Chapter 17
Shloka 1
arjuna uvaca
ye sastra-vidhim utsrjya
yajante sraddhayanvitah
tesam nistha tu ka krsna
sattvam aho rajas tamah
Arjuna said, those who discarding scriptural (Vedic) injunction, worship (with) full faith, what is their standing (situation) O Krsna, satvam, rajas or tamas?
Shloka 2
sri-bhagavan uvaca
tri-vidha bhavati sraddha
dehinam sa svabhava-ja
sattviki rajasi caiva
tamasi ceti tam srnu
Shri Bhagavan (Krishna) said, three kinds of shraddha (are inherently exhibited by) the embodied, born of their innate nature; satavik, rajasic and tamasic; about these hear (now).
Shloka 3
sattvanurupa sarvasya
sraddha bhavati bharata
sraddha-mayo ‘yam puruso
yo yac-chraddhah sa eva sah
According to one’s essential nature everyone exhibits shraddha (faith), O (best of) Bharata; shraddha makes a person, whatever one’s shraddha, so is he.
Shloka 4
yajante sattvika devan
yaksa-raksamsi rajasah
pretan bhuta-ganams canye
yajante tamasa janah
Satvik worship the Divine, Yaksha and Rakshasa (worshiped by) the rajasic; preta (spirits of dead) bhutagana (ghost-hordes) and (such) others are worshiped by tamasic people.
Shloka 5
asastra-vihitam ghoram
tapyante ye tapo janah
dambhahankara-samyuktah
kama-raga-balanvitah
Not prescribed by scriptures (Vedic), terrible (intense) austerities undertaken by practitioners, yoked to hypocrisy and egoism and accompanied by desire (lust), anger and (physical) might.
Shloka 6
karsayantah sarira-stham
bhuta-gramam acetasah
mam caivantah sarira-stham
tan viddhy asura-niscayan
(The) mindless, torturing the body-residing elements, (and) me too (who) reside in the body, know them to be of asuric (demonic) resolve.
Shloka 7
aharas tv api sarvasya
tri-vidho bhavati priyah
yajnas tapas tatha danam
tesam bhedam imam srnu
But, food too (that is) dear to everyone is of three kinds, (so are) yagna (sacrifice), tapa (austerities) and dana (charity); their distinction now listen.
Shloka 8
ayuh-sattva-balarogya-
sukha-priti-vivardhanah
rasyah snigdhah sthira hrdya
aharah sattvika-priyah
Longevity, truth (virtue) strength and health, happiness, satisfaction promoting; savory, smooth, firm and pleasant (hearty) food are dear to satvik.
Shloka 9
katv-amla-lavanaty-usna-
tiksna-ruksa-vidahinah
ahara rajasasyesta
duhkha-sokamaya-pradah
Bitter, sour, salty, excessively hot, harsh, dry/astringent scorching food (those of) rajasic (nature) desire; (these food are) pain sorrow and sickness causing.
Shloka 10
yata-yamam gata-rasam
puti paryusitam ca yat
ucchistam api camedhyam
bhojanam tamasa-priyam
Stale, tasteless, putrid, leftover, rejected and unfit for yagna (such) food is desired (by those of) tamasic nature.
Shloka 11
aphalakanksibhir yajno
vidhi-disto ya ijyate
yastavyam eveti manah
samadhaya sa sattvikah
Sacrifice performed without expecting rewards, also following the scriptural rules, and “this is to be sacrificed” as the thought in mind, such yagna is satvika.
Shloka 12
abhisandhaya tu phalam
dambhartham api caiva yat
ijyate bharata-srestha
tam yajnam viddhi rajasam
Yagna performed with some goal/end in mind, and preformed with ostentation and pride, understand that is of rajasic nature, O Chief of the Bharatas.
Shloka 13
vidhi-hinam asrstannam
mantra-hinam adaksinam
sraddha-virahitam yajnam
tamasam paricaksate
Sacrifice not conforming to scriptural injunctions, without appropriate mantras and in where in no dakshina (remunerations) are given to the priests, and which is lacking in faith, such sacrifice is Tamasic.
Shloka 14
deva-dvija-guru-prajna-
pujanam saucam arjavam
brahmacaryam ahimsa ca
sariram tapa ucyate
Worship of the Divine, the twice-born (i.e., brahmanas), the spiritual preceptor, and elders; observing cleanliness, simplicity, celibacy and nonviolence – these comprise of bodily austerities.
Shloka 15
anudvega-karam vakyam
satyam priya-hitam ca yat
svadhyayabhyasanam caiva
van-mayam tapa ucyate
Avoiding offensive speech, and speaking truth, sweetly and beneficially; practicing scriptural texts (Vedic recitation) is considered austerity of speech.
Shloka 16
manah-prasadah saumyatvam
maunam atma-vinigrahah
bhava-samsuddhir ity
etat tapo manasam ucyate
Mind-at-peace, gentleness, self-control and purity of thought are the austerities of the mind.
Shloka 17
sraddhaya paraya taptam
tapas tat tri-vidham naraih
aphalakanksibhir yuktaih
sattvikam paricaksate
With devotion (shraddha) and without expectation of fruits (results) when human undergoes this threefold austerity, see that as of satvik nature.
Shloka 18
satkara-mana-pujartham
tapo dambhena caiva yat
kriyate tad iha proktam
rajasam calam adhruvam
When honor, respect and worship are desired goals, and actions are performed for ostentation and hypocrisy, such are said to be rajasic. They are unsteady and impermanent.
Shloka 19
mudha-grahenatmano yat
pidaya kriyate tapah
parasyotsadanartham va
tat tamasam udahrtam
With deluded notion of self, and penances performed as obstinate self-torture, or with an aim to destroy or injure others, are said to be tamasic.
Shloka 20
datavyam iti yad danam
diyate ‘nupakarine
dese kale ca patre ca
tad danam sattvikam smrtam
“This is to be given”, with that thought when one gives a gift to one who has done no favors (i.e., the gift is not a return of a previously done favor), and one which is aligned with proper time and place and is given to a worthy person that is considered to be satvik.
Shloka 21
yat tu pratyupakarartham
phalam uddisya va punah
diyate ca pariklistam
tad danam rajasam smrtam
One that is given in return or with expectation of some return, or given unwillingly or grudgingly, such gift is considered rajasic..
Shloka 22
adesa-kale yad danam
apatrebhyas ca diyate
asat-krtam avajnatam
tat tamasam udahrtam
Gift given at improper time and place and to one who is not worthy, and given without respect and in contempt is declared to be tamasic.
Shloka 23
om tat sad iti nirdeso
brahmanas tri-vidhah smrtah
brahmanas tena vedas ca
yajnas ca vihitah pura
“Aum tat sat” has been recognized as the three designators of Brahman since the beginning. Using this, the brahmanas have determined (the significance of) the Vedas and Yagnas.
Shloka 24
tasmad om ity udahrtya
yajna-dana-tapah-kriyah
pravartante vidhanoktah
satatam brahma-vadinam
Therefore, expressing “Aum” sacrifices, gifts, austeries are performed by the expounders (one walking in the path) of Brahman.
Shloka 25
tad ity anabhisandhaya
phalam yajna-tapah-kriyah
dana-kriyas ca vividhah
kriyante moksa-kanksibhih
“Tat”, (so it is – with this attitude) without expecting fruits; performing sacrifice and austerity and giving gifts etc. are undertaken by one desiring moksha.
Shloka 26
sad-bhave sadhu-bhave ca
sad ity etat prayujyate
prasaste karmani tatha
sac-chabdah partha yujyate
For expressing truth and goodness “Sat” is used. Similarly, for recognizing praiseworthy acts also ‘sat’ is used, Partha.
Shloka 27
yajne tapasi dane ca
sthitih sad iti cocyate
karma caiva tad-arthiyam
sad ity evabhidhiyate
Steadfastness in sacrifice, austerity and gifts is said to be “Sat”, also, actions undertaken for that purpose too is recognized as “Sat”.
Shloka 28
asraddhaya hutam dattam
tapas taptam krtam ca yat
asad ity ucyate partha
na ca tat pretya no iha
Without “shraddha” (i.e., faith and devotion), sacrifice, gifts and austerity is a-Sat (opposite of “Sat”) Partha. And it (is of no benefit) either after death, nor here (in this life).
Bhagavad Gita translated 