Bhagavad Gita Chapter 17: Shraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga, Three Kinds of Faith

At the end of chapter 16 God said scripture is the authority. Arjuna asks: what of those who do not know the scriptures but worship with faith? In reply this chapter shows that our faith, our food, our austerity and our charity each come in three kinds, according to the three gunas.

Verses 1 to 6: three kinds of faith

Arjuna asks: "Krishna, what is the standing of those who set aside the rules of scripture but worship with faith? Is it sattva, rajas or tamas?"

Krishna says: "The faith of embodied beings, born of their nature, is of three kinds: sattvic, rajasic and tamasic. Everyone's faith matches their inner nature. 'Shraddhamayo 'yam purusho yo yach chhraddhah sa eva sah': a person is made of faith; as their faith is, so are they (17.3)."

The sattvic worship the gods, the rajasic the yakshas and rakshasas, and the tamasic ghosts and spirits. Those who practise terrible austerities not sanctioned by scripture, full of hypocrisy and ego, driven by lust, attachment and pride of strength, torturing the elements of the body and me within it, know them to be of demonic resolve.

Verses 7 to 10: three kinds of food

"Food too is of three kinds, according to what each prefers, and so are sacrifice, austerity and charity. Hear the difference."

• Sattvic food: food that increases life, purity, strength, health, happiness and cheerfulness, that is juicy, wholesome, nourishing and pleasing to the heart, is dear to the sattvic (17.8).
• Rajasic food: food that is too bitter, sour, salty, hot, pungent, dry and burning is liked by the rajasic and causes pain, grief and disease (17.9).
• Tamasic food: food that is stale, tasteless, putrid, left over, polluted and impure is dear to the tamasic (17.10).

Verses 11 to 13: three kinds of sacrifice

A sacrifice offered according to scripture by those who seek no reward, with the conviction that it is a duty, is sattvic. One offered for reward or for show is rajasic. One without scriptural rule, without distribution of food, without mantras, without offerings to the priests and without faith is tamasic.

Verses 14 to 19: three kinds of austerity

• Austerity of the body: worship of the gods, the twice-born, teachers and the wise; purity, straightforwardness, self-discipline and non-violence (17.14).
• Austerity of speech:

Anudvega karam vakyam satyam priya hitam cha yat
svadhyayabhyasanam chaiva vang mayam tapa uchyate (17.15)

Meaning: Speech that causes no distress, that is truthful, pleasant and beneficial, and the regular study of scripture and repetition of God's name, are called the austerity of speech.

• Austerity of the mind: serenity, gentleness, silence, self-control and purity of motive (17.16).

When this threefold austerity is practised with supreme faith by those seeking no reward, it is sattvic. Austerity done for respect, honour and reverence, with show, is rajasic, unstable and fleeting. Austerity done out of foolishness, with self-torture or to harm others, is tamasic.

Verses 20 to 22: three kinds of charity

Datavyam iti yad danam diyate 'nupakarine
deshe kale cha patre cha tad danam sattvikam smritam (17.20)

Meaning: Charity given as a duty, to one who can give nothing in return, at the right place and time and to a worthy person, is sattvic.

Charity given for something in return, for reward, or grudgingly, is rajasic. Charity given at the wrong place and time, to the unworthy, without respect or with contempt, is tamasic.

Verses 23 to 28: Om Tat Sat

"'Om tat sad iti nirdesho brahmanas trividhah smritah': Om, Tat and Sat are the threefold name of Brahman; by it the Brahmins, the Vedas and sacrifice were ordained of old (17.23)."

• Om: so the sacrifices, gifts and austerities of the followers of the Veda always begin with "Om".
• Tat: seekers of liberation perform sacrifice, austerity and charity saying "Tat" ("That", all belongs to God), without seeking reward.
• Sat: "Sat" is used for reality and goodness, and for auspicious deeds. Steadfastness in sacrifice, austerity and charity is called "Sat", and so is any action done for God.

"Whatever is offered, given or done without faith, Partha, is called 'asat'; it is of no use here or hereafter (17.28)."

What this chapter teaches

• As the faith, so the person; keeping faith pure and rightly directed matters most.
• Fresh, simple, nourishing food made with love keeps the mind calm and cheerful too.
• Austerity of speech: speak the truth, but in a way that does not hurt and does good.
• Give without expecting anything back, with respect, to the right person at the right time.
• Do everything with faith; even a great deed without faith is hollow.