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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
17.417.6

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 17.5

Faith shaped by the three guṇas

Prakṛti · Material nature

अशास्त्रविहितं घोरं तप्यन्ते ये तपो जना: ।

दम्भाहङ्कारसंयुक्ता: कामरागबलान्विता: ॥ ५ ॥

कर्षयन्त: शरीरस्थं भूतग्राममचेतस: ।

मां चैवान्त: शरीरस्थं तान्विद्ध्यासुरनिश्चयान् ॥ ६ ॥

aśāstra-vihitaṁ ghoraṁ

tapyante ye tapo janāḥ

dambhāhaṅkāra-saṁyuktāḥ

kāma-rāga-balānvitāḥ

karṣayantaḥ śarīra-sthaṁ

bhūta-grāmam acetasaḥ

māṁ caivāntaḥ śarīra-sthaṁ

tān viddhy āsura-niścayān

Translation

Those who undergo severe austerities and penances not recommended in the scriptures, performing them out of pride and egoism, who are impelled by lust and attachment, who are foolish and who torture the material elements of the body as well as the Supersoul dwelling within, are to be known as demons.

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

Austerity Guided by Scripture

  1. 1

    Severe austerities against scripture, driven by pride, ego, lust and attachment, harm the body and insult the Supersoul within. Those who perform them are called demons.

  2. 2

    Prabhupāda explains that scripture recommends fasting for spiritual advancement, not for political or social purposes.

  3. 3

    Follow scriptural guidance rather than inventing your own austerities.

Key points from the purport

These notes cover verses 17.5–6

Defines demons — (4 points)

Undergoes severe austeries and penances not recommended in scriptures

Performs them out of pride and egoism

Impelled by lust and attachment

They are foolish and they torture the material elements of the body as well as the Supersoul dwelling within

Such actions are an insult to the Supreme Personality of Godhead – because acted out of disobedience to the scriptures

a

Manufacture modes of austerity and penance that are not mentioned in sastras

e.g. Fasting for an ulterior purpose like promoting a political end or social purpose

Such fasting is not good for any spiritual advancement

b

Importance of the word ‘Achestasah’ — Misled mentality

Normal mentality is that one must obey the scriptures

Abnormal position – Neglect and disobey the scriptures

c

Destiny — Repeated demoniac births (Ref. Bg. 16.19 – 16.20)

d

Rare fortune for such persons — To be guided by the spiritual master to the direct Vedic path and achieve the Supreme goal

Connected verses · 1

Texts 17.4 & 17.5

Srila Baladeva Vidyabhushana explains that Texts 17.2 — 17.4 describe

those who have given up sastra out of laziness or because the required worship was troublesome, yet faithfully worship the demigods. Texts 17.5 – 17.6, in contrast, describe not those who have whimsically given up following sastra but those who are against Vedic practices.

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. aśāstranot in the scriptures
  2. vihitamdirected
  3. ghoramharmful to others
  4. tapyanteundergo
  5. yethose who
  6. tapaḥausterities
  7. janāḥpersons
  8. dambhawith pride
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 17.5 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

The story behind it

Mahābhārata episodes and stories from the purports that shed light on this verse.

All stories for chapter 17 ›
6

Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

BG 17.2Faith shaped by the three guṇasBG 17.3Faith 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.

  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
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