Gita 17.1
अर्जुन उवाच |
ये शास्त्रविधिमुत्सृज्य यजन्ते श्रद्धयान्विता: |
तेषां निष्ठा तु का कृष्ण सत्त्वमाहो रजस्तम: || 1||
arjuna uvācha
ye śhāstra-vidhim utsṛijya yajante śhraddhayānvitāḥ
teṣhāṁ niṣhṭhā tu kā kṛiṣhṇa sattvam āho rajas tamaḥ
In this verse, Arjun asks Shree Krishna about people who worship with faith but do not follow the guidelines of the Vedic scriptures. He seeks to know whether their faith is pure (sattvic), driven by desire (rajasic), or rooted in ignorance (tamasic). This verse sets the stage for a deeper exploration of how faith itself is shaped by the three modes of material nature and how it influences a person’s spiritual path.
Gita 17.2
श्रीभगवानुवाच |
त्रिविधा भवति श्रद्धा देहिनां सा स्वभावजा |
सात्त्विकी राजसी चैव तामसी चेति तां शृणु || 2||
śhrī-bhagavān uvācha
tri-vidhā bhavati śhraddhā dehināṁ sā svabhāva-jā
sāttvikī rājasī chaiva tāmasī cheti tāṁ śhṛiṇu
In this verse, Shree Krishna explains that faith is not uniform; it varies according to the inherent nature of each individual. He states that the faith of every person is shaped by the three fundamental modes of material nature—sattva, rajas, and tamas. As a result, people develop different kinds of beliefs, values, and approaches to worship, based on the dominance of these qualities within them.
Those influenced by sattva tend to have pure, uplifting, and spiritually oriented faith. Their beliefs guide them toward truth, self-discipline, and higher consciousness. In contrast, rajasic individuals are driven by desires, ambitions, and material success, leading them to develop faith centred around personal gain and external achievements. Meanwhile, tamasic faith is clouded by ignorance, often resulting in misguided beliefs, irrational practices, or harmful tendencies.
Through this teaching, Shree Krishna highlights that faith is a reflection of one’s inner composition. By understanding this, individuals can consciously work to elevate their nature, refine their faith, and align it with higher spiritual principles.
Gita 17.3
सत्त्वानुरूपा सर्वस्य श्रद्धा भवति भारत |
श्रद्धामयोऽयं पुरुषो यो यच्छ्रद्ध: स एव स: || 3||
sattvānurūpā sarvasya śhraddhā bhavati bhārata
śhraddhā-mayo ‘yaṁ puruṣho yo yach-chhraddhaḥ sa eva saḥ
In this verse, Shree Krishna explains that a person is defined by their faith. Faith arises from an individual’s inner nature and reflects the dominance of the three gunas: sattva, rajas, and tamas.
This means that people naturally gravitate toward beliefs, practices, and goals that align with their inner qualities. A sattvic person develops pure and elevating faith, a rajasic person cultivates desire-driven and result-oriented faith, and a tamasic person tends toward ignorant or misguided faith.
The verse highlights that faith is not merely a belief but a powerful force that shapes one’s identity, actions, and life direction. Therefore, by refining and elevating one’s inner nature, one can also uplift their faith and progress on the spiritual path.
Gita 17.4
यजन्ते सात्त्विका देवान्यक्षरक्षांसि राजसा: |
प्रेतान्भूतगणांश्चान्ये यजन्ते तामसा जना: || 4||
yajante sāttvikā devān yakṣha-rakṣhānsi rājasāḥ
pretān bhūta-gaṇānśh chānye yajante tāmasā janāḥ
In this verse, Shree Krishna explains that a person’s mode of nature determines the kind of worship they are drawn to. Those in the mode of sattva worship celestial deities with purity and devotion. Individuals influenced by rajas are attracted to powerful beings like yakṣhas and rākṣhasas, seeking material benefits, power, or recognition. Meanwhile, those in tamas are drawn toward ghosts and spirits, engaging in misguided or harmful forms of worship.
The verse highlights that one’s inner qualities shape their spiritual inclinations. Therefore, by elevating one’s nature toward sattva, one can develop purer faith and move closer to true spiritual understanding. However, worship is perfectly directed when it is offered to God.
Gita 17.5 -17.6
अशास्त्रविहितं घोरं तप्यन्ते ये तपो जना: |
दम्भाहङ्कारसंयुक्ता: कामरागबलान्विता: || 5||
कर्षयन्त: शरीरस्थं भूतग्राममचेतस: |
मां चैवान्त:शरीरस्थं तान्विद्ध्यासुरनिश्चयान् || 6||
aśhāstra-vihitaṁ ghoraṁ tapyante ye tapo janāḥ
dambhāhankāra-sanyuktāḥ kāma-rāga-balānvitāḥ
karṣhayantaḥ śharīra-sthaṁ bhūta-grāmam achetasaḥ
māṁ chaivāntaḥ śharīra-sthaṁ tān viddhy āsura-niśhchayān
In these verses, Shree Krishna explains that some people, in the name of spirituality, perform extreme and misguided austerities, such as self-torture, excessive fasting, and harmful rituals. Although they may possess strong faith, it is rooted in ignorance (tamas) and lacks true understanding. By inflicting pain on their own bodies, they also disrespect the divine presence within.
Shree Krishna emphasises that true spiritual practice should be guided by scriptural wisdom and balance, not by ego or blind belief. These verses highlight the importance of following a path rooted in knowledge and purity rather than misguided extremes.
Gita 17.7
आहारस्त्वपि सर्वस्य त्रिविधो भवति प्रिय: |
यज्ञस्तपस्तथा दानं तेषां भेदमिमं शृणु || 7||
āhāras tv api sarvasya tri-vidho bhavati priyaḥ
yajñas tapas tathā dānaṁ teṣhāṁ bhedam imaṁ śhṛiṇu
In this verse, Shree Krishna explains that food plays a vital role in shaping both the body and the mind. The kind of food a person consumes influences their nature, just as their inner qualities influence their food preferences. Pure and wholesome food promotes clarity and purity of mind, while impure food can disturb one’s mental and physical balance.
Thus, Krishna highlights the deep connection between diet and consciousness, showing that cultivating purity in food is an important step toward spiritual growth.
Summary: JKYog India Online Class- Bhagavad Gita [English]- 14.2.2026
Summary: JKYog India Online Class- Bhagavad Gita [English]- 14.2.2026
