17. Three Divisions of Faith

Śhraddhā Traya Vibhāg Yog

BG 17.1

Arjuna asked: Those who disregard the directions of the scriptures, yet worship out of devotion - is their faith one of purity, passion, or ignorance?

अर्जुन उवाचये शास्त्रविधिमुत्सृज्य यजन्ते श्रद्धयाऽन्विताः
तेषां निष्ठा तु का कृष्ण सत्त्वमाहो रजस्तमः


  • arjuna — Arjuna

  • uvācha — said

  • ye — who

  • śhāstra-vidhim — scriptural directives

    • śhāstra — scripture

    • vidhim — directives to perform certain activities

  • utsṛijya — disregard

  • yajante — worship
    Yajanta (यजन्त) is a sacrificer or worshipper.

  • śhraddhayānvitāḥ — with faith
    śhraddhayā-anvitāḥ—with faith

  • teṣhāṁ — their

  • niṣhṭhā — faith

  • tu — indeed

  • — what

  • kṛiṣhṇa — Krishna

  • sattvam — purity

  • āho — or

  • rajas — passion

  • tamaḥ — ignorance

Chapter 17, Verse 1