bhagavad-giitaa adhyaaya 17 (English)

This chapter starts with Arjuna asking about the position of those people, who worship after abandoning the rules of the scriptures. Kr's'n'a then answers by explaining that they are in different categories, in relation to the three gun'a, namely sattva, rajah', and tamah'. This discussion, about the people who worship after abandoning the rules of the scriptures, started in the previous chapter, and contains many signs that the text is either sloppily written or incomplete in some ways. The verses 3 and 20 in this chapter are examples of sloppy writing, and verse 22 in the previous chapter is another such example. The verses in this chapter have been corrected here. This type of sloppy writing is different from the earlier chapters of the Bhagavad-giitaa, and that seems to indicate that these later chapters are later additions. The contents are also different. However, the real question is whether or not these later chapters can be considered to be divine revelations as well as the earlier chapters. They are accepted as such by most vaishnavas. Kr's'n'a explains to Arjuna how the different worships are classified among the gun'a. It is interesting that Kr's'n'a doesn't say how the people, who worship other humans, are classified. This is probably because humans can be like gods, demons, or ghosts respectively. Then the worship of those humans are classified according to what they are like. Thereafter, Kr's'n'a explains that people, who perform terrible austerity, which is not supported by the scriptures, are of demoniac conviction. The verses are in a strange order here. It would make more sense if verse 4 would come after verse 6, but that is another example of sloppy writing, which means that there has been some mistakes in the copying of the Bhagavad-giitaa. This is an old scripture, and it has been copied by hand for many centuries, and there has obviously happened some mistakes while copying. This seventeenth chapter seems to have more examples of sloppy writing than the rest of the Bhagavad-giitaa, and it is not clear why. Kr's'n'a then explains to Arjuna how the different foods, sacrifices, austerities, and gifts are classified among the gun'a. Thereafter, Kr's'n'a explains the significance and meaning of the mantra "om' tat sat", which is said to be the description of brahma. The word "sat" means "real", and the word "unreal" in the last verse is an opposite of "sat".

Next adhyaaya

Aj:Øün: uv:ac: y:ð S:as*:ev:eD:m:Øts:àjy: y:j:nt:ð Â:¹y:a¡nv:t:aH . t:ð\:aö en:Åa t:Ø ka ká\Na s:¶v:m:ah< rj:st:m:H / 1 /	Arjuna spoke: But which position do they have, who worship accompanied by faith, after abandoning the rules of the scriptures, o Kr's'n'a? Is it sattva, rajah', or tamah'? (1)
Â:iB:g:v:an:Øv:ac: e*:ev:D:a B:v:et: Â:¹a dðehn:aö s:a sv:B:av:j:a . s:a¡¶v:ki raj:s:i c:òv: t:am:s:i c:ðet: t:aö S:àN:Ø / 2 /	S''rii Bhagavaan spoke: Hear about that innate faith of the souls, which is threefold: related to sattva, and even related to rajah', and related to tamah'! (2)
s:¶v:an:Ø-p:a s:v:üsy: Â:¹a B:v:et: B:art: . Â:¹am:y:<\|y:ö p:Ø,\:< y:< y:< Â:¹H s: Ov: s:H / 3 /	According to one's innate disposition, a faith arises in everyone, o descendant of Bharata^. Whoever he may be, this person, who is full of faith, is really the faithful one.^ (3)
y:j:nt:ð s:a¡¶v:ka dðv:any:x:rx:aöes: raj:s:aH . )ðt:anB:Üt:g:N:aöÁ:any:ð y:j:nt:ð t:am:s:a j:n:aH / 4 /	Those, who are related to sattva, worhip gods; those, who are related to rajah', worship yaks'a and demons; and other people, who are related to tamah', worship ghosts and multitudes of spirits. (4)
AS:as*:ev:eht:ö G:<rö t:py:nt:ð y:ð t:p:< j:n:aH . dmB:ah¢ars:öy:ØVt:aH kam:rag:b:l:a¡nv:t:aH / 5 /	People, who undergo terrible austerity, which is not established by the scriptures, are accompanied by hypocrisy and egotism, and linked to desire, love, and might, (5)
k\:üy:nt:H S:rirsT:ö B:Üt:g:Òam:m:c:ðt:s:H . m:aö c:òv:ant:HS:rirsT:ö t:a¡nv:dÏDy:as:Øren:Á:y:an:Î / 6 /	and they are insensible, torturing the multitude of living beings, who are existing in the body, and even me, who am existing within the body. Know them to be of demoniac conviction! (6)
Aaharstv:ep: s:v:üsy: e*:ev:D:< B:v:et: e)y:H . y:wst:p:st:T:a dan:ö t:ð\:aö B:ðdem:m:ö S:àN:Ø / 7 /	But even the food, which is dear to everyone, is threefold, as well as sacrifice, austerity, and charity. Hear about this distinction between them! (7)
Aay:ØHs:¶v:b:l:ar<gy:s:ØK:)iet:ev:v:D:ün:aH . rsy:aH ¡sn:gD:aH ¡sT:ra Æ½a AaharaH s:a¡¶v:ke)y:aH / 8 /	The foods, which are dear to those who are related to sattva, are the ones which increase health, character, strength, health, pleasure, joy and are juicy, fat, solid, and savoury. (8)
kXÏv:ml:l:v:N:aty:Ø\Nat:ixN:-x:ev:daehn:H . Aahara raj:s:sy:ðÄ dØHK:S:<kam:y:)daH / 9 /	Pungent, sour, salty, very hot, fiery, rough, and burning foods are desired by those, who are related to rajah', and give pain, sorrow, and disease. (9)
y:at:y:am:ö g:t:rs:ö p:Üet: p:y:Øüe\:t:ö c: y:t:Î . u¡cCÄm:ep: c:am:ðDy:ö B:<j:n:ö t:am:s:e)y:m:Î / 10 /	Meals, which are rejected, withered, stinking, and stale, impure, and even remainders, are dear to those who are related to tamah'. (10)
APl:aka¡{Ïx:eB:y:üw< ev:eD:dàÄ< y: Ejy:t:ð . y:Ävy:m:ðv:ðet: m:n:H s:m:aD:ay: s: s:a¡¶v:kH / 11 /	That sacrifice, which is offered by someone who doesn't desire any reward, after fixing his mind that it should be offered, and is prescribed by the rules, is related to sattva, (11)
AeB:s:nD:ay: t:Ø Pl:ö dmB:aT:üm:ep: c:òv: y:t:Î . Ejy:t:ð B:rt:Â:ðÅ t:ö y:wö ev:e¹ raj:s:m:Î / 12 /	but know that sacrifice, which is offered after aiming at the result, which is then really only for the sake of hypocrisy, to be related to rajah', o best of the Bharata^*! (12)
ev:eD:hin:m:s:àÄaÀö m:n*:hin:m:dex:N:m:Î . Â:¹aev:reht:ö y:wö t:am:s:ö p:erc:x:t:ð / 13 /	They acknowledge that sacrifice, which is unauthorised, and without mantra, and which does not distribute food nor give, and which is performed disbelieving, as related to tamah'. (13)
dðv:e¾j:g:Ø,)awp:Üj:n:ö S:>c:m:aj:üv:m:Î . b:ÒÉc:y:üm:ehös:a c: S:arirö t:p: ucy:t:ð / 14 /	Worship of the gods, the twice-born, the guru, and the wise men, and purity, honesty, study of the veda, and harmlessness is called bodily austerity. (14)
An:Ø¾ðg:krö v:aVy:ö s:ty:ö e)y:eht:ö c: y:t:Î . sv:aDy:ay:aBy:s:n:ö c:òv: v:a¨y:ö t:p: ucy:t:ð / 15 /	Words which don't cause apprehension, and are true and agreeable, and even practice the repetition of the veda, are called speech-related austerity. (15)
m:n:H)s:adH s:>my:tv:ö m:>n:m:atm:ev:en:g:ÒhH . B:av:s:öS:Øe¹erty:ðt:¶:p:< m:an:s:m:Øcy:t:ð / 16 /	Serenity in mind, mildness, silence, self-control, purity of mind: this is called mental austerity. (16)
Â:¹y:a p:ry:a t:pt:ö t:p:st:¡t*:ev:D:ö n:ròH . APl:aka¡{Ïx:eB:y:ØüVt:òH s:a¡¶v:k÷ p:erc:x:t:ð / 17 /	They acknowledge that threefold austerity, which is practised with supreme faith by united men, who don't desire any reward, as related to sattva. (17)
s:tkarm:an:p:Üj:aT:þ t:p:< dmB:ðn: c:òv: y:t:Î . e#y:t:ð t:edh )<Vt:ö raj:s:ö c:l:m:D:ÒÙv:m:Î / 18 /	That austerity, which is undertaken in this world for the sake of honour, pride, and respect, and even with hypocrisy, is declared to be shaking, unfirm, and related to rajah'. (18)
m:ÜZg:ÒahðN:atm:n:H y:tp:iRy:a e#y:t:ð t:p:H . p:rsy:<ts:adn:aT:þ v:a t:¶:am:s:m:ØdaÆt:m:Î / 19 /	That austerity, which is undertaken with misconception of oneself, with pain, or for the sake of destroying others, is declared to be related to tamah'. (19)
dat:vy:em:et: y:¸an:ö diy:t:ð\|n:Øp:kaerN:ð . dðS:ð kal:ð c: p:a*:ay: t:¸an:ö s:a¡¶v:k÷ sm:àt:m:Î / 20 /	That gift, which is given, thinking that one should give, to the one who does not make a return, in place, and in time, and to a worthy recipient, is termed related to sattva,^* (20)
y:¶:Ø )ty:Øp:karaT:þ Pl:m:Øe¸Sy: v:a p:Øn:H . diy:t:ð c: p:er¡Vl:Äö t:¸an:ö raj:s:ö sm:àt:m:Î / 21 /	but that gift, which is given for the sake of returning a favour, or after aiming at a result back, and unwillingly, is termed related to rajah'. (21)
AdðS:kal:ð y:¸an:m:p:a*:ðBy:Á: diy:t:ð . As:tkát:m:v:wat:ö t:¶:am:s:m:ØdaÆt:m:Î / 22 /	That gift, which is given at the wrong place and time, and to unworthy recipients, inhospitably, and disrespectedly, is declared to be related to tamah'. (22)
!t:ts:edet: en:dðüS:< b:ÒÉN:¡s*:ev:D:H sm:àt:H . b:ÒaÉN:ast:ðn: v:ðdaÁ: y:waÁ: ev:eht:aH p:Øra / 23 /	"Om' tat sat" is termed the threefold description of brahma. The braahman'a, and the veda and the sacrifices were formerly arranged by it. (23)
t:sm:ad<em:ty:ØdaÆty: y:wdan:t:p:He#y:aH . )v:t:ünt:ð ev:D:an:<Vt:aH s:t:t:ö b:ÒÉv:aedn:am:Î / 24 /	Therefore, the activities of sacrifices, gifts, and austerities, of the speakers of brahma are proclaimed according to precepts, and constantly happen after calling "om'". (24)
t:edty:n:eB:s:nD:ay: Pl:ö y:wt:p:He#y:aH . dan:e#y:aÁ: ev:ev:D:aH e#y:nt:ð m:<x:ka¡{Ïx:eB:H / 25 /	"Tat" refers to the activities of sacrifices and austerities and the manifold activities of gifts, which are undertaken by those who are desirous of liberation, without aiming at any result. (25)
s:»av:ð s:aD:ØB:av:ð c: s:edty:ðt:tp:Òy:Øjy:t:ð . )S:st:ð km:üeN: t:T:a s:cCbdH p:aT:ü y:Øjy:t:ð / 26 /	This "sat" is suitable in truth and goodness. The word "sat" suits auspicious actions as well, o Pr'thaa's son^*, (26)
y:wð t:p:es: dan:ð c: ¡sT:et:H s:edet: c:<cy:t:ð . km:ü c:òv: t:dT:iüy:ö s:edty:ðv:aeB:D:iy:t:ð / 27 /	and intentness on sacrifice, austerity, and gift, is called "sat", and "sat" is indeed even considered to be action, which is destined for that. (27)
AÂ:¹y:a hÚt:ö d¶:ö t:p:st:pt:ö kát:ö c: y:t:Î . As:edty:Øcy:t:ð p:aT:ü n: c: t:tp:Òðty: n:< Eh / 28 /	That, which is offered, given, and performed with disbelief, as well as austerity which is practised with disbelief, is called unreal, o Pr'thaa's son^*, and it is not in the coming world and not in this world. (28)