Chapter 17 · Shraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga - The Yoga of the Division of Threefold FaithArjuna
Verse 1
श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता अध्याय 17, श्लोक 1
Sanskrit Shloka (श्लोक)
ये शास्त्रविधिमुत्सृज्य यजन्ते श्रद्धयान्विताः।
तेषां निष्ठा तु का कृष्ण सत्त्वमाहो रजस्तमः॥
Transliteration
Ye shastra-vidhim-utsrijya yajante shraddhaya-anvitah
Tesham nishtha tu ka Krishna sattvam-aho rajas-tamah
Word-by-Word Meaning (अन्वय)
येyethose who
शास्त्रविधिम्shastra-vidhimscriptural injunctions
उत्सृज्यutsrijyadiscarding
यजन्तेyajanteworship
श्रद्धयाshraddhayawith faith
अन्विताःanvitahendowed
तेषाम्teshamtheir
निष्ठाnishthaposition/faith
काkawhat
कृष्णKrishnaO Krishna
सत्त्वम्sattvamsattva (goodness)
रजःrajahrajas (passion)
तमःtamahtamas (ignorance)
Hindi Translation (हिन्दी अर्थ)
अर्जुन बोले — हे कृष्ण! जो लोग शास्त्रविधि को त्यागकर श्रद्धा से युक्त होकर पूजन करते हैं, उनकी स्थिति क्या है — सत्त्व, रजस् या तमस्?
English Translation
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?
Commentary (टीका)
Arjuna raises an important practical question: what about sincere devotees who have faith but don't follow scriptural rules? This question bridges the previous chapter's emphasis on scripture with the reality that many people worship genuinely but without formal knowledge.