Shraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga - The Yoga of the Division of Threefold Faith

ये शास्त्रविधिमुत्सृज्य यजन्ते श्रद्धयान्विताः। तेषां निष्ठा तु का कृष्ण सत्त्वमाहो रजस्तमः॥

Arjuna said: O Krishna, what is the position of those who discard scriptural rules yet worship with faith? Is their faith in the mode of goodness, passion, or ignorance?

त्रिविधा भवति श्रद्धा देहिनां सा स्वभावजा। सात्त्विकी राजसी चैव तामसी चेति तां शृणु॥

The Supreme Lord said: The faith of embodied beings is of three kinds, born of their innate nature — sattvic, rajasic, and tamasic. Hear about it.

सत्त्वानुरूपा सर्वस्य श्रद्धा भवति भारत। श्रद्धामयोऽयं पुरुषो यो यच्छ्रद्धः स एव सः॥

O Bharata, the faith of everyone corresponds to their inner nature. A person is made of their faith — whatever one's faith is, that indeed is what they are.

यजन्ते सात्त्विका देवान्यक्षरक्षांसि राजसाः। प्रेतान्भूतगणांश्चान्ये यजन्ते तामसा जनाः॥

Those in the mode of goodness worship the gods; those in the mode of passion worship yakshas and rakshasas; and those in the mode of ignorance worship ghosts and spirits.

अशास्त्रविहितं घोरं तप्यन्ते ये तपो जनाः। दम्भाहङ्कारसंयुक्ताः कामरागबलान्विताः॥

Those who perform terrible austerities not enjoined by scripture, full of hypocrisy and egotism, driven by desire, attachment, and force —

कर्शयन्तः शरीरस्थं भूतग्राममचेतसः। मां चैवान्तःशरीरस्थं तान्विद्ध्यासुरनिश्चयान्॥

— who torment the bodily elements and also Me who dwells within the body — know them to be of demoniac resolve, lacking true understanding.

आहारस्त्वपि सर्वस्य त्रिविधो भवति प्रियः। यज्ञस्तपस्तथा दानं तेषां भेदमिमं शृणु॥

The food that is dear to everyone is also of three kinds. So too are sacrifice, austerity, and charity. Hear now their distinctions.

आयुःसत्त्वबलारोग्यसुखप्रीतिविवर्धनाः। रस्याः स्निग्धाः स्थिरा हृद्या आहाराः सात्त्विकप्रियाः॥

Foods that promote longevity, vitality, strength, health, happiness, and satisfaction — which are juicy, nourishing, substantial, and pleasing to the heart — are dear to those in the mode of goodness.

कट्वम्ललवणात्युष्णतीक्ष्णरूक्षविदाहिनः। आहारा राजसस्येष्टा दुःखशोकामयप्रदाः॥

Foods that are bitter, sour, salty, very hot, pungent, dry, and burning are dear to those in the mode of passion. They cause pain, grief, and disease.

यातयामं गतरसं पूति पर्युषितं च यत्। उच्छिष्टमपि चामेध्यं भोजनं तामसप्रियम्॥

Food that is stale, tasteless, foul-smelling, decomposed, leftover, and impure is dear to those in the mode of ignorance.

अफलाकाङ्क्षिभिर्यज्ञो विधिदृष्टो य इज्यते। यष्टव्यमेवेति मनः समाधाय स सात्त्विकः॥

That sacrifice which is performed according to scriptural rules, by those who desire no reward, with firm conviction that it is a duty — that is sattvic.

अभिसन्धाय तु फलं दम्भार्थमपि चैव यत्। इज्यते भरतश्रेष्ठ तं यज्ञं विद्धि राजसम्॥

But that sacrifice which is performed with expectation of reward or for the sake of show — know that to be rajasic, O best of Bharatas.

विधिहीनमसृष्टान्नं मन्त्रहीनमदक्षिणम्। श्रद्धाविरहितं यज्ञं तामसं परिचक्षते॥

That sacrifice which is performed without proper rules, without distribution of food, without mantras, without proper remuneration, and devoid of faith — is called tamasic.

देवद्विजगुरुप्राज्ञपूजनं शौचमार्जवम्। ब्रह्मचर्यमहिंसा च शारीरं तप उच्यते॥

Worship of the gods, the twice-born, teachers, and the wise; cleanliness, straightforwardness, celibacy, and non-violence — this is called the austerity of the body.

अनुद्वेगकरं वाक्यं सत्यं प्रियहितं च यत्। स्वाध्यायाभ्यसनं चैव वाङ्मयं तप उच्यते॥

Speech that causes no distress, that is truthful, pleasant, and beneficial, along with the regular practice of scriptural study — this is called the austerity of speech.

मनःप्रसादः सौम्यत्वं मौनमात्मविनिग्रहः। भावसंशुद्धिरित्येतत्तपो मानसमुच्यते॥

Serenity of mind, gentleness, silence, self-control, and purity of intent — this is called the austerity of the mind.

श्रद्धया परया तप्तं तपस्तत्त्रिविधं नरैः। अफलाकाङ्क्षिभिर्युक्तैः सात्त्विकं परिचक्षते॥

This threefold austerity, practiced with supreme faith by disciplined persons who desire no reward, is called sattvic.

सत्कारमानपूजार्थं तपो दम्भेन चैव यत्। क्रियते तदिह प्रोक्तं राजसं चलमध्रुवम्॥

Austerity performed with hypocrisy, for the sake of gaining respect, honor, and worship, is said to be rajasic — it is unstable and impermanent.

मूढग्राहेणात्मनो यत्पीडया क्रियते तपः। परस्योत्सादनार्थं वा तत्तामसमुदाहृतम्॥

Austerity performed with foolish obstinacy, by means of self-torture, or for the purpose of destroying another — that is declared to be tamasic.

दातव्यमिति यद्दानं दीयतेऽनुपकारिणे। देशे काले च पात्रे च तद्दानं सात्त्विकं स्मृतम्॥

That charity which is given as a matter of duty, at the right place and time, to a worthy person who cannot reciprocate — that is considered sattvic.

यत्तु प्रत्युपकारार्थं फलमुद्दिश्य वा पुनः। दीयते च परिक्लिष्टं तद्दानं राजसं स्मृतम्॥

But that charity which is given with the expectation of getting something in return, or with a desire for reward, or reluctantly — that is considered rajasic.

अदेशकाले यद्दानमपात्रेभ्यश्च दीयते। असत्कृतमवज्ञातं तत्तामसमुदाहृतम्॥

That charity which is given at the wrong place and time, to unworthy persons, without respect, or with contempt — that is declared to be tamasic.

ॐ तत्सदिति निर्देशो ब्रह्मणस्त्रिविधः स्मृतः। ब्राह्मणास्तेन वेदाश्च यज्ञाश्च विहिताः पुरा॥

'Om Tat Sat' — this has been declared as the threefold designation of Brahman. By this, the Brahmanas, the Vedas, and the sacrifices were ordained in ancient times.

तस्मादोमित्युदाहृत्य यज्ञदानतपःक्रियाः। प्रवर्तन्ते विधानोक्ताः सततं ब्रह्मवादिनाम्॥

Therefore, acts of sacrifice, charity, and austerity prescribed by the scriptures are always begun by the knowers of Brahman with the utterance of Om.

तदित्यनभिसन्धाय फलं यज्ञतपःक्रियाः। दानक्रियाश्च विविधाः क्रियन्ते मोक्षकाङ्क्षिभिः॥

Uttering 'Tat' without aiming at any reward, various acts of sacrifice, austerity, and charity are performed by the seekers of liberation.

सद्भावे साधुभावे च सदित्येतत्प्रयुज्यते। प्रशस्ते कर्मणि तथा सच्छब्दः पार्थ युज्यते॥

O Partha, the word 'Sat' is used in the sense of reality and goodness. Likewise, the word 'Sat' is applied to praiseworthy actions.

यज्ञे तपसि दाने च स्थितिः सदिति चोच्यते। कर्म चैव तदर्थीयं सदित्येवाभिधीयते॥

Steadfastness in sacrifice, austerity, and charity is also called 'Sat.' Action performed for the sake of the Supreme is likewise designated as 'Sat.'

अश्रद्धया हुतं दत्तं तपस्तप्तं कृतं च यत्। असदित्युच्यते पार्थ न च तत्प्रेत्य नो इह॥

O Partha, whatever is offered in sacrifice, given in charity, or performed as austerity without faith — it is called 'Asat' (unreal). It bears no fruit, neither here nor hereafter.