Bhagavad Gita — Chapter 17

BG 17.1

अर्जुन उवाचये शास्त्रविधिमुत्सृज्य यजन्ते श्रद्धयाऽन्विताः।तेषां निष्ठा तु का कृष्ण सत्त्वमाहो रजस्तमः

arjuna uvācaye śāstravidhimutsṛjya yajante śraddhayā'nvitāḥ|teṣāṃ niṣṭhā tu kā kṛṣṇa sattvamāho rajastamaḥ

Arjuna said: Those that sacrifice full of faith, but casting aside the ordinances of the Scriptures, what is verily their condition, O Krishna? Is it one of Purity, Passion, or Darkness?

— tr. Annie Besant (1922) (public domain)

BG 17.2

श्री भगवानुवाचत्रिविधा भवति श्रद्धा देहिनां सा स्वभावजा।सात्त्विकी राजसी चैव तामसी चेति तां श्रृणु

śrī bhagavānuvācatrividhā bhavati śraddhā dehināṃ sā svabhāvajā|sāttvikī rājasī caiva tāmasī ceti tāṃ śrṛṇu

The Blessed Lord said: Threefold is by nature the inborn faith of the embodied—pure, passionate, and dark. Hear thou of these.

— tr. Annie Besant (1922) (public domain)

BG 17.3

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

sattvānurūpā sarvasya śraddhā bhavati bhārata|śraddhāmayo'yaṃ puruṣo yo yacchraddhaḥ sa eva saḥ

The faith of each is shaped to his own nature, O Bhârata. The man consists of his faith; that which his faith is, he is even that.

— tr. Annie Besant (1922) (public domain)

BG 17.4

यजन्ते सात्त्विका देवान्यक्षरक्षांसि राजसाः।प्रेतान्भूतगणांश्चान्ये यजन्ते तामसा जनाः

yajante sāttvikā devānyakṣarakṣāṃsi rājasāḥ|pretānbhūtagaṇāṃścānye yajante tāmasā janāḥ

Pure men worship the Gods; the passionate the gnomes and giants; the others, the dark folk, worship ghosts and troops of nature-spirits.

— tr. Annie Besant (1922) (public domain)

BG 17.5

अशास्त्रविहितं घोरं तप्यन्ते ये तपो जनाः।दम्भाहङ्कारसंयुक्ताः कामरागबलान्विताः

aśāstravihitaṃ ghoraṃ tapyante ye tapo janāḥ|dambhāhaṅkārasaṃyuktāḥ kāmarāgabalānvitāḥ

The men who perform severe austerities, unenjoined by the Scriptures, wedded to vanity and egoism, impelled by the force of their desires and passions,

— tr. Annie Besant (1922) (public domain)

BG 17.6

कर्षयन्तः शरीरस्थं भूतग्राममचेतसः।मां चैवान्तःशरीरस्थं तान्विद्ध्यासुरनिश्चयान्

karṣayantaḥ śarīrasthaṃ bhūtagrāmamacetasaḥ|māṃ caivāntaḥśarīrasthaṃ tānviddhyāsuraniścayān

Unintelligent, tormenting the aggregated elements forming the body, and Me also, seated in the inner body, know these demoniacal in their resolves.

— tr. Annie Besant (1922) (public domain)

BG 17.7

आहारस्त्वपि सर्वस्य त्रिविधो भवति प्रियः।यज्ञस्तपस्तथा दानं तेषां भेदमिमं श्रृणु

āhārastvapi sarvasya trividho bhavati priyaḥ|yajñastapastathā dānaṃ teṣāṃ bhedamimaṃ śrṛṇu

The food also which is dear to each is threefold, as also sacrifice, austerity and almsgiving. Hear thou the distinction of these.

— tr. Annie Besant (1922) (public domain)

BG 17.8

आयुःसत्त्वबलारोग्यसुखप्रीतिविवर्धनाः।रस्याः स्निग्धाः स्थिरा हृद्या आहाराः सात्त्विकप्रियाः

āyuḥsattvabalārogyasukhaprītivivardhanāḥ|rasyāḥ snigdhāḥ sthirā hṛdyā āhārāḥ sāttvikapriyāḥ

The foods that augment vitality, energy, vigour, health, joy and cheerfulness, delicious, bland, substantial and agreeable, are dear to the pure.

— tr. Annie Besant (1922) (public domain)

BG 17.9

कट्वम्ललवणात्युष्णतीक्ष्णरूक्षविदाहिनः।आहारा राजसस्येष्टा दुःखशोकामयप्रदाः

kaṭvamlalavaṇātyuṣṇatīkṣṇarūkṣavidāhinaḥ|āhārā rājasasyeṣṭā duḥkhaśokāmayapradāḥ

The passionate desire foods that are bitter, sour, saline, over-hot, pungent, dry and burning and which produce pain, grief and sickness.

— tr. Annie Besant (1922) (public domain)

BG 17.10

यातयामं गतरसं पूति पर्युषितं च यत्।उच्छिष्टमपि चामेध्यं भोजनं तामसप्रियम्

yātayāmaṃ gatarasaṃ pūti paryuṣitaṃ ca yat|ucchiṣṭamapi cāmedhyaṃ bhojanaṃ tāmasapriyam

That which is stale and flat, putrid and corrupt, leavings also and unclean, is the food dear to the dark.

— tr. Annie Besant (1922) (public domain)

BG 17.11

अफलाकाङ्क्षिभिर्यज्ञो विधिदृष्टो य इज्यते।यष्टव्यमेवेति मनः समाधाय स सात्त्विकः

aphalākāṅkṣibhiryajño vidhidṛṣṭo ya ijyate|yaṣṭavyameveti manaḥ samādhāya sa sāttvikaḥ

The sacrifice which is offered by men without desire for fruit, as enjoined by the ordinances, under the firm belief that sacrifice is a duty, that is pure.

— tr. Annie Besant (1922) (public domain)

BG 17.12

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

abhisaṃdhāya tu phalaṃ dambhārthamapi caiva yat|ijyate bharataśreṣṭha taṃ yajñaṃ viddhi rājasam

The sacrifice offered with a view verily to fruit, and also indeed for self-glorification, O best of the Bhâratas; know thou that to be of passion.

— tr. Annie Besant (1922) (public domain)

BG 17.13

विधिहीनमसृष्टान्नं मन्त्रहीनमदक्षिणम्।श्रद्धाविरहितं यज्ञं तामसं परिचक्षते

vidhihīnamasṛṣṭānnaṃ mantrahīnamadakṣiṇam|śraddhāvirahitaṃ yajñaṃ tāmasaṃ paricakṣate

The sacrifice contrary to the ordinances, without distributing food, devoid of words of power and without gifts, empty of faith, is said to be of darkness.

— tr. Annie Besant (1922) (public domain)

BG 17.14

देवद्विजगुरुप्राज्ञपूजनं शौचमार्जवम्।ब्रह्मचर्यमहिंसा च शारीरं तप उच्यते

devadvijaguruprājñapūjanaṃ śaucamārjavam|brahmacaryamahiṃsā ca śārīraṃ tapa ucyate

Worship given to the Gods, to the twice-born, to the teachers and to the wise, purity, straightforwardness, continence and harmlessness, are called the austerity of the body.

— tr. Annie Besant (1922) (public domain)

BG 17.15

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

anudvegakaraṃ vākyaṃ satyaṃ priyahitaṃ ca yat|svādhyāyābhyasanaṃ caiva vāṅmayaṃ tapa ucyate

Speech causing no annoyance, truthful, pleasant and beneficial, the practice of the study of the Scriptures, are called the austerity of speech.

— tr. Annie Besant (1922) (public domain)

BG 17.16

मनःप्रसादः सौम्यत्वं मौनमात्मविनिग्रहः।भावसंशुद्धिरित्येतत्तपो मानसमुच्यते

manaḥprasādaḥ saumyatvaṃ maunamātmavinigrahaḥ|bhāvasaṃśuddhirityetattapo mānasamucyate

Mental happiness, equilibrium, silence, self-control, purity of nature—these are called the austerity of the mind.

— tr. Annie Besant (1922) (public domain)

BG 17.17

श्रद्धया परया तप्तं तपस्तत्ित्रविधं नरैः।अफलाकाङ्क्षिभिर्युक्तैः सात्त्विकं परिचक्षते

śraddhayā parayā taptaṃ tapastatitravidhaṃ naraiḥ|aphalākāṅkṣibhiryuktaiḥ sāttvikaṃ paricakṣate

This threefold austerity, performed by men with the utmost faith, without desire for fruit, harmonised, is said to be pure.

— tr. Annie Besant (1922) (public domain)

BG 17.18

सत्कारमानपूजार्थं तपो दम्भेन चैव यत्।क्रियते तदिह प्रोक्तं राजसं चलमध्रुवम्

satkāramānapūjārthaṃ tapo dambhena caiva yat|kriyate tadiha proktaṃ rājasaṃ calamadhruvam

The austerity which is practised with the object of gaining respect, honour and worship, and for ostentation, is said to be of passion, unstable and fleeting.

— tr. Annie Besant (1922) (public domain)

BG 17.19

मूढग्राहेणात्मनो यत्पीडया क्रियते तपः।परस्योत्सादनार्थं वा तत्तामसमुदाहृतम्

mūḍhagrāheṇātmano yatpīḍayā kriyate tapaḥ|parasyotsādanārthaṃ vā tattāmasamudāhṛtam

That austerity which is performed with a deluded notion, with torment of oneself, or for the purpose of destroying another, is declared to be of the nature of darkness (tāmasa).

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BG 17.20

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

dātavyamiti yaddānaṃ dīyate'nupakāriṇe|deśe kāle ca pātre ca taddānaṃ sāttvikaṃ smṛtam

That austerity done under a deluded understanding, with self-torture, or with the object of destroying another, that is declared of darkness.

— tr. Annie Besant (1922) (public domain)

BG 17.21

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

yattu pratyupakārārthaṃ phalamuddiśya vā punaḥ|dīyate ca parikliṣṭaṃ taddānaṃ rājasaṃ smṛtam

That given with a view to receiving in return, or looking for fruit again, or grudgingly, that alms is accounted of passion.

— tr. Annie Besant (1922) (public domain)

BG 17.22

अदेशकाले यद्दानमपात्रेभ्यश्च दीयते।असत्कृतमवज्ञातं तत्तामसमुदाहृतम्

adeśakāle yaddānamapātrebhyaśca dīyate|asatkṛtamavajñātaṃ tattāmasamudāhṛtam

That alms given at unfit place and time, and to unworthy persons, disrespectfully and contemptuously, that is declared of darkness.

— tr. Annie Besant (1922) (public domain)

BG 17.23

तत्सदिति निर्देशो ब्रह्मणस्त्रिविधः स्मृतः।ब्राह्मणास्तेन वेदाश्च यज्ञाश्च विहिताः पुरा

tatsaditi nirdeśo brahmaṇastrividhaḥ smṛtaḥ|brāhmaṇāstena vedāśca yajñāśca vihitāḥ purā

" Aum Tat Sat ," this has been considered to be the threefold designation of the Eternal . By that were ordained of old Brâhmanas, Vedas and sacrifices.

— tr. Annie Besant (1922) (public domain)

BG 17.24

तस्मादोमित्युदाहृत्य यज्ञदानतपःक्रियाः।प्रवर्तन्ते विधानोक्ताः सततं ब्रह्मवादिनाम्

tasmādomityudāhṛtya yajñadānatapaḥkriyāḥ|pravartante vidhānoktāḥ satataṃ brahmavādinām

Therefore with the pronunciation of " Aum " the acts of sacrifice, gift and austerity as laid down in the ordinances are always commenced by the knowers of the Eternal .

— tr. Annie Besant (1922) (public domain)

BG 17.25

तदित्यनभिसन्धाय फलं यज्ञतपःक्रियाः।दानक्रियाश्च विविधाः क्रियन्ते मोक्षकाङ्क्षि

tadityanabhisandhāya phalaṃ yajñatapaḥkriyāḥ|dānakriyāśca vividhāḥ kriyante mokṣakāṅkṣi

With the pronunciation of " Tat " and without aiming at fruit are performed the various acts of sacrifice, austerity and gift, by those desiring liberation.

— tr. Annie Besant (1922) (public domain)

BG 17.26

सद्भावे साधुभावे च सदित्येतत्प्रयुज्यते।प्रशस्ते कर्मणि तथा सच्छब्दः पार्थ युज्यते

sadbhāve sādhubhāve ca sadityetatprayujyate|praśaste karmaṇi tathā sacchabdaḥ pārtha yujyate

" Sat " is used in the sense of reality and goodness; likewise, O Pârtha, the word " Sat " is used in the sense of a good work.

— tr. Annie Besant (1922) (public domain)

BG 17.27

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

yajñe tapasi dāne ca sthitiḥ saditi cocyate|karma caiva tadarthīyaṃ sadityevābhidhīyate

Steadfastness in sacrifice, austerity and gift is also called " Sat ", and action for the sake of the Supreme is also named " Sat ."

— tr. Annie Besant (1922) (public domain)

BG 17.28

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 tatpretya no iha

Whatsoever is wrought without faith, oblation, gift, austerity, or other deed, "Asat" it is called, O Pârtha; it is nought, here or hereafter.

— tr. Annie Besant (1922) (public domain)