Chapter 17. The Divisions
of Faith
Chapter 17,
Verse 1.
 Arjuna
said, O Krsna, what is the situation of one who does not follow the principles
of scripture but who worships according to his own imagination? Is he in
goodness, in passion or in ignorance?
Chapter 17,
Verse 2.
The Supreme
Lord said, according to the modes of nature acquired by the embodied soul,
one's faith can be of three kinds--goodness, passion or ignorance. Now
hear about these.
Chapter 17,
Verse 3.
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.
Chapter 17,
Verse 4.
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.
Chapter 17,
Verse 5-6.
Those
who undergo severe austerities and penances not recommended in the scriptures,
performing them out of pride, egoism, lust and attachment, who are impelled
by passion and who torture their bodily organs as well as the Supersoul
dwelling within are to be known as demons.
Chapter 17,
Verse 7.
Even
food of which all partake is of three kinds, according to the three modes
of material nature. The same is true of sacrifices, austerities and charity.
Listen, and I shall tell you of the distinctions of these.
Chapter 17,
Verse 8-10.
Even
food of which all partake is of three kinds, according to the three modes
of material nature. The same is true of sacrifices, austerities and charity.
Listen, and I shall tell you of the distinctions of these.
Chapter 17,
Verse 11.
Of sacrifices,
that sacrifice performed according to duty and to scriptural rules, and
with no expectation of reward, is of the nature of goodness.
Chapter 17,
Verse 12.
But that
sacrifice performed for some material end or benefit or preformed ostentatiously,
out of pride, is of the nature of passion, O chief of the Bharatas.
Chapter 17,
Verse 13.
And that
sacrifice performed in defiance of scriptural injunctions, in which no
spiritual food is distributed, no hymns are chanted and no remunerations
are made to the priests, and which is faithless--that sacrifice is of the
nature of ignorance.
Chapter 17,
Verse 14.
The austerity
of the body consists in this: worship of the Supreme Lord, the brahmanas,
the spiritual master, and superiors like the father and mother. Cleanliness,
simplicity, celibacy and nonviolence are also austerities of the body.
Chapter 17,
Verse 15.
Austerity
of speech consists in speaking truthfully and beneficially and in avoiding
speech that offends. One should also recite the Vedas regularly.
Chapter 17,
Verse 16.
And serenity,
simplicity, gravity, self-control and purity of thought are the austerities
of the mind.
Chapter 17,
Verse 17.
This
threefold austerity, practiced by men whose aim is not to benefit themselves
materially but to please the Supreme, is of the nature of goodness.
Chapter 17,
Verse 18.
Those
ostentatious penances and austerities which are performed in order to gain
respect, honor and reverence are said to be in the mode of passion. They
are neither stable nor permanent.
Chapter 17,
Verse 19.
And those
penances and austerities which are performed foolishly by means of obstinate
self-torture, or to destroy or injure others, are said to be in the mode
of ignorance.
Chapter 17,
Verse 20.
That
gift which is given out of duty, at the proper time and place, to a worthy
person, and without expectation of return, is considered to be charity
in the mode of goodness.
Chapter 17,
Verse 21.
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.
Chapter 17,
Verse 22.
And charity
performed at an improper place and time and given to unworthy persons without
respect and with contempt is charity in the mode of ignorance.
Chapter 17,
Verse 23.
From
the beginning of creation, the three syllables--om tat sat--have been used
to indicate the Supreme Absolute Truth [Brahman]. They were uttered by
brahmanas while chanting Vedic hymns and during sacrifices, for the satisfaction
of the Supreme.
Chapter 17,
Verse 24.
Thus
the transcendentalists undertake sacrifices, charities, and penances, beginning
always with om, to attain the Supreme.
Chapter 17,
Verse 25.
One should
perform sacrifice, penance and charity with the word tat. The purpose of
such transcendental activities is to get free from the material entanglement.
Chapter
17, Verse 26-27.
The Absolute
Truth is the objective of devotional sacrifice, and it is indicated by
the word sat. These works of sacrifice, of penance and of charity, true
to the absolute nature, are performed to please the Supreme Person, O son
of Prtha.
Chapter 17,
Verse 28.
But sacrifices,
austerities and charities performed without faith in the Supreme are nonpermanent,
O son of Prtha, regardless of whatever rites are performed. They are called
asat and are useless both in this life and the next.
  
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