The Bhagavadgita

Chapter 17

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

The Deity said:
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.

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.

Those of the quality of goodness worship the gods; those of the quality of passion the Yakshas and Rakshases; and the others, the people of the quality of darkness, worship departed (spirits) and the multitudes of Bhûtas.

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

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.

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, rough, and burning, and which cause pain, grief, and disease, are desired by the passionate.

And the food which is cold, tasteless, 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), and for the purpose of ostentation, know that sacrifice (to be) passionate.

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

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

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

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

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, honour, 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, 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, and to a (proper) person.

But that gift which is given with much difficulty, for a return of services, or even with an expectation of fruit, is said to be passionate.

And that gift, is described as dark, which is given to unfit persons, at an unfit place and time, without respect, and with contempt.

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

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.'

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.'

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

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

From "The Bhagavadgita with the Sanatsugatiya and the Anugita" translated by Kashinath Trimbak Telang, Volume 8, The Sacred Books of the East, 1882.

The Bhagavadgita

Chapter 17

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