» Bhagavad Gita 17.1
arjuna uvaca
ye shastra-vidhim utsrjya
yajante shraddhayanvitah
tesham nistha tu ka krishna
sattvam aho rajas tamah
"Arjuna inquired: O
» Bhagavad Gita 17.2
sri-bhagavan uvaca
tri-vidha bhavati shraddha
dehinam sa svabhava-ja
sattviki rajasi caiva
tamasi ceti tam shrinu
"The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: According to
the modes of nature acquired by the embodied soul, one’s faith can be of three
kinds—in goodness, in passion or in ignorance. Now hear about this."
» Bhagavad Gita 17.3
sattvanurupa sarvasya
shraddha bhavati bharata
shraddha-mayo ’yam purusho
yo yac-chraddhah sa eva sah
"O son of Bharata, according
to one’s existence under the various modes of nature, one evolves a particular
kind of faith. The living being is said to be of a particular faith according
to the modes he has acquired."
» Bhagavad Gita 17.4
yajante sattvika devan
yaksha-rakshamsi rajasah
pretan bhuta-ganams canye
yajante tamasa janah
"Men in the mode of goodness worship the demigods;
those in the mode of passion worship the demons; and those in the mode of
ignorance worship ghosts and spirits."
» Bhagavad Gita 17.5-6
ashastra-vihitam ghoram
tapyante ye tapo janah
dambhahankara-samyuktah
kama-raga-balanvitah
karsayantah sarira-stham
bhuta-gramam acetasah
mam caivantah sarira-stham
tan viddhy asura-niscayan
"Those who undergo severe austerities and penances not
recommended in the scriptures, performing them out of pride and egoism, who are
impelled by lust and attachment, who are foolish and who torture the material
elements of the body as well as the Supersoul
dwelling within, are to be known as demons."
» Bhagavad Gita 17.7
aharas tv api sarvasya
tri-vidho bhavati priyah
yajnas tapas tatha danam
tesham bhedam imam shrinu
"Even the food each person prefers is of three kinds,
according to the three modes of material nature. The same is true of
sacrifices, austerities and charity. Now hear of the distinctions between
them."
» Bhagavad Gita 17.8
ayuh-sattva-balarogya-
sukha-priti-vivardhanah
rasyah snigdhah sthira hrdya
aharah sattvika-priyah
"Foods dear to those in the mode of goodness increase
the duration of life, purify one’s existence and give strength, health,
happiness and satisfaction. Such foods are juicy, fatty, wholesome, and
pleasing to the heart."
» Bhagavad Gita 17.9
katv-amla-lavanaty-usna-
tiksna-ruksa-vidahinah
ahara rajasasyesta
duhkha-sokamaya-pradah
"Foods that are too bitter, too sour, salty, hot,
pungent, dry and burning are dear to those in the mode of passion. Such foods
cause distress, misery and disease."
» Bhagavad Gita 17.10
yata-yamam gata-rasam
puti paryusitam ca yat
ucchistam api camedhyam
bhojanam tamasa-priyam
"Food prepared more than three hours before being
eaten, food that is tasteless, decomposed and putrid, and food consisting of
remnants and untouchable things is dear to those in the mode of darkness."
» Bhagavad Gita 17.11
aphalakanksibhir yajno
vidhi-disto ya ijyate
yastavyam eveti manah
samadhaya sa sattvikah
"Of sacrifices, the sacrifice performed according to
the directions of scripture, as a matter of duty, by those who desire no
reward, is of the nature of goodness."
» Bhagavad Gita 17.12
abhisandhaya tu phalam
dambhartham api caiva yat
ijyate bharata-srestha
tam yajnam viddhi
rajasam
"But the sacrifice performed for some material benefit,
or for the sake of pride, O chief of the Bharatas,
you should know to be in the mode of passion."
» Bhagavad Gita 17.13
vidhi-hinam asrstannam
mantra-hinam adaksinam
shraddha-virahitam yajnam
tamasam paricakshate
"Any sacrifice performed without regard for the
directions of scripture, without distribution of prasadam
[spiritual food], without chanting of Vedic hymns and remunerations to the
priests, and without faith is considered to be in the mode of ignorance."
» Bhagavad Gita 17.14
deva-dvija-guru-prajna-
pujanam shaucam arjavam
brahmacaryam ahimsa ca
sariram tapa ucyate
"Austerity of the body consists in worship of the
Supreme Lord, the brahmanas, the spiritual master,
and superiors like the father and mother, and in cleanliness, simplicity,
celibacy and nonviolence."
» Bhagavad Gita 17.15
anudvega-karam vakyam
satyam priya-hitam ca yat
svadhyayabhyasanam caiva
van-mayam tapa ucyate
"Austerity of speech consists in speaking words that
are truthful, pleasing, beneficial, and not agitating to others, and also in
regularly reciting Vedic literature."
» Bhagavad Gita 17.16
manah-prasadah saumyatvam
maunam atma-vinigrahah
bhava-samsuddhir ity etat
tapo manasam ucyate
"And satisfaction, simplicity, gravity, self-control
and purification of one’s existence are the austerities of the mind."
» Bhagavad Gita 17.17
shraddhaya paraya taptam
tapas tat tri-vidham naraih
aphalakanksibhir yuktaih
sattvikam paricakshate
"This threefold austerity, performed with
transcendental faith by men not expecting material benefits but engaged only
for the sake of the Supreme, is called austerity in goodness."
» Bhagavad Gita 17.18
satkara-mana-pujartham
tapo dambhena caiva yat
kriyate tad iha proktam
rajasam calam adhruvam
"Penance performed out of pride and for the sake of
gaining respect, honor and worship is said to be in the mode of passion. It is
neither stable nor permanent."
» Bhagavad Gita 17.19
mudha-grahenatmano yat
pidaya kriyate tapah
parasyotsadanartham va
tat tamasam udahrtam
"Penance performed out of foolishness, with
self-torture or to destroy or injure others, is said
to be in the mode of ignorance."
» Bhagavad Gita 17.20
datavyam iti yad danam
diyate ’nupakarine
dese kale ca patre ca
tad danam sattvikam
smrtam
"Charity given out of duty, without expectation of
return, at the proper time and place, and to a worthy person is considered to
be in the mode of goodness."
» Bhagavad Gita 17.21
yat tu pratyupakarartham
phalam uddisya va punah
diyate ca pariklistam
tad danam rajasam
smrtam
"But charity performed with the expectation of some
return, or with a desire for fruitive results, or in
a grudging mood, is said to be charity in the mode of passion."
» Bhagavad Gita 17.22
adesa-kale yad danam
apatrebhyas ca diyate
asat-kritam avajnatam
tat tamasam udahrtam
"And charity performed at an impure place, at an
improper time, to unworthy persons, or without proper
attention and respect is said to be in the mode of ignorance."
» Bhagavad Gita 17.23
om tat sad iti nirdeso
brahmanas tri-vidhah smrtah
brahmanas tena vedas ca
yajnas ca vihitah pura
"From the beginning of creation, the three words om tat sat were used to indicate
the Supreme Absolute Truth. These three symbolic representations were used by brahmanas while chanting the hymns of the Vedas and during
sacrifices for the satisfaction of the Supreme."
» Bhagavad Gita 17.24
tasmad om ity udahrtya
yajna-dana-tapah-kriyah
pravartante vidhanoktah
satatam brahma-vadinam
"Therefore, transcendentalists undertaking performances
of sacrifice, charity and penance in accordance with scriptural regulations
begin always with om, to attain the Supreme."
» Bhagavad Gita 17.25
tad ity anabhisandhaya
phalam yajna-tapah-kriyah
dana-kriyas ca vividhah
kriyante moksha-kanksibhih
"Without desiring fruitive
results, one should perform various kinds of sacrifice, penance and charity
with the word tat. The purpose of such transcendental activities is to get free
from material entanglement."
» Bhagavad Gita 17.26-27
sad-bhave sadhu-bhave ca
sad ity etat
prayujyate
prasaste karmani tatha
sac-chabdah partha yujyate
yajne tapasi dane ca
sthitih sad iti cocyate
karma caiva tad-arthiyam
sad ity evabhidhiyate
"The Absolute Truth is the objective of devotional
sacrifice, and it is indicated by the word sat. The performer of such sacrifice
is also called sat, as are all works of sacrifice, penance and charity which,
true to the absolute nature, are performed to please the Supreme Person, O son
of Prtha."
» Bhagavad Gita 17.28
ashraddhaya hutam dattam
tapas taptam kritam ca yat
asad ity ucyate partha
na ca tat pretya no iha
"Anything done as sacrifice, charity or penance without
faith in the Supreme, O son of Pritha, is
impermanent. It is called asat
and is useless both in this life and the next."