17.1Arjuna

अर्जुन उवाच। ये शास्त्रविधिमुत्सृज्य यजन्ते श्रद्धयान्विताः। तेषां निष्ठा तु का कृष्ण सत्त्वमाहो रजस्तमः ॥

arjuna uvāca ye śāstravidhimutsṛjya yajante śraddhayānvitāḥ teṣāṃ niṣṭhā tu kā kṛṣṇa sattvamāho rajastamaḥ

What is the state of those, O Kṛṣṇa ! who worship with faith, (but) abandoning scripture ordinances—goodness, passion, or darkness?

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17.2Krishna

श्रीभगवानुवाच। त्रिविधा भवति श्रद्धा देहिनां सा स्वभावजा। सात्त्विकी राजसी चैव तामसी चेति तां शृणु ॥

śrībhagavānuvāca trividhā bhavati śraddhā dehināṃ sā svabhāvajā sāttvikī rājasī caiva tāmasī ceti tāṃ śṛṇu

Faith is of three kinds in embodied (beings), it is produced from dispositions. It is of the quality of goodness, of the quality of passion, and of the quality of darkness. Hear about it.

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17.3Krishna

सत्त्वानुरूपा सर्वस्य श्रद्धा भवति भारत। श्रद्धामयोऽयं पुरुषो यो यच्छ्रद्धः स एव सः ॥

sattvānurūpā sarvasya śraddhā bhavati bhārata śraddhāmayo.ayaṃ puruṣo yo yacchraddhaḥ sa eva saḥ

The faith of all, O descendant of Bharata! is conformable to the heart. A being here is full of faith, and whatever is a man's faith, that is a man himself.

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17.4Krishna

यजन्ते सात्त्विका देवान्यक्षरक्षांसि राजसाः। प्रेतान्भूतगणांश्चान्ये यजन्ते तामसा जनाः ॥

yajante sāttvikā devānyakṣarakṣāṃsi rājasāḥ pretānbhūtagaṇāṃścānye yajante tāmasā janāḥ

Those of the quality of goodness worship the gods those of the quality of passion the Yakṣas and Rakṣases and the others, the people of the quality of darkness, worship departed (spirits) and the multitudes of Bhūtas .

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17.5Krishna

अशास्त्रविहितं घोरं तप्यन्ते ये तपो जनाः। दम्भाहंकारसंयुक्ताः कामरागबलान्विताः ॥

aśāstravihitaṃ ghoraṃ tapyante ye tapo janāḥ dambhāhaṃkārasaṃyuktāḥ kāmarāgabalānvitāḥ

Know those to be of demoniac convictions, who practise fierce penance not ordained by scripture who are full of ostentatiousness and egoism, and of desire, attachment, and stubbornness

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17.6Krishna

कर्षयन्तः शरीरस्थं भूतग्राममचेतसः। मां चैवान्तःशरीरस्थं तान्विद्ध्यासुरनिश्चयान् ॥

karṣayantaḥ śarīrasthaṃ bhūtagrāmamacetasaḥ māṃ caivāntaḥśarīrasthaṃ tānviddhyāsuraniścayān

who are without discernment and who torment the groups of organs in (their) bodies, and me also seated within (those) bodies.

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17.7Krishna

आहारस्त्वपि सर्वस्य त्रिविधो भवति प्रियः। यज्ञस्तपस्तथा दानं तेषां भेदमिमं शृणु ॥

āhārastvapi sarvasya trividho bhavati priyaḥ yajñastapastathā dānaṃ teṣāṃ bhedamimaṃ śṛṇu

The food also, which is liked by all, and likewise the sacrifice, the penance, and gifts, are of three kinds. Listen to the distinctions regarding them as follows.

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17.8Krishna

आयुःसत्त्वबलारोग्यसुखप्रीतिविवर्धनाः। रस्याः स्निग्धाः स्थिरा हृद्या आहाराः सात्त्विकप्रियाः ॥

āyuḥsattvabalārogyasukhaprītivivardhanāḥ rasyāḥ snigdhāḥ sthirā hṛdyā āhārāḥ sāttvikapriyāḥ

The kinds of food which increase life, energy, strength, health, comfort, and relish, which are savoury, oleaginous, full of nutrition, and agreeable, are liked by the good. The kinds of food which are bitter acid saltish too hot sharp

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17.9Krishna

कट्वम्ललवणात्युष्णतीक्ष्णरूक्षविदाहिनः। आहारा राजसस्येष्टा दुःखशोकामयप्रदाः ॥

kaṭvamlalavaṇātyuṣṇatīkṣṇarūkṣavidāhinaḥ āhārā rājasasyeṣṭā duḥkhaśokāmayapradāḥ

rough and. burning and which cause pain. grief and disease are desired by the passionate. And the food which is cold

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17.10Krishna

यातयामं गतरसं पूति पर्युषितं च यत्। उच्छिष्टमपि चामेध्यं भोजनं तामसप्रियम् ॥

yātayāmaṃ gatarasaṃ pūti paryuṣitaṃ ca yat ucchiṣṭamapi cāmedhyaṃ bhojanaṃ tāmasapriyam

tasteless

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17.11Krishna

अफलाङ्क्षिभिर्यज्ञो विधिदृष्टो य इज्यते। यष्टव्यमेवेति मनः समाधाय स सात्त्विकः ॥

aphalāṅkṣibhiryajño vidhidṛṣṭo ya ijyate yaṣṭavyameveti manaḥ samādhāya sa sāttvikaḥ

stinking stale impure and even leavings are liked by the dark. That sacrifice is good which being prescribed in (scripture) ordinances is performed by persons not wishing for the fruit (of it) and after determining (in their) mind that the sacrifice must needs be performed. But when a sacrifice is performed O highest of the descendants of Bharata! with an expectation of fruit (from it)

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17.12Krishna

अभिसन्धाय तु फलं दम्भार्थमपि चैव यत्। इज्यते भरतश्रेष्ठ तं यज्ञं विद्धि राजसम् ॥

abhisandhāya tu phalaṃ dambhārthamapi caiva yat ijyate bharataśreṣṭha taṃ yajñaṃ viddhi rājasam

and for the purpose of ostentation know that sacrifice (to be) passionate.

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17.13Krishna

विधिहीनमसृष्टान्नं मन्त्रहीनमदक्षिणम्। श्रद्धाविरहितं यज्ञं तामसं परिचक्षते ॥

vidhihīnamasṛṣṭānnaṃ mantrahīnamadakṣiṇam śraddhāvirahitaṃ yajñaṃ tāmasaṃ paricakṣate

They call that sacrifice dark which is against the ordinances (of scripture) in which no food is dealt out (to Brāhmaṇas, &c.) which is devoid of Mantras devoid of Dakṣiṇā presents and which is without faith.

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17.14Krishna

देवद्विजगुरुप्राज्ञपूजनं शौचमार्जवम्। ब्रह्मचर्यमहिंसा च शारीरं तप उच्यते ॥

devadvijaguruprājñapūjanaṃ śaucamārjavam brahmacaryamahiṃsā ca śārīraṃ tapa ucyate

Paying reverence to gods, Brāhmaṇas, preceptors, and men of knowledge purity, straightforwardness, life as Brahmacārin , and harmlessness, (this) is called the penance bodily.

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17.15Krishna

अनुद्वेगकरं वाक्यं सत्यं प्रियहितं च यत्। स्वाध्यायाभ्यसनं चैव वाङ्मयं तप उच्यते ॥

anudvegakaraṃ vākyaṃ satyaṃ priyahitaṃ ca yat svādhyāyābhyasanaṃ caiva vāṅmayaṃ tapa ucyate

The speech which causes no sorrow, which is true, agreeable, and beneficial, and the study of the Vedas , (this) is called the penance vocal.

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17.16Krishna

मनः प्रसादः सौम्यत्वं मौनमात्मविनिग्रहः। भावसंशुद्धिरित्येतत्तपो मानसमुच्यते ॥

manaḥ prasādaḥ saumyatvaṃ maunamātmavinigrahaḥ bhāvasaṃśuddhirityetattapo mānasamucyate

Calmness of mind, mildness, taciturnity, self-restraint, and purity of heart, this is called the penance mental.

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17.17Krishna

श्रद्धया परया तप्तं तपस्तत्त्रिविधं नरैः। अफलाकाङ्क्षिभिर्युक्तैः सात्त्विकं परिचक्षते ॥

śraddhayā parayā taptaṃ tapastattrividhaṃ naraiḥ aphalākāṅkṣibhiryuktaiḥ sāttvikaṃ paricakṣate

This threefold penance, practised with perfect faith, by men who do not wish for the fruit, and who are possessed of devotion is called good. The penance which is done for respect

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17.18Krishna

सत्कारमानपूजार्थं तपो दम्भेन चैव यत्। क्रियते तदिह प्रोक्तं राजसं चलमध्रुवम् ॥

satkāramānapūjārthaṃ tapo dambhena caiva yat kriyate tadiha proktaṃ rājasaṃ calamadhruvam

honour

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17.19Krishna

मूढग्राहेणात्मनो यत्पीडया क्रियते तपः। परस्योत्सादनार्थं वा तत्तामसमुदाहृतम् ॥

mūḍhagrāheṇātmano yatpīḍayā kriyate tapaḥ parasyotsādanārthaṃ vā tattāmasamudāhṛtam

and reverence and with ostentatiousness and which is uncertain and transient is here called passionate. And that penance is described as dark which is performed under a misguided conviction with pain to oneself

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17.20Krishna

दातव्यमिति यद्दानं दीयतेऽनुपकारिणे। देशे काले च पात्रे च तद्दानं सात्त्विकं स्मृतम् ॥

dātavyamiti yaddānaṃ dīyate.anupakāriṇe deśe kāle ca pātre ca taddānaṃ sāttvikaṃ smṛtam

or for the destruction of another. That gift is said (to be) good which is given because it ought to be given to one who (can) do no service (in return) at a (proper) place and time an d to a (proper) person. But that gift which is given with much difficulty

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17.21Krishna

यत्तु प्रत्युपकारार्थं फलमुद्दिश्य वा पुनः। दीयते च परिक्लिष्टं तद्दानं राजसं स्मृतम् ॥

yattu pratyupakārārthaṃ phalamuddiśya vā punaḥ dīyate ca parikliṣṭaṃ taddānaṃ rājasaṃ smṛtam

for a return of services or even with an expectation of fruit is said to be passionate. And that gift is described as dark

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17.22Krishna

अदेशकाले यद्दानमपात्रेभ्यश्च दीयते। असत्कृतमवज्ञातं तत्तामसमुदाहृतम् ॥

adeśakāle yaddānamapātrebhyaśca dīyate asatkṛtamavajñātaṃ tattāmasamudāhṛtam

which is given to unfit persons at an unfit place and time without respect

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17.23Krishna

ॐतत्सदिति निर्देशो ब्रह्मणस्त्रिविधः स्मृतः। ब्राह्मणास्तेन वेदाश्च यज्ञाश्च विहिताः पुरा ॥

OMtatsaditi nirdeśo brahmaṇastrividhaḥ smṛtaḥ brāhmaṇāstena vedāśca yajñāśca vihitāḥ purā

and with contempt. Om, Tad, and Sat, this is said (to be) the threefold designation of the Brahman . By that, the Brāhmaṇas and the Vedas and sacrifices were created in olden times.

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17.24Krishna

तस्मादोमित्युदाहृत्य यज्ञदानतपःक्रियाः। प्रवर्तन्ते विधानोक्ताः सततं ब्रह्मवादिनाम् ॥

tasmādomityudāhṛtya yajñadānatapaḥkriyāḥ pravartante vidhānoktāḥ satataṃ brahmavādinām

Hence, the performance by those who study the Brahman, of sacrifices, gifts, and penances, prescribed by the ordinances (of scripture), always commence after saying 'Om.'

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17.25Krishna

तदित्यनभिसन्धाय फलं यज्ञतपःक्रियाः। दानक्रियाश्च विविधाः क्रियन्ते मोक्षकाङ्क्षिभिः ॥

tadityanabhisandhāya phalaṃ yajñatapaḥkriyāḥ dānakriyāśca vividhāḥ kriyante mokṣakāṅkṣibhiḥ

Those who desire final emancipation perform the various acts of sacrifice and penance, and the various acts of gift, without expectation of fruit, after (saying) 'Tad.'

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17.26Krishna

सद्भावे साधुभावे च सदित्येतत्प्रयुज्यते। प्रशस्ते कर्मणि तथा सच्छब्दः पार्थ युज्यते ॥

sadbhāve sādhubhāve ca sadityetatprayujyate praśaste karmaṇi tathā sacchabdaḥ pārtha yujyate

'Sat' is employed to express existence and goodness and likewise, O son of Pṛthā! the word 'Sat' is used to express an auspicious act.

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17.27Krishna

यज्ञे तपसि दाने च स्थितिः सदिति चोच्यते। कर्म चैव तदर्थीयं सदित्येवाभिधीयते ॥

yajñe tapasi dāne ca sthitiḥ saditi cocyate karma caiva tadarthīyaṃ sadityevābhidhīyate

Constancy in (making) sacrifices. penances, and gifts, is called 'Sat;' and (all) action, too, of which that is the object, is also called 'Sat.' Whatever oblation is offered

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17.28Krishna

अश्रद्धया हुतं दत्तं तपस्तप्तं कृतं च यत्। असदित्युच्यते पार्थ न च तत्प्रेत्य नो इह ॥

aśraddhayā hutaṃ dattaṃ tapastaptaṃ kṛtaṃ ca yat asadityucyate pārtha na ca tatprepya no iha

whatever is given whatever penance is performed and whatever is done without faith that O son of Pṛthā! is called 'Asat,' and that is nought both after death and here.

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