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Bhagavadgītā (Bhagavad Gita): Chapter XVII (Śraddhātrayavibhāgayoga)
The Yoga of the Division of the Three Faiths
Introduction
Arjuna is now taught by Lord Kṛṣṇa about the triad of faiths...
Important: All that is in brackets and italicized within the translation has been added by me in order to complete the sense of a particular phrase or sentence. In turn, all that is between double hyphen (--...--) constitutes clarifying further information also added by me. In addition, note that I will use quotation marks to delimit text only when the person speaking is not Sañjaya himself (the narrator). Therefore, the words spoken by Sañjaya will not be delimited by quotation marks.
Chapter 17: Śraddhātrayavibhāgayoga (The Yoga of the Division of the Three Faiths)
अर्जुन उवाच
ये शास्त्रविधिमुत्सृज्य यजन्ते श्रद्धयान्विताः।
तेषां निष्ठा तु का कृष्ण सत्त्वमाहो रजस्तमः॥१॥
Arjuna uvāca
Ye śāstravidhimutsṛjya yajante śraddhayānvitāḥ|
Teṣāṁ niṣṭhā tu kā kṛṣṇa sattvamāho rajastamaḥ||1||
Arjuna (arjunaḥ) said (uvāca):
"(In the case of) those who (ye), having abandoned (utsṛjya) the precepts of the scriptures (śāstra-vidhim), worship/perform sacrifices (yajante) endowed (anvitāḥ) with faith (śraddhayā), what (kā... āho) (is), O Kṛṣṇa (kṛṣṇa)!, their (teṣām) position (niṣṭhā tu)?: Sattvic (sattvam), rajasic (rajas) (or) tamasic (tamas)?"||1||
श्रीभगवानुवाच
त्रिविधा भवति श्रद्धा देहिनां सा स्वभावजा।
सात्त्विकी राजसी चैव तामसी चेति तां शृणु॥२॥
Śrībhagavānuvāca
Trividhā bhavati śraddhā dehināṁ sā svabhāvajā|
Sāttvikī rājasī caiva tāmasī ceti tāṁ śṛṇu||2||
The venerable Lord (śrī-bhagavān) said (uvāca):
"The innate (svabhāva-jā) faith (śraddhā... sā) of the embodied ones (dehinām) is (bhavati) of three kinds (trividhā): «Sattvic (sāttvikī), rajasic (rājasī), and (ca eva... ca) tamasic (tāmasī... iti)». Listen to Me --lit. Listen-- (śṛṇu) (speak about) it --about the threefold faith-- (tām)"||2||
सत्त्वानुरूपा 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||3||
"O descendant of Bharata (bhārata), the faith (śraddhā) of all (sarvasya) goes according to nature --that is, «according to the nature of such persons»-- (sattva-anurūpā... bhavati). This (ayam) person (puruṣaḥ) consists of (his) faith (śraddhā-mayaḥ). Whatever (yaḥ yad) (his) faith (śraddhaḥ) (is,) that (saḥ) indeed (eva) (is) him --such a person-- (saḥ)"||3||
यजन्ते सात्त्विका देवान्यक्षरक्षांसि राजसाः।
प्रेतान्भूतगणांश्चान्ये यजन्ते तामसा जनाः॥४॥
Yajante sāttvikā devānyakṣarakṣāṁsi rājasāḥ|
Pretānbhūtagaṇāṁścānye yajante tāmasā janāḥ||4||
"The sattvic (sāttvikāḥ) worship (yajante) the gods (devān), the rajasic (rājasāḥ) yakṣa-s and rakṣas-s --those two terms can be translated as «demigods and demons», although the subject is more complicated than that-- (yakṣa-rakṣāṁsi), (while) the other (anye) tamasic (tāmasāḥ) people (janāḥ) (worship) the departed (pretān) and (ca) the hosts of ghosts (bhūta-gaṇān)"||4||
अशास्त्रविहितं घोरं तप्यन्ते ये तपो जनाः।
दम्भाहङ्कारसंयुक्ताः कामरागबलान्विताः॥५॥
कर्षयन्तः शरीरस्थं भूतग्राममचेतसः।
मां चैवान्तःशरीरस्थं तान्विद्ध्यासुरनिश्चयान्॥६॥
Aśāstravihitaṁ ghoraṁ tapyante ye tapo janāḥ|
Dambhāhaṅkārasaṁyuktāḥ kāmarāgabalānvitāḥ||5||
Karṣayantaḥ śarīrasthaṁ bhūtagrāmamacetasaḥ|
Māṁ caivāntaḥśarīrasthaṁ tānviddhyāsuraniścayān||6||
"The people (janāḥ) endowed with hypocrisy and ego (dambha-ahaṅkāra-saṁyuktāḥ), (and) accompanied by the force of lust and passion (shown), who (ye) practice (tapyante) a terrible (ghoram) austerity (tapas) that is not stipulated in the scriptures (a-śāstra-vihitam), (being) imprudent (acetasaḥ), (merely) torture (karṣayantaḥ) the group of elements (bhūta-grāmam) dwelling in the body (śarīra-stham) —and (ca eva) Me (mām), who (also) reside within the body (antar-śarīra-stham). Know (viddhi) that they (tān) are of demoniacal conviction/resolution (āsura-niścayān)"||5-6||
आहारस्त्वपि सर्वस्य त्रिविधो भवति प्रियः।
यज्ञस्तपस्तथा दानं तेषां भेदमिमं शृणु॥७॥
Āhārastvapi sarvasya trividho bhavati priyaḥ|
Yajñastapastathā dānaṁ teṣāṁ bhedamimaṁ śṛṇu||7||
"Even (api) the food (āhāraḥ tu) that is dear (priyaḥ) to all (sarvasya) is (bhavati) of three types (trividhaḥ). Thus it occurs also (tathā) with sacrifice (yajñaḥ), austerity (tapas) and charity (dānam). Listen (śṛṇu) about this division/distinction (bhedam imam) of theirs --that is, «of them»-- (teṣām)"||7||
आयुःसत्त्वबलारोग्यसुखप्रीतिविवर्धनाः।
रस्याः स्निग्धाः स्थिरा हृद्या आहाराः सात्त्विकप्रियाः॥८॥
Āyuḥsattvabalārogyasukhaprītivivardhanāḥ|
Rasyāḥ snigdhāḥ sthirā hṛdyā āhārāḥ sāttvikapriyāḥ||8||
"Foods (āhārāḥ) that promote life, (the modality of) sattva, strength, health, pleasure and happiness (āyus-sattva-bala-ārogya-sukha-prīti-vivardhanāḥ), which are juicy/savory (rasyāḥ), smooth/unctuous (snigdhāḥ), firm/solid (sthirāḥ), (and) agreeable (hṛdyāḥ), are dear to the sattvic one --to a person with predominance of sattva-- (sāttvika-priyāḥ)"||8||
कट्वम्ललवणात्युष्णतीक्ष्णरूक्षविदाहिनः।
आहारा राजसस्येष्टा दुःखशोकामयप्रदाः॥९॥
Kaṭvamlalavaṇātyuṣṇatīkṣṇarūkṣavidāhinaḥ|
Āhārā rājasasyeṣṭā duḥkhaśokāmayapradāḥ||9||
"Foods (āhārāḥ) that are bitter, sour, salty, very hot/spicy, pungent, harsh/dry, (and) burning (kaṭu-amla-lavaṇa-atyuṣṇa-tīkṣṇa-rūkṣa-vidāhinaḥ), which cause pain, grief and disease (duḥkha-śoka-āmaya-pradāḥ), are desirable (iṣṭāḥ) for the rajasic one --for the person with predominance of rajas-- (rājasasya)"||9||
यातयामं गतरसं पूति पर्युषितं च यत्।
उच्छिष्टमपि चामेध्यं भोजनं तामसप्रियम्॥१०॥
Yātayāmaṁ gatarasaṁ pūti paryuṣitaṁ ca yat|
Ucchiṣṭamapi cāmedhyaṁ bhojanaṁ tāmasapriyam||10||
"Food (bhojanam) that is spoiled (yātayāmam), devoid of flavor (gatarasam), putrid (pūti), and (ca) which (yad) is stale (paryuṣitam), (and) even (api) which is leftovers (ucchiṣṭam) and (ca) which is impure --also, «which is not fit for sacrifice»-- (amedhyam), is dear to the tamasic one --to the person with predominance of tamas-- (tāmasa-priyam)"||10||
अफलाकाङ्क्षिभिर्यज्ञो विधिदृष्टो य इज्यते।
यष्टव्यमेवेति मनः समाधाय स सात्त्विकः॥११॥
Aphalākāṅkṣibhiryajño vidhidṛṣṭo ya ijyate|
Yaṣṭavyameveti manaḥ samādhāya sa sāttvikaḥ||11||
"Sacrifice (yajñaḥ... saḥ) prescribed by the rules (vidhi-dṛṣṭaḥ), which (yaḥ) is offered (ijyate) by those who do not desire fruits (a-phala-ākāṅkṣibhiḥ), having resolved mentally (manas samādhāya) that «the sacrifice must be performed» (yaṣṭavyam eva iti), (is) sattvic (sāttvikaḥ)"||11||
अभिसन्धाय तु फलं दम्भार्थमपि चैव यत्।
इज्यते भरतश्रेष्ठ तं यज्ञं विद्धि राजसम्॥१२॥
Abhisandhāya tu phalaṁ dambhārthamapi caiva yat|
Ijyate bharataśreṣṭha taṁ yajñaṁ viddhi rājasam||12||
"But (tu), O best of the Bharatas (bharata-śreṣṭha)!, know (viddhi) that sacrifice (tam yajñam) as rajasic (rājasam) which --expecting «yaḥ»-- (yad) is offered (ijyate) thinking of/having as goal (abhisandhāya) the fruit (phalam) and also (api ca eva) for the purpose of ostentation (dambha-artham)"||12||
विधिहीनमसृष्टान्नं मन्त्रहीनमदक्षिणम्।
श्रद्धाविरहितं यज्ञं तामसं परिचक्षते॥१३॥
Vidhihīnamasṛṣṭānnaṁ mantrahīnamadakṣiṇam|
Śraddhāvirahitaṁ yajñaṁ tāmasaṁ paricakṣate||13||
"They --the wise-- call (paricakṣate) tamasic (tāmasam) the sacrifice (yajñam) which lacks rules (vidhi-hīnam), in which no food is distributed (asṛṣṭa-annam), which has no Mantra-s (mantra-hīnam) nor dakṣiṇā-s --fees for the priests who perform the ritual-- (adakṣiṇam), (and) which is devoid of faith (śraddhā-virahitam)"||13||
देवद्विजगुरुप्राज्ञपूजनं शौचमार्जवम्।
ब्रह्मचर्यमहिंसा च शारीरं तप उच्यते॥१४॥
Devadvijaguruprājñapūjanaṁ śaucamārjavam|
Brahmacaryamahiṁsā ca śārīraṁ tapa ucyate||14||
"It is said that (ucyate) bodily austerity (śārīram tapas) (is) the worship of the gods, of the twice-born, of the Guru and of the wise (deva-dvija-guru-prājña-pūjanam), cleanliness (śaucam), rectitude (ārjavam), continence (brahmacaryam), and (ca) harmlessness (ahiṁsā)"||14||
अनुद्वेगकरं वाक्यं सत्यं प्रियहितं च यत्।
स्वाध्यायाभ्यसनं चैव वाङ्मयं तप उच्यते॥१५॥
Anudvegakaraṁ vākyaṁ satyaṁ priyahitaṁ ca yat|
Svādhyāyābhyasanaṁ caiva vāṅmayaṁ tapa ucyate||15||
"It is said that (ucyate) austerity (tapas) relating to speech (vāk-mayam) (is) speech (vākyam) which does not cause agitation/anxiety (an-udvega-karam), which is truthful (satyam), and (ca) which (yad) is agreeable and salutary (priya-hitam), as well as (ca eva) the practice of svādhyāya --recitation of scriptures-- (svādhyāya-abhyasanam)"||15||
मनःप्रसादः सौम्यत्वं मौनमात्मविनिग्रहः।
भावसंशुद्धिरित्येतत्तपो मानसमुच्यते॥१६॥
Manaḥprasādaḥ saumyatvaṁ maunamātmavinigrahaḥ|
Bhāvasaṁśuddhirityetattapo mānasamucyate||16||
"It is said that (ucyate) this (etad) (is) mental austerity (tapas mānasam): «Mental serenity (manaḥ-prasādaḥ), gentleness (saumyatvam), silence (maunam), self-control (ātma-vinigrahaḥ), (and) mental purity (bhāva-saṁśuddhiḥ iti)»"||16||
श्रद्धया परया तप्तं तपस्तत्त्रिविधं नरैः।
अफलाकाङ्क्षिभिर्युक्तैः सात्त्विकं परिचक्षते॥१७॥
Śraddhayā parayā taptaṁ tapastattrividhaṁ naraiḥ|
Aphalākāṅkṣibhiryuktaiḥ sāttvikaṁ paricakṣate||17||
"They --the wise-- call (paricakṣate) sattvic (sāttvikam) that threefold (tad trividham) austerity (tapas) practiced (taptam) with supreme faith (śraddhayā parayā) by apt men (naraiḥ... yuktaiḥ) who do not desire fruits (a-phala-ākāṅkṣibhiḥ)"||17||
सत्कारमानपूजार्थं तपो दम्भेन चैव यत्।
क्रियते तदिह प्रोक्तं राजसं चलमध्रुवम्॥१८॥
Satkāramānapūjārthaṁ tapo dambhena caiva yat|
Kriyate tadiha proktaṁ rājasaṁ calamadhruvam||18||
"That (tad) austerity (tapas) for gaining reverence, respect and worship (satkāra-māna-pūjā-artham), which (yad) also (ca eva) is performed (kriyate) with ostentation (dambhena), is said to be here (iha proktam) rajasic (rājasam), unstable (calam) (and) impermanent (adhruvam)"||18||
मूढग्राहेणात्मनो यत्पीडया क्रियते तपः।
परस्योत्सादनार्थं वा तत्तामसमुदाहृतम्॥१९॥
Mūḍhagrāheṇātmano yatpīḍayā kriyate tapaḥ|
Parasyotsādanārthaṁ vā tattāmasamudāhṛtam||19||
"That (tad) austerity (tapas) which (yad) is performed (kriyate) with misconception/infatuation/blindness --more translations are possible-- (mūḍha-grāheṇa), with suffering (pīḍayā) for oneself (ātmanaḥ), or (vā) for destroying another (parasya utsādana-artham), is said to be (udāhṛtam) tamasic (tāmasam)"||19||
दातव्यमिति यद्दानं दीयतेऽनुपकारिणे।
देशे काले च पात्रे च तद्दानं सात्त्विकं स्मृतम्॥२०॥
Dātavyamiti yaddānaṁ dīyate'nupakāriṇe|
Deśe kāle ca pātre ca taddānaṁ sāttvikaṁ smṛtam||20||
"It is said to be (smṛtam) sattvic (sāttvikam) that (tad) charity (dānam) which (yad) (consists of) a gift (dānam) that is given (dīyate) —(with the attitude) "One must give" (dātavyam iti)— to one who cannot return the favor (anupakāriṇe). (This gift is granted) in (the appropriate) place (deśe) and (ca) time (kāle), and (ca) to a worthy/competent person (pātre)"||20||
यत्तु प्रत्युपकारार्थं फलमुद्दिश्य वा पुनः।
दीयते च परिक्लिष्टं तद्दानं राजसं स्मृतम्॥२१॥
Yattu pratyupakārārthaṁ phalamuddiśya vā punaḥ|
Dīyate ca parikliṣṭaṁ taddānaṁ rājasaṁ smṛtam||21||
"But (tu) it is said to be (smṛtam) rajasic (rājasam) that (tad) charity/gift (dānam) which (yad) is given (dīyate) expecting a return (pratyupakāra-artham), or (vā) again (punar), with reference (uddiśya) to a fruit (phalam), and (ca) grudgingly (parikliṣṭam)"||21||
अदेशकाले यद्दानमपात्रेभ्यश्च दीयते।
असत्कृतमवज्ञातं तत्तामसमुदाहृतम्॥२२॥
Adeśakāle yaddānamapātrebhyaśca dīyate|
Asatkṛtamavajñātaṁ tattāmasamudāhṛtam||22||
"It is said (udāhṛtam) that (tad) charity/gift (dānam) which (yad) is given (dīyate) in improper place and time (a-deśa-kāle) and (ca) to unworthy or incompetent persons (a-pātrebhyaḥ), with ill treatment --that is, the whole ceremony is not proper-- (asatkṛtam) (and) contempt (avajñātam) is tamasic (tāmasam)"||22||
ॐतत्सदिति निर्देशो ब्रह्मणस्त्रिविधः स्मृतः।
ब्राह्मणास्तेन वेदाश्च यज्ञाश्च विहिताः पुरा॥२३॥
Om̐ tatsaditi nirdeśo brahmaṇastrividhaḥ smṛtaḥ|
Brāhmaṇāstena vedāśca yajñāśca vihitāḥ purā||23||
"The threefold (trividhaḥ) specification/description (nirdeśaḥ) of Brahma (brahmaṇaḥ) is said to be (smṛtaḥ) «Om̐ tatsat» (om̐ tad sat iti). Of old (purā), the Brāhmaṇa-s --priests-- (brāhmaṇāḥ), the Veda-s (vedāḥ), and (ca... ca) the sacrifices (yajñāḥ) were ordained/instituted (vihitāḥ) by that --by Om̐ tatsat-- (tena)"||23||
तस्मादोमित्युदाहृत्य यज्ञदानतपःक्रियाः।
प्रवर्तन्ते विधानोक्ताः सततं ब्रह्मवादिनाम्॥२४॥
Tasmādomityudāhṛtya yajñadānatapaḥkriyāḥ|
Pravartante vidhānoktāḥ satataṁ brahmavādinām||24||
"Therefore (tasmāt), the acts of sacrifice, charity and austerity (yajña-dāna-tapas-kriyāḥ) —proclaimed by the rules or precepts (vidhāna-uktāḥ)— of the followers of the doctrine of Brahma (brahma-vādinām), always (satatam) begin (pravartante) after uttering (udāhṛtya) «Om» (om iti)"||24||
तदित्यनभिसन्धाय फलं यज्ञतपःक्रियाः।
दानक्रियाश्च विविधाः क्रियन्ते मोक्षकाङ्क्षिभिः॥२५॥
Tadityanabhisandhāya phalaṁ yajñatapaḥkriyāḥ|
Dānakriyāśca vividhāḥ kriyante mokṣakāṅkṣibhiḥ||25||
"(After uttering) «Tat» (tad iti), (and) without thinking of/having as goal (anabhisandhāya) the fruit (phalam), the acts of sacrifice and austerity (yajña-tapas-kriyāḥ), as well as (ca) the various acts of charity (dāna-kriyāḥ... vividhāḥ), are performed (kriyante) by those who desire Liberation (mokṣa-kāṅkṣibhiḥ)"||25||
सद्भावे साधुभावे च सदित्येतत्प्रयुज्यते।
प्रशस्ते कर्मणि तथा सच्छब्दः पार्थ युज्यते॥२६॥
Sadbhāve sādhubhāve ca sadityetatprayujyate|
Praśaste karmaṇi tathā sacchabdaḥ pārtha yujyate||26||
"This (etad) «Sat» (sat iti) is used (prayujyate) in relation to reality/existence (sat-bhāve) and (ca) goodness (sādhu-bhāve). Likewise (tathā), O son of Pṛthā (pārtha)!, the word Sat (sat-śabdaḥ) is used (yujyate) with reference to an auspicious/praiseworthy action/ritual (praśaste karmaṇi)"||26||
यज्ञे तपसि दाने च स्थितिः सदिति चोच्यते।
कर्म चैव तदर्थीयं सदित्येवाभिधीयते॥२७॥
Yajñe tapasi dāne ca sthitiḥ saditi cocyate|
Karma caiva tadarthīyaṁ sadityevābhidhīyate||27||
"Steadfastness/perseverance (sthitiḥ) with respect to sacrifice (yajñe), austerity (tapasi) and (ca) charity (dāne) is also said to be (ca ucyate) «Sat» (sat iti). Action (karma) for that purpose (tad-arthīyam) also (ca eva) is called (abhidhīyate) «Sat» (sat iti eva)"||27||
अश्रद्धया 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||28||
"Whatever (yad) has been offered (hutam), (whatever) has been given (dattam), (whatever) austerity (tapas) has been practiced (taptam), and (ca) (whatever ritual) has been performed (kṛtam), (all that) without faith (aśraddhayā), is called (ucyate) «Asat» (asat iti). O son of Pṛthā (pārtha)!, that (tad) is of no account (na ca) after death (pretya) or (no) here (iha)"||28||
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