Main Points of the Discourse:
- The threefold Shraddha. (1-3)
- The threefold forms of worship; Austerity contrary to the Sastras. (4-6)
- Threefold types of food. (7-10)
- Threefold types of Yajna. (11-13)
- Threefold types of Tapas. (14-19)
- Threefold types of Dana. (20-22)
- Commentary on the mantra OM Tat Sat (23-27)
- Work devoid of Shraddha. (28)
Verses 1 to 28
- Arjuna said: When men sacrifice to the gods with faith but discard the injunctions of the scriptures, what is the nature of their devotion, Ο Krishna? Is it sattva, rajas, or tamas? (17.1)
- The Lord said: The faith of men, born of their individual natures, is of three kinds. It is characterized by sattva, rajas, or tamas. Hear now concerning it. (17.2)
- The faith of each man is in accordance with his natural disposition. A man, Ο Bhārata, is made of his faith; what his faith is, that verily he is. (17.3)
- Men in whom sattva prevails worship the gods; men in whom rajas prevails worship demigods and demons; and men in whom tamas prevails worship ghosts and disembodied spirits. (17.4)
- Those vain and conceited men who, impelled by the force of their lust and attachment, subject themselves to severe austerities not ordained by the scriptures, And, fools that they are, torture all their bodily organs, and Me, too, who dwell within the body— know that they are fiendish in their resolves. (17.5-17.6)
- Even the food that is dear to all is of the three kinds. Likewise are the sacrifices, austerities, and gifts. Hear now the distinctions between them. (17.7)
- Food that promotes longevity, vitality, strength, health, pleasure, appetite, and that is succulent, oleaginous, substantial, and agreeable, is favoured by people endowed with sattva. (17.8)
- Food that is excessively bitter, sour, salty, hot, acrid, dry, and burning is liked by people endowed with rajas. It causes pain, grief, and disease. (17.9)
- And food that is ill cooked, tasteless, putrid, stale, unclean, and left over, is favoured by people endowed with tamas. (17.10)
- That sacrifice is of the nature of sattva which is offered according to the scriptural rules by those who expect no reward and who firmly believe that it is their duty to sacrifice. (17.11)
- But that sacrifice which is performed in expectation of reward and for the sake of ostentation— know that to be of the nature of rajas. (17.12)
- And that sacrifice which is not performed according to the scriptural rules, and in which no food is distributed, no hymns are chanted, and no fees paid, and which is devoid of faith, is said to be of the nature of tamas. (17.13)
- Worship of the gods, of the twice-born, of teachers, and of the wise; cleanliness, uprightness, continence, and non-violence— these are said to be the austerity of the body. (17.14)
- Words that do not give offence and that are truthful, pleasant, and beneficial, and also the regular recitation of the Vedas— these are said to be the austerity of speech. (17.15)
- Serenity of mind, gentleness, silence, self-control, and purity of heart— these constitute the austerity of the mind. (17.16)
- This threefold austerity practised with supreme faith by steadfast men, without the desire for fruit, is said to be of the nature of sattva. (17.17)
- The austerity that is practised in order to gain respect, honour, and reverence, and for ostentation, is said to be of the nature of rajas. Its result is uncertain and transitory. (17.18)
- The austerity that is practised with a determination based on foolishness, by means of self-torture, or for the purpose of ruining another is declared to be of the nature of tamas. (17.19)
- That gift which is made to one who can make no return, and with the feeling that it is one’s duty to give, and which is given at the right place and time and to a worthy person— such a gift is held to be of the nature of sattva. (17.20)
- But that which is given for the sake of recompense or with the expectation of fruit or in a grudging mood is accounted as of the nature of rajas. (17.21)
- And the gift that is made without respect or with disdain, at an improper place and time, and to an unworthy person is declared to be of the nature of tamas. (17.22)
- “Om Tat Sat”— this has been declared as the threefold designation of Brahman. By means of it were created, at the beginning, the Brāhmins, the Vedas, and the Sacrifices. (17.23)
- Therefore the acts of sacrifice, gift, and austerity, enjoined by the scriptures, are always begun by the followers of the Vedas with the utterance of “Om.” (17.24)
- And with the utterance of “Tat,” and without seeking any recompense, are the various acts of sacrifice, austerity, and gift performed by those who seek liberation. (17.25)
- The word “Sat” is used to denote reality and goodness; and likewise, Ο Pārtha, the word “Sat” is used for an auspicious action. (17.26)
- Steadfastness in sacrifice, austerity, and gift is also called “Sat”; and so too is any action connected therewith. (17.27)
- Whatever sacrifice or gift is made, whatever austerity is practised, whatever ceremony is observed— it is all called “asat,” “non-existent,” if it is done without faith. It is of no account here or hereafter. (17.28)