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Chapter 17 · The Divisions of Faith · 28 verses

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How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Remember who is speaking. Kṛṣṇa is speaking. Take the verse as He directs.
  2. 2Say the verse and its words. Read the Sanskrit, then each word with its meaning.
  3. 3Read the translation as it is. Let the translation say what it says, without adding your own meaning.
  4. 4Read the purport. Hear the verse through the disciplic succession.
  5. 5Bring your own question. Ask: where does this verse meet my life, my trouble, my doubt?
  6. 6Act on it, remembering Kṛṣṇa. Carry one instruction into your work today.
Read the full guide: how to read the Bhagavad-gītā ›
Nature & guṇasChapter 17 · The Divisions of Faith
17.117.3

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 17.2

Faith shaped by the three guṇas

Prakṛti · Material nature

श्रीभगवानुवाच

त्रिविधा भवति श्रद्धा देहिनां सा स्वभावजा ।

सात्त्विकी राजसी चैव तामसी चेति तां श‍ृणु ॥ २ ॥

śrī-bhagavān uvāca

tri-vidhā bhavati śraddhā

dehināṁ sā svabhāva-jā

sāttvikī rājasī caiva

tāmasī ceti tāṁ śṛṇu

Translation

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: According to the modes of nature acquired by the embodied soul, one’s faith can be of three kinds – in goodness, in passion or in ignorance. Now hear about this.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

What this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.

3 study points

Three Kinds of Faith

  1. 1

    The Supreme Personality of Godhead says that faith is of three kinds: goodness, passion or ignorance, according to one’s acquired modes of nature.

  2. 2

    Prabhupāda explains that past activities shape one’s nature, but following a genuine spiritual master and the scriptures can gradually raise one to goodness.

  3. 3

    Do not rely on blind faith. Think carefully with a genuine spiritual master’s guidance and follow his instructions and the scriptures.

Key points from the purport

Krishna says — “If one does not follow the Vedas, one will follow the natural instincts which will be in goodness, passion or ignorance”

a

Who are under the modes — Those who know the rules and regulations of scripture but out of laziness or indolence give up following these rules are governed by the modes

b

Basis of acquiring modes — Acquired according to previous activities (Ref. Bg. 13.22)

c

How to change the influence of the modes — By the help of the bona-fide spiritual master and if one abides by the rules of scriptures

Consider things carefully

With intelligence

In association with a bona-fide spiritual master

Blind faith in a particular mode of nature cannot help to elevate one to the perfectional stage

Further reading

The Modes Determine One’s Faith And One’s Worship

Arjuna asks about the situation of one who worships, but not according to sastra

Krishna replies that one who doesn’t follow sastra worships according to the faith dictated by his acquired modes of material nature

Chapter 17, section I: The Modes Determine One’s Faith And One’s Worship
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-bhagavān uvācathe Supreme Personality of Godhead said
  2. tri-vidhāof three kinds
  3. bhavatibecomes
  4. śraddhāthe faith
  5. dehināmof the embodied
  6. sāthat
  7. sva-bhāva-jāaccording to his mode of material nature
  8. sāttvikīin the mode of goodness
3

Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Key ideas: prakṛti, guṇa.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 17.2 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to nature & guṇas?

Practice

Observe which mode shaped your last decision.

5

Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

BG 17.3Faith shaped by the three guṇasBG 17.4Faith shaped by the three guṇasBG 7.14Crossing beyond māyā
Live this todayFaith and the ModesA practice from BG 17.3, close to this verse

Study notes are editorial summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport.

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