in their resolves.
- verse 8आहारस्त्वपि सर्वस्य त्रिविधो भवति प्रियः ।यज्ञस्तपस्तथा दानं तेषां भेदमिमं शृणु ॥ 7 ॥āhārastvapi sarvasya trividhō bhavati priyaḥ ।yajñastapastathā dānaṃ tēṣāṃ bhēdamimaṃ śṛṇu ॥ 7 ॥meaning
The food also which is dear to each is threefold, as also sacrifice, austerity and almsgiving. Hear thou the distinction of these.
- verse 9आयुःसत्त्वबलारोग्यसुखप्रीतिविवर्धनाः ।रस्याः स्निग्धाः स्थिरा हृद्या आहाराः सात्त्विकप्रियाः ॥ 8 ॥āyuḥsattvabalārōgyasukhaprītivivardhanāḥ ।rasyāḥ snigdhāḥ sthirā hṛdyā āhārāḥ sāttvikapriyāḥ ॥ 8 ॥meaning
The foods that augment vitality, energy, vigour, health, joy and cheerfulness, delicious, bland, substantial and agreeable, are dear to the pure.
- verse 10कट्वम्ललवणात्युष्णतीक्ष्णरूक्षविदाहिनः ।आहारा राजसस्येष्टा दुःखशोकामयप्रदाः ॥ 9 ॥kaṭvamlalavaṇātyuṣṇatīkṣṇarūkṣavidāhinaḥ ।āhārā rājasasyēṣṭā duḥkhaśōkāmayapradāḥ ॥ 9 ॥meaning
The passionate desire foods that are bitter, sour, saline, over-hot, pungent, dry and burning and which produce pain, grief and sickness.
- verse 11यातयामं गतरसं पूति पर्युषितं च यत् ।उच्छिष्टमपि चामेध्यं भोजनं तामसप्रियम् ॥ 10 ॥yātayāmaṃ gatarasaṃ pūti paryuṣitaṃ cha yat ।uchChiṣṭamapi chāmēdhyaṃ bhōjanaṃ tāmasapriyam ॥ 10 ॥meaning
That which is stale and flat, putrid and corrupt, leavings also and unclean, is the food dear to the dark.
- verse 12अफलाकाङ्क्षिभिर्यज्ञो विधिदृष्टो य इज्यते ।यष्टव्यमेवेति मनः समाधाय स सात्त्विकः ॥ 11 ॥aphalākāṅkṣibhiryajñō vidhidṛṣṭō ya ijyatē ।yaṣṭavyamēvēti manaḥ samādhāya sa sāttvikaḥ ॥ 11 ॥meaning
The sacrifice which is offered by men without desire for fruit, as enjoined by the ordinances, under the firm belief that sacrifice is a duty, that is pure.
- verse 13अभिसन्धाय तु फलं दम्भार्थमपि चैव यत् ।इज्यते भरतश्रेष्ठ तं यज्ञं विद्धि राजसम् ॥ 12 ॥abhisandhāya tu phalaṃ dambhārthamapi chaiva yat ।ijyatē bharataśrēṣṭha taṃ yajñaṃ viddhi rājasam ॥ 12 ॥meaning
The sacrifice offered with a view verily to fruit, and also indeed for self-glorification, O best of the Bhâratas; know thou that to be of passion.
- verse 14विधिहीनमसृष्टान्नं मन्त्रहीनमदक्षिणम् ।श्रद्धाविरहितं यज्ञं तामसं परिचक्षते ॥ 13 ॥vidhihīnamasṛṣṭānnaṃ mantrahīnamadakṣiṇam ।śraddhāvirahitaṃ yajñaṃ tāmasaṃ parichakṣatē ॥ 13 ॥meaning
The sacrifice contrary to the ordinances, without distributing food, devoid of words of power and without gifts, empty of faith, is said to be of darkness.
- verse 15देवद्विजगुरुप्राज्ञपूजनं शौचमार्जवम् ।ब्रह्मचर्यमहिंसा च शारीरं तप उच्यते ॥ 14 ॥dēvadvijaguruprājñapūjanaṃ śauchamārjavam ।brahmacharyamahiṃsā cha śārīraṃ tapa uchyatē ॥ 14 ॥meaning
Worship given to the Gods, to the twice-born, to the teachers and to the wise, purity, straightforwardness, continence and harmlessness, are called the austerity of the body.
- verse 16अनुद्वेगकरं वाक्यं सत्यं प्रियहितं च यत् ।स्वाध्यायाभ्यसनं चैव वाङ्मयं तप उच्यते ॥ 15 ॥anudvēgakaraṃ vākyaṃ satyaṃ priyahitaṃ cha yat ।svādhyāyābhyasanaṃ chaiva vāṅmayaṃ tapa uchyatē ॥ 15 ॥meaning
Speech causing no annoyance, truthful, pleasant and beneficial, the practice of the study of the Scriptures, are called the austerity of speech.
- verse 17मनः प्रसादः सौम्यत्वं मौनमात्मविनिग्रहः ।भावसंशुद्धिरित्येतत्तपो मानसमुच्यते ॥ 16 ॥manaḥ prasādaḥ saumyatvaṃ maunamātmavinigrahaḥ ।bhāvasaṃśuddhirityētattapō mānasamuchyatē ॥ 16 ॥meaning
Mental happiness, equilibrium, silence, self-control, purity of nature—these are called the austerity of the mind.
- verse 18श्रद्धया परया तप्तं तपस्तत्त्रिविधं नरैः ।अफलाकाङ्क्षिभिर्युक्तैः सात्त्विकं परिचक्षते ॥ 17 ॥śraddhayā parayā taptaṃ tapastattrividhaṃ naraiḥ ।aphalākāṅkṣibhiryuktaiḥ sāttvikaṃ parichakṣatē ॥ 17 ॥meaning
This threefold austerity, performed by men with the utmost faith, without desire for fruit, harmonised, is said to be pure.
- verse 19सत्कारमानपूजार्थं तपो दम्भेन चैव यत् ।क्रियते तदिह प्रोक्तं राजसं चलमध्रुवम् ॥ 18 ॥satkāramānapūjārthaṃ tapō dambhēna chaiva yat ।kriyatē tadiha prōktaṃ rājasaṃ chalamadhruvam ॥ 18 ॥meaning
The austerity which is practised with the object of gaining respect, honour and worship, and for ostentation, is said to be of passion, unstable and fleeting.
- verse 20मूढग्राहेणात्मनो यत्पीडया क्रियते तपः ।परस्योत्सादनार्थं वा तत्तामसमुदाहृतम् ॥ 19 ॥mūḍhagrāhēṇātmanō yatpīḍayā kriyatē tapaḥ ।parasyōtsādanārthaṃ vā tattāmasamudāhṛtam ॥ 19 ॥meaning
That austerity which is performed from a deluded understanding, through self-torture, or for the purpose of destroying another—that is declared to be tāmasic.
- verse 21दातव्यमिति यद्दानं दीयतेऽनुपकारिणे ।देशे काले च पात्रे च तद्दानं सात्त्विकं स्मृतम् ॥ 20 ॥dātavyamiti yaddānaṃ dīyatē'nupakāriṇē ।dēśē kālē cha pātrē cha taddānaṃ sāttvikaṃ smṛtam ॥ 20 ॥meaning
That alms given to one who does nothing in return, believing that a gift ought to be made in a fit place and time to a worthy person, that alms is accounted pure.
- verse 22यत्तु प्रत्त्युपकारार्थं फलमुद्दिश्य वा पुनः ।दीयते च परिक्लिष्टं तद्दानं राजसं स्मृतम् ॥ 21 ॥yattu prattyupakārārthaṃ phalamuddiśya vā punaḥ ।dīyatē cha parikliṣṭaṃ taddānaṃ rājasaṃ smṛtam ॥ 21 ॥meaning
That given with a view to receiving in return, or looking for fruit again, or grudgingly, that alms is accounted of passion.
- verse 23अदेशकाले यद्दानमपात्रेभ्यश्च दीयते ।असत्कृतमवज्ञातं तत्तामसमुदाहृतम् ॥ 22 ॥adēśakālē yaddānamapātrēbhyaścha dīyatē ।asatkṛtamavajñātaṃ tattāmasamudāhṛtam ॥ 22 ॥meaning
That alms given at unfit place and time, and to unworthy persons, disrespectfully and contemptuously, that is declared of darkness.
- verse 24ॐ तत्सदिति निर्देशो ब्रह्मणस्त्रिविधः स्मृतः ।ब्राह्मणास्तेन वेदाश्च यज्ञाश्च विहिताः पुरा ॥ 23 ॥ōṃ tatsaditi nirdēśō brahmaṇastrividhaḥ smṛtaḥ ।brāhmaṇāstēna vēdāścha yajñāścha vihitāḥ purā ॥ 23 ॥meaning
"Aum Tat Sat," this has been considered to be the threefold designation of the Eternal. Bythat were ordained of old Brâhmanas, Vedas and sacrifices.
- verse 25तस्मादोमित्युदाहृत्य यज्ञदानतपःक्रियाः ।प्रवर्तन्ते विधानोक्ताः सततं ब्रह्मवादिनाम् ॥ 24 ॥tasmādōmityudāhṛtya yajñadānatapaḥkriyāḥ ।pravartantē vidhānōktāḥ satataṃ brahmavādinām ॥ 24 ॥meaning
Therefore with the pronunciation of "Aum" the acts of sacrifice, gift and austerity as laid down in the ordinances are always commenced by the knowers of the Eternal.
- verse 26तदित्यनभिसन्धाय फलं यज्ञतपःक्रियाः ।दानक्रियाश्च विविधाः क्रियन्ते मोक्षकाङ्क्षिभिः ॥ 25 ॥tadityanabhisandhāya phalaṃ yajñatapaḥkriyāḥ ।dānakriyāścha vividhāḥ kriyantē mōkṣakāṅkṣibhiḥ ॥ 25 ॥meaning
With the pronunciation of "Tat" and without aiming at fruit are performed the various acts of sacrifice, austerity and gift, by those desiring liberation.
- verse 27सद्भावे साधुभावे च सदित्येतत्प्रयुज्यते ।प्रशस्ते कर्मणि तथा सच्छब्दः पार्थ युज्यते ॥ 26 ॥sadbhāvē sādhubhāvē cha sadityētatprayujyatē ।praśastē karmaṇi tathā sachChabdaḥ pārtha yujyatē ॥ 26 ॥meaning
"Sat" is used in the sense of reality andgoodness; likewise, O Pârtha, the word "Sat" is used in the sense of a good work.
- verse 28यज्ञे तपसि दाने च स्थितिः सदिति चोच्यते ।कर्म चैव तदर्थीयं सदित्येवाभिधीयते ॥ 27 ॥yajñē tapasi dānē cha sthitiḥ saditi chōchyatē ।karma chaiva tadarthīyaṃ sadityēvābhidhīyatē ॥ 27 ॥meaning
Steadfastness in sacrifice, austerity and gift is also called "Sat", and action for the sake of the Supreme is also named "Sat."
- verse 29अश्रद्धया हुतं दत्तं तपस्तप्तं कृतं च यत् ।असदित्युच्यते पार्थ न च तत्प्रेप्य नो इह ॥ 28 ॥aśraddhayā hutaṃ dattaṃ tapastaptaṃ kṛtaṃ cha yat ।asadityuchyatē pārtha na cha tatprēpya nō iha ॥ 28 ॥meaning
Whatsoever is wrought without faith, oblation, gift, austerity, or other deed, "Asat" it is called, O Pârtha; it is nought, here or hereafter.
- verse 30ॐ तत्सदिति श्रीमद्भगवद्गीतासूपनिषत्सु ब्रह्मविद्यायां योगशास्त्रेश्रीकृष्णार्जुनसंवादे श्रद्धात्रयविभागयोगो नाम सप्तदशोऽध्यायः ॥17 ॥ōṃ tatsaditi śrīmadbhagavadgītāsūpaniṣatsu brahmavidyāyāṃ yōgaśāstrēśrīkṛṣṇārjunasaṃvādē śraddhātrayavibhāgayōgō nāma saptadaśō'dhyāyaḥ ॥17 ॥meaning
[Colophon] Om, thus ends the seventeenth chapter in the Śrīmad Bhagavad Gītā Upaniṣad, in the science of Brahman, in the scripture of Yoga, in the dialogue of Śrī Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna—the Yoga of the Threefold Classification of Faith.
Primary text from vignanam.org