CHAPTER 17: The three types of Faith
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arjunah uvaca -- Arjuna said; ye -- those who; sastra-vidhim -- the regulations of scripture; utsrjya -- giving up; yajante -- worship; sraddhaya -- full faith; anvitah -- possessed of; tesam -- of them; nistha -- the faith; tu -- but; ka -- what; krsna -- O Krishna; sattvam -- in goodness; aho -- or else; rajah -- in passion; tamah -- in ignorance.

Arjuna inquired: O Krishna, what is the situation of those who do not follow the principles of scripture but worship according to their own imagination? Are they in goodness, in passion or in ignorance?

sri-bhagavan uvaca -- The Supreme said; tri-vidha -- of three kinds; bhavati -- becomes; sraddha -- the faith; dehinam -- of the embodied; sa -- that; sva-bhava-ja -- according to his mode of material nature; sattviki -- in the mode of goodness; rajasi -- in the mode of passion; ca -- also; eva -- certainly; tamasi -- in the mode of ignorance; ca -- and; iti -- thus; tam -- that; srnu -- hear from Me.

The Supreme said: According to the modes of nature acquired by the embodied soul, one's faith can be of three kinds -- in goodness, in passion or in ignorance. Now hear about this.

sattva-anurupa -- according to the existence; sarvasya -- of everyone; sraddha -- faith; bhavati -- becomes; bharata -- O son of Bharata; sraddha -- faith; mayah -- full of; ayam -- this; purusah -- living entity; yah -- who; yat -- having which; sraddhah -- faith; sah -- thus; eva -- certainly; sah -- he.

O son of Bharata, according to one's existence under the various modes of nature, one evolves a particular kind of faith. The living being is said to be of a particular faith according to the modes he has acquired.

yajante -- worship; sattvikah -- those who are in the mode of goodness; devan -- demigods; yaksa-raksamsi -- demons; rajasah -- those who are in the mode of passion; pretan -- spirits of the dead; bhuta-ganan -- ghosts; ca -- and; anye -- others; yajante -- worship; tamasah -- in the mode of ignorance; janah -- people.

Men in the mode of goodness worship the demigods; those in the mode of passion worship the demons; and those in the mode of ignorance worship ghosts and spirits.

asastra -- not in the scriptures; vihitam -- directed; ghoram -- harmful to others; tapyante -- undergo; ye -- those who; tapah -- austerities; janah -- persons; dambha -- with pride; ahankara -- and egoism; samyuktah -- engaged; kama -- of lust; raga -- and attachment; bala -- by the force; anvitah -- impelled; karsayantah -- tormenting; sarira-stham -- situated within the body; bhuta-gramam -- the combination of material elements; acetasah -- having a misled mentality; mam -- Me; ca -- also; eva -- certainly; antah -- within; sarira-stham -- situated in the body; tan -- them; viddhi -- understand; asura-niscayan -- demons.

Those who undergo severe austerities and penances not recommended in the scriptures, performing them out of pride and egoism, who are impelled by lust and attachment, who are foolish and who torture the material elements of the body as well as the Supersoul dwelling within, are to be known as demons.

aharah -- eating; tu -- certainly; api -- also; sarvasya -- of everyone; tri-vidhah -- of three kinds; bhavati -- there is; priyah -- dear; yajnah -- sacrifice; tapah -- austerity; tatha -- also; danam -- charity; tesam -- of them; bhedam -- the differences; imam -- this; srnu -- hear.

Even the food each person prefers is of three kinds, according to the three modes of material nature. The same is true of sacrifices, austerities and charity. Now hear of the distinctions between them.

ayuh -- duration of life; sattva -- existence; bala -- strength; arogya -- health; sukha -- happiness; priti -- and satisfaction; vivardhanah -- increasing; rasyah -- juicy; snigdhah -- fatty; sthirah -- enduring; hrdyah -- pleasing to the heart; aharah -- food; sattvika -- to one in goodness; priyah -- palatable.

Foods dear to those in the mode of goodness increase the duration of life, purify one's existence and give strength, health, happiness and satisfaction. Such foods are juicy, fatty, wholesome, and pleasing to the heart.

katu -- bitter; amla -- sour; lavana -- salty; ati usna -- very hot; tiksna -- pungent; ruksa -- dry; vidahinah -- burning; aharah -- food; rajasasya -- to one in the mode of passion; istah -- palatable; duhkha -- distress; soka -- misery; amaya -- disease; pradah -- causing.

Foods that are too bitter, too sour, salty, hot, pungent, dry and burning are dear to those in the mode of passion. Such foods cause distress, misery and disease.

yata-yamam -- food cooked three hours before being eaten; gata-rasam -- tasteless; puti -- bad-smelling; paryusitam -- decomposed; ca -- also; yat -- that which; ucchistam -- remnants of food eaten by others; api -- also; ca -- and; amedhyam -- untouchable; bhojanam -- eating; tamasa -- to one in the mode of darkness; priyam -- dear.

Food prepared more than three hours before being eaten, food that is tasteless, decomposed and putrid, and food consisting of remnants and untouchable things is dear to those in the mode of darkness.

aphala-akanksibhih -- by those devoid of desire for result; yajnah -- sacrifice; vidhi-distah -- according to the direction of scripture; yah -- which; ijyate -- is performed; yastavyam -- must be performed; eva -- certainly; iti -- thus; manah -- mind; samadhaya -- fixing; sah -- it; sattvikah -- in the mode of goodness.

Of sacrifices, the sacrifice performed according to the directions of scripture, as a matter of duty, by those who desire no reward, is of the nature of goodness.

abhisandhaya -- desiring; tu -- but; phalam -- the result; dambha -- pride; artham -- for the sake of; api -- also; ca -- and; eva -- certainly; yat -- that which; ijyate -- is performed; bharata-srestha -- O chief of the Bharatas; tam -- that; yajnam -- sacrifice; viddhi -- know; rajasam -- in the mode of passion.

But the sacrifice performed for some material benefit, or for the sake of pride, O chief of the Bharatas, you should know to be in the mode of passion.

vidhi-hinam -- without scriptural direction; asrsta-annam -- without distribution of prasadam; mantra-hinam -- with no chanting of the Vedic hymns; adaksinam -- with no remunerations to the priests; sraddha -- faith; virahitam -- without; yajnam -- sacrifice; tamasam -- in the mode of ignorance; paricaksate -- is to be considered.

Any sacrifice performed without regard for the directions of scripture, without distribution of prasadam [spiritual food], without chanting of Vedic hymns and remunerations to the priests, and without faith is considered to be in the mode of ignorance.

deva -- of the Supreme Lord; dvija -- the brahmanas; guru -- the spiritual master; prajna -- and worshipable personalities; pujanam -- worship; saucam -- cleanliness; arjavam -- simplicity; brahmacaryam -- celibacy; ahimsa -- nonviolence; ca -- also; sariram -- pertaining to the body; tapah -- austerity; ucyate -- is said to be.

Austerity of the body consists in worship of the Supreme Lord, the brahmanas, the spiritual master, and superiors like the father and mother, and in cleanliness, simplicity, celibacy and nonviolence.

anudvega-karam -- not agitating; vakyam -- words; satyam -- truthful; priya -- dear; hitam -- beneficial; ca -- also; yat -- which; svadhyaya -- of Vedic study; abhyasanam -- practice; ca -- also; eva -- certainly; vak-mayam -- of the voice; tapah -- austerity; ucyate -- is said to be.

Austerity of speech consists in speaking words that are truthful, pleasing, beneficial, and not agitating to others, and also in regularly reciting Vedic literature.

manah-prasadah -- satisfaction of the mind; saumyatvam -- being without duplicity towards others; maunam -- gravity; atma -- of the self; vinigrahah -- control; bhava -- of one's nature; samsuddhih -- purification; iti -- thus; etat -- this; tapah -- austerity; manasam -- of the mind; ucyate -- is said to be.

And satisfaction, simplicity, gravity, self-control and purification of one's existence are the austerities of the mind.

sraddhaya -- with faith; paraya -- transcendental; taptam -- executed; tapah -- austerity; tat -- that; tri-vidham -- of three kinds; naraih -- by men; aphala-akanksibhih -- who are without desires for fruits; yuktaih -- engaged; sattvikam -- in the mode of goodness; paricaksate -- is called.

This threefold austerity, performed with transcendental faith by men not expecting material benefits but engaged only for the sake of the Supreme, is called austerity in goodness.

sat-kara -- respect; mana -- honor; puja -- and worship; artham -- for the sake of; tapah -- austerity; dambhena -- with pride; ca -- also; eva -- certainly; yat -- which; kriyate -- is performed; tat -- that; iha -- in this world; proktam -- is said; rajasam -- in the mode of passion; calam -- flickering; adhruvam -- temporary.

Penance performed out of pride and for the sake of gaining respect, honor and worship is said to be in the mode of passion. It is neither stable nor permanent.

mudha -- foolish; grahena -- with endeavor; atmanah -- of one's own self; yat -- which; pidaya -- by torture; kriyate -- is performed; tapah -- penance; parasya -- to others; utsadana-artham -- for the sake of causing annihilation; va -- or; tat -- that; tamasam -- in the mode of darkness; udahrtam -- is said to be.

Penance performed out of foolishness, with self-torture or to destroy or injure others, is said to be in the mode of ignorance.

datavyam -- worth giving; iti -- thus; yat -- that which; danam -- charity; diyate -- is given; anupakarine -- irrespective of return; dese -- in a proper place; kale -- at a proper time; ca -- also; patre -- to a suitable person; ca -- and; tat -- that; danam -- charity; sattvikam -- in the mode of goodness; smrtam -- is considered.

Charity given out of duty, without expectation of return, at the proper time and place, and to a worthy person is considered to be in the mode of goodness.

yat -- that which; tu -- but; prati-upakara-artham -- for the sake of getting some return; phalam -- a result; uddisya -- desiring; va -- or; punah -- again; diyate -- is given; ca -- also; pariklistam -- grudgingly; tat -- that; danam -- charity; rajasam -- in the mode of passion; smrtam -- is understood to be.

But charity performed with the expectation of some return, or with a desire for fruitive results, or in a grudging mood, is said to be charity in the mode of passion.

adesa -- at an unpurified place; kale -- and unpurified time; yat -- that which; danam -- charity; apatrebhyah -- to unworthy persons; ca -- also; diyate -- is given; asat-krtam -- without respect; avajnatam -- without proper attention; tat -- that; tamasam -- in the mode of darkness; udahrtam -- is said to be.

And charity performed at an impure place, at an improper time, to unworthy persons, or without proper attention and respect is said to be in the mode of ignorance.

om -- indication of the Supreme; tat -- that; sat -- eternal; iti -- thus; nirdesah -- indication; brahmanah -- of the Supreme; tri-vidhah -- threefold; smrtah -- is considered; brahmanah -- the brahmanas; tena -- with that; vedah -- the Vedic literature; ca -- also; yajnah -- sacrifice; ca -- also; vihitah -- used; pura -- formerly.

From the beginning of creation, the three words om tat sat were used to indicate the Supreme Absolute Truth. These three symbolic representations were used by brahmanas while chanting the hymns of the Vedas and during sacrifices for the satisfaction of the Supreme.

tasmat -- therefore; om -- beginning with om; iti -- thus; udahrtya -- indicating; yajna -- of sacrifice; dana -- charity; tapah -- and penance; kriyah -- performances; pravartante -- begin; vidhana-uktah -- according to scriptural regulation; satatam -- always; brahma-vadinam -- of the transcendentalists.

Therefore, transcendentalists undertaking performances of sacrifice, charity and penance in accordance with scriptural regulations begin always with om, to attain the Supreme.

tat -- that; iti -- thus; anabhisandhaya -- without desiring; phalam -- the fruitive result; yajna -- of sacrifice; tapah -- and penance; kriyah -- activities; dana -- of charity; kriyah -- activities; ca -- also; vividhah -- various; kriyante -- are done; moksa-kanksibhih -- by those who actually desire liberation.

Without desiring fruitive results, one should perform various kinds of sacrifice, penance and charity with the word tat. The purpose of such transcendental activities is to get free from material entanglement.

sat-bhave -- in the sense of the nature of the Supreme; sadhu-bhave -- in the sense of the nature of the devotee; ca -- also; sat -- the word sat; iti -- thus; etat -- this; prayujyate -- is used; prasaste -- in bona fide; karmani -- activities; tatha -- also; sat-sabdah -- the sound sat; partha -- O son of Prtha; yujyate -- is used; yajne -- in sacrifice; tapasi -- in penance; dane -- in charity; ca -- also; sthitih -- the situation; sat -- the Supreme; iti -- thus; ca -- and; ucyate -- is pronounced; karma -- work; ca -- also; eva -- certainly; tat -- for that; arthiyam -- meant; sat -- the Supreme; iti -- thus; eva -- certainly; abhidhiyate -- is indicated.

The Absolute Truth is the objective of devotional sacrifice, and it is indicated by the word sat. The performer of such sacrifice is also called sat, as are all works of sacrifice, penance and charity which, true to the absolute nature, are performed to please the Supreme Person, O son of Prtha.

asraddhaya -- without faith; hutam -- offered in sacrifice; dattam -- given; tapah -- penance; taptam -- executed; krtam -- performed; ca -- also; yat -- that which; asat -- false; iti -- thus; ucyate -- is said to be; partha -- O son of Prtha; na -- never; ca -- also; tat -- that; pretya -- after death; na u -- nor; iha -- in this life.

Anything done as sacrifice, charity or penance without faith in the Supreme, O son of Prtha, is impermanent. It is called asat and is useless both in this life and the next.