Bhagavad Gita 17.1

Shraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga · English Translation

Arjuna said Those who, setting aside the ordinances of the scriptures, perform sacrifice with faith, what is their condition, O Krishna? Is is Sattva, Rajas or Tamas?

Sanskrit

अर्जुन उवाच | ये शास्त्रविधिमुत्सृज्य यजन्ते श्रद्धयान्विताः | तेषां निष्ठा तु का कृष्ण सत्त्वमाहो रजस्तमः ||१७-१||

Transliteration

arjuna uvāca . ye śāstravidhimutsṛjya yajante śraddhayānvitāḥ . teṣāṃ niṣṭhā tu kā kṛṣṇa sattvamāho rajastamaḥ ||17-1||

What Does This Verse Mean?

Arjuna asks Krishna to clarify the spiritual status of people who perform religious acts with deep faith but ignore traditional scriptural rules. He wonders if such actions are driven by goodness (Sattva), passion/rage (Rajas), or ignorance/darkness (Tamas). The core teaching is that true devotion cannot be separated from divine wisdom and adherence to righteous principles.

The Teaching Behind It

This verse anchors the concept that faith (Shraddha) must be guided by knowledge (Jnana) within the framework of Karma Yoga. It develops the Sankhya philosophy's distinction between the three gunas (qualities of nature) and asserts that action without adherence to dharma is ultimately unstable.

Word by Word

ये who, शास्त्रविधिम् the ordinances of the scriptures, उत्सृज्य setting aside, यजन्ते perform sacrifice, श्रद्धया with faith, अन्विताः endowed, तेषाम् their, निष्ठा condition, तु verily, का what, कृष्ण O Krishna, सत्त्वम् Sattva, आहो or, रजः Rajas, तमः Tamas

Classical Commentary

This chapter deals with the three kinds of people who are endowed with three kinds of faith. Each of them follows a path in accordance with his inherent nature -- either Sattvic? Rajasic or Tamasic. Arjuna says to Krishna It is very difficult to grasp the meaning of the scriptures. It is still more difficult to get a spiritual preceptor who can teach the scriptures. The vast majority of persons are not endowed with a pure, subtle, sharp and onepointed intellect. The span of life is short. The scriptures are endless. The obstacles on the spiritual path are many. Facilities for learning are not always available. There are conflicting statements in the scriptures which have to be reconciled. Thou hast said that liberation is not possible without a knowledge of the scriptures. An ordinary man, though ignorant of or unable to follow this teaching, does charity, performs rituals, worships the Lord with faith, tries to follow the footsteps of sages and saints just as a child copies letters that have been written out for him as a model, or as a blind man makes hiw way by the aid of another who possesses sight. What faith is his How should the state of such a man be described -- Sattvic? Rajasic or Tamasic What is the fate of the believers who have no knowledge of the scriptures

Where This Happens

This verse occurs on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, where Arjuna has just listened to Krishna's detailed teachings on duty and devotion in previous chapters. Overwhelmed by complex instructions regarding rituals and mental states, Arjuna pauses to seek clarification before proceeding further with his resolve. He is speaking as a devoted disciple who seeks absolute clarity rather than blind obedience.

Living It Out Today

Consider a modern professional deciding whether to cut corners on safety regulations to meet an urgent deadline while believing they are 'helping the team.' This verse prompts you to reflect: Is your confidence in this decision based on pure intention (Sattva), or is it driven by greed and fear of failure (Rajas)? It challenges us to align our actions not just with personal feelings, but with established ethical standards.

Explained for Children

Imagine you have a set of rules for building the best Lego tower, but your friend builds one using only their favorite colors while ignoring those instructions. Arjuna is asking Krishna: 'Is this special friend doing something good just because they love it so much?' He wants to know if following our own heart without listening to wise teachers leads to a happy result or confusion.

Daily Reflection

You often wonder if your best intentions are truly aligned with wisdom when they feel different from what is expected. Krishna invites you to look not at the ritual itself, but at the inner fire driving it; a sincere offering made with pure heart transforms even simple acts into sacred worship. When you question whether your path of faith leads toward light or darkness, remember that the sincerity of your spirit matters more than the formality of the action.

A Practice for Today

Close your eyes and bring to mind an action you performed today out of deep conviction, even if it went against the grain of convention or expectation. Ask yourself: Is this fire burning within a place of clarity (Sattva), driven by desire for reward (Rajas), or born from confusion and inertia (Tamas)? Rest in that answer without judgment, simply observing the quality of your faith.

Key Teachings

Faith Over Form
The Gita teaches that external adherence to scriptural rules is secondary when contrasted with genuine, internal faith. True spirituality begins not in rigidly following a checklist, but in the authentic sincerity of one's heart.
The Threefold Nature of Faith
Every act of devotion is colored by our dominant nature: Sattvic acts are pure and selfless, Rajasic acts seek personal gain or fame, and Tamasic acts arise from ignorance. Understanding this helps us diagnose the quality of our own spiritual practices.
Action Born of Conviction
Even actions that seem to set aside traditional ordinances can be valid if they are performed with a steady, believing mind. The ultimate criterion for righteousness is not just the action itself, but the consciousness from which it springs.

Themes

faithscriptureactiondharmagunasdevotion

Related Verses

2.47 3.30 18.66 9.27 15.15

Read This Next

17.2 — This verse immediately follows to explain how Krishna categorizes this faith into Sattvic, Rajasic, and Tamasic types.
12.15 — To see how Krishna describes the devotee who is dear to Him, reinforcing that purity and simplicity are cherished above all.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Bhagavad Gita say we can ignore traditional religious rules?

No, Arjuna's question highlights that ignoring scriptural ordinances while performing rituals leads to confusion about one's spiritual state. Krishna subsequently explains in this chapter and later verses that true action must be aligned with dharma (righteousness) as defined by the scriptures.

What are Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas in the context of faith?

These are three qualities or 'gunas' that influence human behavior. In this verse, they refer to whether an action is pure and balanced (Sattva), driven by desire and ego (Rajas), or born from ignorance and laziness (Tamas). The Gita teaches we should strive for Sattvic faith.

Why does Arjuna ask this specific question after so many teachings?

Arjuna is seeking clarity on the nuances of devotion. He has heard about acting without attachment but wants to understand if personal intuition can override established spiritual laws when performing sacrifices or good deeds.

How does this verse relate to modern secular ethics?

It suggests that 'good intentions' alone are not enough; actions must also be guided by wisdom and universal ethical principles. This parallels the idea in modern life that doing something because you feel it's right isn't sufficient if it violates fundamental laws or harms others.

In Other Languages: Bhagavad Gita 17.1 →