- 17.1ये शास्त्रविधिमुत्सृज्य यजन्ते श्रद्धयान्विताः ।Arjuna asks how to understand sincere worship that does not follow scripture.
- 17.2त्रिविधा भवति श्रद्धा देहिनां सा स्वभावजा ।Krishna says faith reflects a person's inner nature and comes in three forms.
- 17.3सत्त्वानुरूपा सर्वस्य श्रद्धा भवति भारत ।A person's faith grows from inner character and shapes who they become.
- 17.4यजन्ते सात्त्विका देवान्यक्षरक्षांसि राजसाः ।Different inner qualities draw people toward very different kinds of worship.
- 17.5अशास्त्रविहितं घोरं तप्यन्ते ये तपो जनाः ।Harsh discipline mixed with ego and desire is not spiritual purity.
- 17.6कर्षयन्तः शरीरस्थं भूतग्राममचेतसः ।Misguided austerity harms the body and misses the Divine within.
- 17.7आहारस्त्वपि सर्वस्य त्रिविधो भवति प्रियः ।Food, sacrifice, austerity, and charity are also shaped by the three gunas.
- 17.8आयुःसत्त्वबलारोग्यसुखप्रीतिविवर्धनाः ।Pure food nourishes body, mind, and spirit in a balanced way.
- 17.9कट्वम्ललवणात्युष्णतीक्ष्णरूक्षविदाहिनः ।Rajasic food excites the senses but often leaves discomfort afterward.
- 17.10यातयामं गतरसं पूति पर्युषितं च यत् ।Tamasic food is stale, impure, or neglected and weakens the mind and body.
- 17.11अफलाङ्क्षिभिर्यज्ञो विधिदृष्टो य इज्यते ।A clean sacrifice is done as duty, not for reward, and follows sacred order.
- 17.12अभिसन्धाय तु फलं दम्भार्थमपि चैव यत् ।A desire-driven sacrifice is done for reward or appearance.
- 17.13विधिहीनमसृष्टान्नं मन्त्रहीनमदक्षिणम् ।A careless or faithless sacrifice is empty of true spiritual value.
- 17.14देवद्विजगुरुप्राज्ञपूजनं शौचमार्जवम् ।Bodily austerity means reverence, purity, honesty, restraint, and harmlessness.
- 17.15अनुद्वेगकरं वाक्यं सत्यं प्रियहितं च यत् ।Speech austerity means speaking truth with care, usefulness, and steadiness.
- 17.16मनः प्रसादः सौम्यत्वं मौनमात्मविनिग्रहः ।Mental austerity is calmness, gentleness, restraint, and inner purity.
- 17.17श्रद्धया परया तप्तं तपस्तत्त्रिविधं नरैः ।Austerity becomes pure when it is done with faith and without craving reward.
- 17.18सत्कारमानपूजार्थं तपो दम्भेन चैव यत् ।Austerity done for praise is restless and unstable.
- 17.19मूढग्राहेणात्मनो यत्पीडया क्रियते तपः ।Cruel or deluded self-denial is tamasic, not spiritual.
- 17.20दातव्यमिति यद्दानं दीयतेऽनुपकारिणे ।A true gift is given freely, at the right time, without expecting anything back.
- 17.21यत्तु प्रत्युपकारार्थं फलमुद्दिश्य वा पुनः ।A rajasic gift is given with an eye on reward or repayment.
- 17.22अदेशकाले यद्दानमपात्रेभ्यश्च दीयते ।A careless or disrespectful gift is tamasic.
- 17.23ॐतत्सदिति निर्देशो ब्रह्मणस्त्रिविधः स्मृतः ।Om, Tat, and Sat point to the highest reality and the sacred order behind spiritual life.
- 17.24तस्मादोमित्युदाहृत्य यज्ञदानतपःक्रियाः ।Spiritual actions are begun with Om as an offering to the highest.
- 17.25तदित्यनभिसन्धाय फलं यज्ञतपःक्रियाः ।Those seeking liberation offer their actions without desiring personal gain.
- 17.26सद्भावे साधुभावे च सदित्येतत्प्रयुज्यते ।Sat refers to what is real, noble, and truly good.
- 17.27यज्ञे तपसि दाने च स्थितिः सदिति चोच्यते ।Steady devotion, discipline, and generosity are all expressions of Sat.
- 17.28अश्रद्धया हुतं दत्तं तपस्तप्तं कृतं च यत् ।Without faith, even spiritual action becomes empty and fruitless.
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