Sloka 1
अर्जुन उवाच |
ये शास्त्रविधिमुत्सृज्य यजन्ते श्रद्धयान्विताः |
तेषां निष्ठा तु का कृष्ण सत्त्वमाहो रजस्तमः ||१७-१||
Transliteration
arjuna uvāca .
ye śāstravidhimutsṛjya yajante śraddhayānvitāḥ .
teṣāṃ niṣṭhā tu kā kṛṣṇa sattvamāho rajastamaḥ ||17-1||
Meaning
17.1 "Arjuna asked: My Lord! Those who do acts of sacrifice, not according to the scriptures but nevertheless with implicit faith, what is their condition? Is it one of Purity, of Passion or of Ignorance?
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Sloka 2
श्रीभगवानुवाच |
त्रिविधा भवति श्रद्धा देहिनां सा स्वभावजा |
सात्त्विकी राजसी चैव तामसी चेति तां शृणु ||१७-२||
Transliteration
śrībhagavānuvāca .
trividhā bhavati śraddhā dehināṃ sā svabhāvajā .
sāttvikī rājasī caiva tāmasī ceti tāṃ śṛṇu ||17-2||
Meaning
17.2 Lord Shri Krishna replied: Man has an inherent faith in one or another of the Qualities -Purity, Passion and Ignorance. Now listen.
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Sloka 3
सत्त्वानुरूपा सर्वस्य श्रद्धा भवति भारत |
श्रद्धामयोऽयं पुरुषो यो यच्छ्रद्धः स एव सः ||१७-३||
Transliteration
sattvānurūpā sarvasya śraddhā bhavati bhārata .
śraddhāmayo.ayaṃ puruṣo yo yacchraddhaḥ sa eva saḥ ||17-3||
Meaning
17.3 The faith of every man conforms to his nature. By nature he is full of faith. He is in fact what his faith makes him.
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Sloka 4
यजन्ते सात्त्विका देवान्यक्षरक्षांसि राजसाः |
प्रेतान्भूतगणांश्चान्ये यजन्ते तामसा जनाः ||१७-४||
Transliteration
yajante sāttvikā devānyakṣarakṣāṃsi rājasāḥ .
pretānbhūtagaṇāṃścānye yajante tāmasā janāḥ ||17-4||
Meaning
17.4 The Pure worship the true God; the Passionate, the powers of wealth and magic; the Ignorant, the spirits of the dead and of the lower orders of nature.
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Sloka 5
अशास्त्रविहितं घोरं तप्यन्ते ये तपो जनाः |
दम्भाहंकारसंयुक्ताः कामरागबलान्विताः ||१७-५||
Transliteration
aśāstravihitaṃ ghoraṃ tapyante ye tapo janāḥ .
dambhāhaṃkārasaṃyuktāḥ kāmarāgabalānvitāḥ ||17-5||
Meaning
17.5 Those who practise austerities not commanded by scripture, who are slaves to hypocrisy and egotism, who are carried away by the fury of desire and passion,
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Sloka 6
कर्षयन्तः शरीरस्थं भूतग्राममचेतसः |
मां चैवान्तःशरीरस्थं तान्विद्ध्यासुरनिश्चयान् ||१७-६||
Transliteration
karṣayantaḥ śarīrasthaṃ bhūtagrāmamacetasaḥ .
māṃ caivāntaḥśarīrasthaṃ tānviddhyāsuraniścayān ||17-6||
Meaning
17.6 They are ignorant. They torment the organs of the body; and they harass Me also, Who lives within. Know that they are devoted to evil.
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Sloka 7
आहारस्त्वपि सर्वस्य त्रिविधो भवति प्रियः |
यज्ञस्तपस्तथा दानं तेषां भेदमिमं शृणु ||१७-७||
Transliteration
āhārastvapi sarvasya trividho bhavati priyaḥ .
yajñastapastathā dānaṃ teṣāṃ bhedamimaṃ śṛṇu ||17-7||
Meaning
17.7 The food which men enjoy is also threefold, like the ways of sacrifice, austerity and almsgiving. Listen to the distinction.
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Sloka 8
आयुःसत्त्वबलारोग्यसुखप्रीतिविवर्धनाः |
रस्याः स्निग्धाः स्थिरा हृद्या आहाराः सात्त्विकप्रियाः ||१७-८||
Transliteration
āyuḥsattvabalārogyasukhaprītivivardhanāḥ .
rasyāḥ snigdhāḥ sthirā hṛdyā āhārāḥ sāttvikapriyāḥ ||17-8||
Meaning
17.8 The foods that prolong life and increase purity, vigour, health, cheerfulness and happiness are those that are delicious, soothing, substantial and agreeable. These are loved by the Pure.
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Sloka 9
कट्वम्ललवणात्युष्णतीक्ष्णरूक्षविदाहिनः |
आहारा राजसस्येष्टा दुःखशोकामयप्रदाः ||१७-९||
Transliteration
kaṭvamlalavaṇātyuṣṇatīkṣṇarūkṣavidāhinaḥ .
āhārā rājasasyeṣṭā duḥkhaśokāmayapradāḥ ||17-9||
Meaning
17.9 Those in whom Passion is dominant like foods that are bitter, sour, salty, over-hot, pungent, dry and burning. These produce unhappiness, repentance and disease.
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Sloka 10
यातयामं गतरसं पूति पर्युषितं च यत् |
उच्छिष्टमपि चामेध्यं भोजनं तामसप्रियम् ||१७-१०||
Transliteration
yātayāmaṃ gatarasaṃ pūti paryuṣitaṃ ca yat .
ucchiṣṭamapi cāmedhyaṃ bhojanaṃ tāmasapriyam ||17-10||
Meaning
17.10 The Ignorant love food which is stale, not nourishing, putrid and corrupt, the leavings of others and unclean.
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Sloka 11
अफलाङ्क्षिभिर्यज्ञो विधिदृष्टो य इज्यते |
यष्टव्यमेवेति मनः समाधाय स सात्त्विकः ||१७-११||
Transliteration
aphalāṅkṣibhiryajño vidhidṛṣṭo ya ijyate .
yaṣṭavyameveti manaḥ samādhāya sa sāttvikaḥ ||17-11||
Meaning
17.11 Sacrifice is Pure when it is offered by one who does not covet the fruit thereof, when it is done according to the commands of scripture, and with implicit faith that the sacrifice is a duty.
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Sloka 12
अभिसन्धाय तु फलं दम्भार्थमपि चैव यत् |
इज्यते भरतश्रेष्ठ तं यज्ञं विद्धि राजसम् ||१७-१२||
Transliteration
abhisandhāya tu phalaṃ dambhārthamapi caiva yat .
ijyate bharataśreṣṭha taṃ yajñaṃ viddhi rājasam ||17-12||
Meaning
17.12 Sacrifice which is performed for the sake of its results, or for self-glorification - that, O best of Aryans, is the product of Passion.
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Sloka 13
विधिहीनमसृष्टान्नं मन्त्रहीनमदक्षिणम् |
श्रद्धाविरहितं यज्ञं तामसं परिचक्षते ||१७-१३||
Transliteration
vidhihīnamasṛṣṭānnaṃ mantrahīnamadakṣiṇam .
śraddhāvirahitaṃ yajñaṃ tāmasaṃ paricakṣate ||17-13||
Meaning
17.13 Sacrifice that is contrary to scriptural command, that is unaccompanied by prayers or gifts of food or money, and is without faith - that is the product of Ignorance.
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Sloka 14
देवद्विजगुरुप्राज्ञपूजनं शौचमार्जवम् |
ब्रह्मचर्यमहिंसा च शारीरं तप उच्यते ||१७-१४||
Transliteration
devadvijaguruprājñapūjanaṃ śaucamārjavam .
brahmacaryamahiṃsā ca śārīraṃ tapa ucyate ||17-14||
Meaning
17.14 Worship of God and the Master; respect for the preacher and the philosopher; purity, rectitude, continence and harmlessness - all this is physical austerity.
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Sloka 15
अनुद्वेगकरं वाक्यं सत्यं प्रियहितं च यत् |
स्वाध्यायाभ्यसनं चैव वाङ्मयं तप उच्यते ||१७-१५||
Transliteration
anudvegakaraṃ vākyaṃ satyaṃ priyahitaṃ ca yat .
svādhyāyābhyasanaṃ caiva vāṅmayaṃ tapa ucyate ||17-15||
Meaning
17.15 Speech that hurts no one, that is true, is pleasant to listen to and beneficial, and the constant study of the scriptures - this is austerity in speech.
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Sloka 16
मनः प्रसादः सौम्यत्वं मौनमात्मविनिग्रहः |
भावसंशुद्धिरित्येतत्तपो मानसमुच्यते ||१७-१६||
Transliteration
manaḥ prasādaḥ saumyatvaṃ maunamātmavinigrahaḥ .
bhāvasaṃśuddhirityetattapo mānasamucyate ||17-16||
Meaning
17.16 Serenity, kindness, silence, self-control and purity - this is austerity of mind.
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Sloka 17
श्रद्धया परया तप्तं तपस्तत्त्रिविधं नरैः |
अफलाकाङ्क्षिभिर्युक्तैः सात्त्विकं परिचक्षते ||१७-१७||
Transliteration
śraddhayā parayā taptaṃ tapastattrividhaṃ naraiḥ .
aphalākāṅkṣibhiryuktaiḥ sāttvikaṃ paricakṣate ||17-17||
Meaning
17.17 These threefold austerities performed with faith, and without thought of reward, may truly be accounted Pure.
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Sloka 18
सत्कारमानपूजार्थं तपो दम्भेन चैव यत् |
क्रियते तदिह प्रोक्तं राजसं चलमध्रुवम् ||१७-१८||
Transliteration
satkāramānapūjārthaṃ tapo dambhena caiva yat .
kriyate tadiha proktaṃ rājasaṃ calamadhruvam ||17-18||
Meaning
17.18 Austerity coupled with hypocrisy or performed for the sake of self-glorification, popularity or vanity, comes from Passion, and its result is always doubtful and temporary.
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Sloka 19
मूढग्राहेणात्मनो यत्पीडया क्रियते तपः |
परस्योत्सादनार्थं वा तत्तामसमुदाहृतम् ||१७-१९||
Transliteration
mūḍhagrāheṇātmano yatpīḍayā kriyate tapaḥ .
parasyotsādanārthaṃ vā tattāmasamudāhṛtam ||17-19||
Meaning
17.19 Austerity done under delusion, and accompanied with sorcery or torture to oneself or another, may be assumed to spring from Ignorance.
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Sloka 20
दातव्यमिति यद्दानं दीयतेऽनुपकारिणे |
देशे काले च पात्रे च तद्दानं सात्त्विकं स्मृतम् ||१७-२०||
Transliteration
dātavyamiti yaddānaṃ dīyate.anupakāriṇe .
deśe kāle ca pātre ca taddānaṃ sāttvikaṃ smṛtam ||17-20||
Meaning
17.20 The gift which is given without thought of recompense, in the belief that it ought to be made, in a fit place, at an opportune time and to a deserving person - such a gift is Pure.
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Sloka 21
यत्तु प्रत्युपकारार्थं फलमुद्दिश्य वा पुनः |
दीयते च परिक्लिष्टं तद्दानं राजसं स्मृतम् ||१७-२१||
Transliteration
yattu pratyupakārārthaṃ phalamuddiśya vā punaḥ .
dīyate ca parikliṣṭaṃ taddānaṃ rājasaṃ smṛtam ||17-21||
Meaning
17.21 That which is given for the sake of the results it will produce, or with the hope of recompense,or grudgingly - that may truly be said to be the outcome of Passion.
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Sloka 22
अदेशकाले यद्दानमपात्रेभ्यश्च दीयते |
असत्कृतमवज्ञातं तत्तामसमुदाहृतम् ||१७-२२||
Transliteration
adeśakāle yaddānamapātrebhyaśca dīyate .
asatkṛtamavajñātaṃ tattāmasamudāhṛtam ||17-22||
Meaning
17.22 And that which is given at an unsuitable place or time or to one who is unworthy, or with disrespect or contempt - such a gift is the result of Ignorance.
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Sloka 23
ॐतत्सदिति निर्देशो ब्रह्मणस्त्रिविधः स्मृतः |
ब्राह्मणास्तेन वेदाश्च यज्ञाश्च विहिताः पुरा ||१७-२३||
Transliteration
OMtatsaditi nirdeśo brahmaṇastrividhaḥ smṛtaḥ .
brāhmaṇāstena vedāśca yajñāśca vihitāḥ purā ||17-23||
Meaning
17.23 Om Tat Sat' is the triple designation of the Eternal Spirit, by which of old the Vedic Scriptures, the ceremonials and the sacrifices were ordained.
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Sloka 24
तस्मादोमित्युदाहृत्य यज्ञदानतपःक्रियाः |
प्रवर्तन्ते विधानोक्ताः सततं ब्रह्मवादिनाम् ||१७-२४||
Transliteration
tasmādomityudāhṛtya yajñadānatapaḥkriyāḥ .
pravartante vidhānoktāḥ satataṃ brahmavādinām ||17-24||
Meaning
17.24 Therefore all acts of sacrifice, gifts and austerities, prescribed by the scriptures, are always begun by those who understand the Spirit with the word Om.
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Sloka 25
तदित्यनभिसन्धाय फलं यज्ञतपःक्रियाः |
दानक्रियाश्च विविधाः क्रियन्ते मोक्षकाङ्क्षिभिः ||१७-२५||
Transliteration
tadityanabhisandhāya phalaṃ yajñatapaḥkriyāḥ .
dānakriyāśca vividhāḥ kriyante mokṣakāṅkṣibhiḥ ||17-25||
Meaning
17.25 Those who desire deliverance begin their acts of sacrifice, austerity or gift with the word Tat' (meaning That'), without thought of reward.
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Sloka 26
सद्भावे साधुभावे च सदित्येतत्प्रयुज्यते |
प्रशस्ते कर्मणि तथा सच्छब्दः पार्थ युज्यते ||१७-२६||
Transliteration
sadbhāve sādhubhāve ca sadityetatprayujyate .
praśaste karmaṇi tathā sacchabdaḥ pārtha yujyate ||17-26||
Meaning
17.26 Sat' means Reality or the highest Good, and also, O Arjuna, it is used to mean an action of exceptional merit.
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Sloka 27
यज्ञे तपसि दाने च स्थितिः सदिति चोच्यते |
कर्म चैव तदर्थीयं सदित्येवाभिधीयते ||१७-२७||
Transliteration
yajñe tapasi dāne ca sthitiḥ saditi cocyate .
karma caiva tadarthīyaṃ sadityevābhidhīyate ||17-27||
Meaning
17.27 Conviction in sacrifice, in austerity and in giving is also called Sat.' So too an action done only for the Lord's sake.
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Sloka 28
अश्रद्धया हुतं दत्तं तपस्तप्तं कृतं च यत् |
असदित्युच्यते पार्थ न च तत्प्रेत्य नो इह ||१७-२८||
Transliteration
aśraddhayā hutaṃ dattaṃ tapastaptaṃ kṛtaṃ ca yat .
asadityucyate pārtha na ca tatprepya no iha ||17-28||
Meaning
17.28 Whatsoever is done without faith, whether it be sacrifice, austerity or gift or anything else, as called Asat' (meaning Unreal') for it is the negation of Sat,' O Arjuna! Such an act has no significance, here or hereafter."
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