The Yoga of the Three Divisions of Faith · 28shlokas · Sanskrit with Hindi & English meaning
Chapter 17 Overview — Shraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga
Chapter 17 of the Bhagavad Gita applies the Guna framework from Chapter 14 to the specific domains of human practice — faith, food, sacrifice, austerity, and charity. Arjuna opens the chapter with a question that sounds simple but opens a profound investigation: what happens to those who worship with sincere faith but do not follow the prescribed scriptural rules? Are they in Sattva, Rajas, or Tamas? Krishna's answer reveals the Gita's ultimate pragmatism: everything depends on the quality of consciousness with which any action is performed.
The classification of food by Guna is particularly practical and relevant. Sattvic foods — which promote longevity, vitality, strength, health, happiness, and satisfaction — are fresh, nourishing, mild, and pleasant. Rajasic foods are bitter, sour, salty, excessively hot, pungent, dry, and burning, producing pain, grief, and disease. Tamasic foods — stale, tasteless, putrid, leftover, and impure — are loved by those who are in the grip of Tamas. This is not arbitrary dietary moralising — it is an observation about the relationship between what we eat and the quality of our consciousness.
The chapter concludes with a teaching on the sacred syllables Om Tat Sat — three ancient designations of Brahman. Om is the primordial sound, the vibration underlying all existence. Tat means "That" — an indication of the transcendent absolute that cannot be fully named. Sat means "Being" or "Reality" — existence, truth, and goodness in one. When any act of sacrifice, austerity, or charity is performed with the utterance of Om Tat Sat, it is offered to the Divine and is therefore free from ego's taint.
Key Teachings of Chapter 17
Shraddha — Faith as the Foundation of Character
The chapter's opening premise is: "The faith of each person is in accordance with their nature." Sattvic persons worship the gods; Rajasic persons worship the yaksha and rakshasa (powerful, worldly forces); Tamasic persons worship the dead and ghosts. The object of worship reveals the quality of consciousness. But more importantly, Shraddha (faith) is here understood as the deepest orientation of the self — what one fundamentally believes in, values, and bends toward. A person is what their faith is.
Sattvic, Rajasic, and Tamasic Austerity
Krishna distinguishes three types of austerity. Sattvic austerity: worship of gods, Brahmins, teachers, and the wise; purity; honesty; non-violence; performed without expectation of reward. Rajasic austerity: performed ostentatiously for honour and respect, unstable and impermanent. Tamasic austerity: performed out of delusion, with self-torture or with the aim of destroying others. The same external act (fasting, prayer, silence) can be Sattvic, Rajasic, or Tamasic depending entirely on the inner orientation.
Om Tat Sat — The Three Names of Brahman
The three words Om, Tat, Sat have been used since the beginning of Vedic tradition to refer to the Absolute. Utterances accompanied by Om are offerings to the Divine. "Tat" (That) accompanies actions of sacrifice and austerity performed without desire for fruit. "Sat" accompanies acts of existence, goodness, and steadfastness. Together, these three syllables constitute a complete theology in miniature: the primordial sound, the transcendent beyond naming, and the reality of being itself.
Practical Wisdom — Applying Chapter 17 Today
Chapter 17's classification of food is one of its most immediately actionable teachings. Notice how your energy, mood, and mental clarity vary based on what you eat. Fresh, naturally prepared, simply seasoned food (Sattvic) generally supports clarity and equanimity. Heavily processed, excessively stimulating, or very rich food (Rajasic/Tamasic) tends to disturb sleep, agitate the mind, or dull it. This is not a call to dietary perfection — it is an invitation to notice the relationship between nourishment and consciousness.
All 28 Shlokas — Chapter 17
Chapter 17 · Verse 1
अर्जुन उवाच
ये शास्त्रविधिमुत्सृज्य यजन्ते श्रद्धयान्विताः ।
तेषां निष्ठा तु का कृष्ण सत्त्वमाहो रजस्तमः ।। १ ।।
Arjuna said: Those who endowed with faith, worship gods and others casting aside the injunctions of the scriptures, where do they stand, Krsna, - in Sattva, Rajas or Tamas? (1)
अर्जुन बोले- हे कृष्ण ! जो मनुष्य शास्त्रविधि को त्यागकर श्रद्धा से युक्त हुए देवादिका पूजन करते हैं, उनकी स्थिति फिर कौन-सी है ? सात्त्विकी है अथवा राजसी किंवा तामसी ? ।। १ ।।
Sri Bhagavan said : that untutored innate faith of men is of three kinds—Sattvika and Rajasika and Tamasika. Hear of it from Me. (2)
श्रीभगवान् बोले — मनुष्यों की वह शास्त्रीय संस्कारों से रहित केवल स्वभाव से उत्पन्न श्रद्धा सात्त्विकी और राजसी तथा तामसी — ऐसे तीनों प्रकार की ही होती है। उसको तू मुझसे सुन।।२।।
Chapter 17 · Verse 3
सत्त्वानुरूपा सर्वस्य श्रद्धा भवति भारत।
श्रद्धामयोऽयं पुरुषो यो यच्छ्रद्धः स एव सः।।३।।
The faith of all men conforms to their mental constitution, Arjuna. This man consists of faith; whatever the nature of his faith, he is verily that. (3)
हे भारत ! सभी मनुष्यों की श्रद्धा उनके अन्तःकरण के अनुरूप होती है। यह पुरुष श्रद्धामय है, इसलिये जो पुरुष जैसी श्रद्धावाला है वह स्वयं भी वही है।।३।।
Men of a Sattvika disposition worship gods; those of Rajasika temperament worship demigods and demons; while others, who are men of a Tamasika disposition, worship the spirits of the dead and groups of ghosts. (4)
सात्त्विक पुरुष देवों को पूजते हैं, राजस पुरुष यक्ष और राक्षसों को तथा अन्य जो तामस मनुष्य हैं, वे प्रेत और भूतगणों को पूजते हैं ।।४।।
Chapter 17 · Verse 5
अशास्त्रविहितं घोरं तप्यन्ते ये तपो जनाः।
दम्भाहंकारसंयुक्ताः कामरागबलान्विताः।।५।।
Those people who perform severe austerities not ordained by the scriptures, possessed by hypocrisy and egoism, and impelled by the force of desire and attachment.
जो मनुष्य शास्त्रविधि से रहित केवल मनःकल्पित घोर तप को तपते हैं तथा दम्भ और अहंकार से युक्त एवं कामना, आसक्ति और बल के अभिमान से भी युक्त हैं; ।।५।।
Chapter 17 · Verse 6
कर्शयन्तः शरीरस्थं भूतग्राममचेतसः।
मां चैवान्तःशरीरस्थं तान्विद्ध्यासुरनिश्चयान् ।। ६ ।।
And who emaciate the elements constituting their body as well as Me, the supreme Spirit, dwelling in their heart,-know these senseless people to have a demoniac disposition. (6)
जो शरीर रूप से स्थित भूत समुदाय को और अन्तःकरण में स्थित मुझ परमात्मा को भी कृश करने वाले हैं, उन अज्ञानियों को तू आसुर-स्वभाव वाले जान ।। ६ ।।
Foods which promote longevity, intelligence, vigour, health, happiness and cheerfulness, and which are sweet, bland, substantial and naturally agreeable, are dear to the Sattvika type of men. (8)
आयु, बुद्धि, बल, आरोग्य, सुख और प्रीति को बढ़ाने वाले, रस युक्त, चिकने और स्थिर रहने वाले तथा स्वभाव से ही मन को प्रिय — ऐसे आहार अर्थात् भोजन करने के पदार्थ सात्त्विक पुरुष को प्रिय होते हैं ।। ८ ।।
Chapter 17 · Verse 9
कट्वम्ललवणात्युष्णतीक्ष्णरूक्षविदाहिनः ।
आहारा राजसस्येष्टा दुःखशोकामयप्रदाः ।। ९ ।।
Foods which are bitter, acid, salty, overhot, pungent, dry and burning, and which cause suffering, grief and sickness, are dear to the Rajasika type of men. (9)
कड़वे, खट्टे, लवण युक्त, बहुत गरम, तीखे, रूखे, दाहकारक और दुःख, चिन्ता तथा रोगों को उत्पन्न करने वाले आहार अर्थात् भोजन करने के पदार्थ राजस पुरुष को प्रिय होते हैं ।। ९ ।।
Chapter 17 · Verse 10
यातयामं गतरसं पूति पर्युषितं च यत् ।
उच्छिष्टमपि चामेध्यं भोजनं तामसप्रियम् ।। १० ।।
Food which is half-cooked or half-ripe, insipid, putrid, stale and polluted, and which is impure too, is dear to men a Tamasika disposition. (10)
जो भोजन अधपका, रसरहित, दुर्गन्ध युक्त, बासी और उच्छिष्ट है तथा जो अपवित्र भी है वह भोजन तामस पुरुष को प्रिय होता है ।। १० ।।
The sacrifice which is offered, as ordained by scriptural injunctions, by men who expect no return and who believe that such sacrifices must be performed, is Sattvika in character. (11)
जो शास्त्रविधि से नियत, यज्ञ करना ही कर्तव्य है-इस प्रकार मन को समाधान करके, फल न चाहने वाले पुरुषों द्वारा किया जाता है, वह सात्त्विक है ।।११।।
A sacrifice which has no respect for scriptural injunctions, in which no food is offered, and no sacrificial fees are paid, which is without sacred chant and devoid of faith, is said to be Tamasika. (13)
शास्त्रविधि से हीन, अन्नदान से रहित, बिना मन्त्रों के, बिना दक्षिणा के और बिना श्रद्धा के किये जाने वाले यज्ञ को तामस यज्ञ कहते हैं ।।१३।।
Chapter 17 · Verse 14
देवद्विजगुरुप्राज्ञपूजनं शौचमार्जवम्।
ब्रह्मचर्यमहिंसा च शारीरं तप उच्यते।।१४।।
Worship of gods, the Brahmanas, one's elders and wise men, purity, straightness, continence and harmlessness—this is called bodily penance. (14)
देवता, ब्राह्मण, गुरु और ज्ञानीजनों का पूजन, पवित्रता, सरलता, ब्रह्मचर्य और अहिंसा—यह शरीर संबंधी तप कहा जाता है ।।१४।।
Words which cause no annoyance to others and are truthful, agreeable and wholesome, as well as the study of the Vedas and other Sastras and the practice of repetition of the Divine Name—this is known as the austerity of speech. (15)
जो उद्वेग न करने वाला, प्रिय और हितकारक एवं यथार्थ भाषण है तथा जो वेद-शास्त्रों के पठन का एवं परमेश्वर के नाम-जप का अभ्यास है-वही वाणी संबंधी तप कहा जाता है।। १५ ।।
मन की प्रसन्नता, शान्त भाव, भगवच्चिन्तन करने का स्वभाव, मन का निग्रह और अन्तःकरण के भावों की भलीभाँति पवित्रता-इस प्रकार यह मनसंबंधी तप कहा जाता है।। १६ ।।
जो तप सत्कार, मान और पूजा के लिये तथा अन्य किसी स्वार्थ के लिये भी स्वभाव से या पाखण्ड से किया जाता है, वह अनिश्चित एवं क्षणिक फलवाला तप यहाँ राजस कहा गया है ।। १८ ।।
Chapter 17 · Verse 19
मूढग्राहेणात्मनो यत्पीडया क्रियते तपः।
परस्योत्सादनार्थं वा तत्तामसमुदाहृतम्।।१९।।
Austerity which is practised through perversity and is accompanied with self-mortification or is intended to harm others, such austerity has been declared as Tamasika. (19)
जो तप मूढतापूर्वक हठ से, मन, वाणी और शरीर की पीड़ा के सहित अथवा दूसरे का अनिष्ट करने के लिये किया जाता है-वह तप तामस कहा गया है।।१९।।
Chapter 17 · Verse 20
दातव्यमिति यद्दानं दीयतेऽनुपकारिणे।
देशे काले च पात्रे च तद्दानं सात्त्विकं स्मृतम्।।२०।।
Charity given with the conviction that it is a duty, to one from whom no return is expected, at the right place and time, and to a worthy recipient, is considered to be in the mode of goodness.
दान देना ही कर्तव्य है-ऐसे भाव से जो दान देश
Chapter 17 · Verse 21
यत्तु प्रत्युपकारार्थं फलमुद्दिश्य वा पुनः ।
दीयते च परिक्लिष्टं तद्दानं राजसं स्मृतम् ।।२१।।
A gift which is bestowed in a grudging spirit and with the object of getting a service in return or in the hope of obtaining a reward, is called Rajasika. (21)
किन्तु जो दान क्लेशपूर्वक तथा प्रत्युपकार के प्रयोजन से अथवा फल को दृष्टि में रखकर फिर दिया जाता है; वह दान राजस कहा गया है ।।२१।।
OM, TAT and SAT—This has been declared as the threefold appellation of the Absolute, who is Truth, Consciousness and Bliss solidified. By That the Brahmanas and the Vedas as well as sacrifices were created at the cosmic dawn. (23)
ॐ, तत्, सत्-ऐसे यह तीन प्रकार का सच्चिदानन्दघन ब्रह्म का नाम कहा है; उसी से सृष्टि के आदिकाल में ब्राह्मण और वेद तथा यज्ञादि रचे गये ।।२३।।
Therefore, acts of sacrifice, charity and austerity as enjoined by sacred precepts are always commenced by noble souls given to the recitation of Vedic chants with utterance of the divine name OM. (24)
इसलिये वेदमन्त्रों का उच्चारण करने वाले श्रेष्ठ पुरुषों की शास्त्रविधि से नियत यज्ञ, दान और तपरूप क्रियाएँ सदा 'ॐ' इस परमात्मा के नाम को उच्चारण करके ही आरम्भ होती हैं ।।२४।।
तत् अर्थात् 'तत्' नाम से कहे जाने वाले परमात्मा का ही यह सब है-इस भाव से फल को न चाहकर नाना प्रकार की यज्ञ, तपरूप क्रियाएँ तथा दान रूप क्रियाएँ कल्याण की इच्छा वाले पुरुषों द्वारा की जाती हैं ।।२५।।
Chapter 17 · Verse 26
सद्भावे साधुभावे च सदित्येतत्प्रयुज्यते।
प्रशस्ते कर्मणि तथा सच्छब्दः पार्थ युज्यते।।२६।।
The name of God, SAT, is employed in the sense of truth and goodness. And the word SAT is also used in the sense of a praiseworthy act, Arjuna. (26)
'सत्'-इस प्रकार यह परमात्मा का नाम सत्यभाव में और श्रेष्ठभाव में प्रयोग किया जाता है तथा हे पार्थ ! उत्तम कर्म में भी 'सत्' शब्द का प्रयोग किया जाता है।।२६।।
Steadfastness in sacrifice, austerity, and charity is called "Sat"; and action performed for the sake of the Supreme is also designated as "Sat."
तथा यज्ञ, तप और दान में जो स्थिति है, वह भी 'सत्' इस प्रकार कही जाती है और उस परमात्मा के
Chapter 17 · Verse 28
अश्रद्धया हुतं दत्तं तपस्तप्तं कृतं च यत्।
असदित्युच्यते पार्थ न च तत्प्रेत्य नो इह।। २८।।
Whatever sacrifice is offered, charity given, or penance performed without faith is called "Asat," O Partha; it is of no avail either here or hereafter.
हे अर्जुन ! बिना श्रद्धा के किया हुआ हवन, दिया हुआ दान एवं तपा हुआ तप और जो कुछ भी किया हुआ शुभ कर्म है-वह समस्त 'असत्'-इस प्रकार कहा जाता है; इसलिये वह न तो इस लोक में लाभदायक है और न मरने के बाद ही ।। २८ ।।
What are the three types of faith (Shraddha) in Chapter 17?
The three types of faith correspond to the three Gunas. Sattvic faith leads to worship of the Divine, God, and spiritual teachers. Rajasic faith leads to worship of powerful worldly forces, yaksha and rakshasas. Tamasic faith leads to worship of the dead, ghosts, and superstition. Krishna says each person's faith is in accordance with their nature — what you most deeply believe in and orient your life around reveals your Guna constitution.
What are Sattvic foods according to Chapter 17?
Sattvic foods are those that increase lifespan, purity, strength, health, happiness, and satisfaction. They are fresh, nourishing, mild in taste, and pleasant. They contrast with Rajasic foods (overly bitter, salty, spicy, producing agitation) and Tamasic foods (stale, leftover, putrid, intoxicating, producing dullness and lethargy). The Gita sees a direct connection between the quality of food and the quality of consciousness.
Adhyatmas