Chapter 17, Verse 1 (Bhagavad Gita 17.1)
Chapter 17: Śhraddhā Traya Vibhāg Yog – Yoga through Discerning the Three Divisions of Faith
Sanskrit Shloka
अर्जुन उवाचये शास्त्रविधिमुत्सृज्य यजन्ते श्रद्धयाऽन्विताः।तेषां निष्ठा तु का कृष्ण सत्त्वमाहो रजस्तमः
Transliteration
arjuna uvācha ye śhāstra-vidhim utsṛijya yajante śhraddhayānvitāḥ teṣhāṁ niṣhṭhā tu kā kṛiṣhṇa sattvam āho rajas tamaḥ
Word Meanings
arjunaḥ uvācha—Arjun said; ye—who; śhāstra-vidhim—scriptural injunctions; utsṛijya—disregard; yajante—worship; śhraddhayā-anvitāḥ—with faith; teṣhām—their; niṣhṭhā—faith; tu—indeed; kā—what; kṛiṣhṇa—Krishna; sattvam—mode of goodness; āho—or; rajaḥ—mode of passion; tamaḥ—mode of ignorance
Translation
Arjuna said: O Krishna, what is the situation of those who, disregarding the injunctions of the scriptures, perform sacrifice with faith? Is it Sattva, Rajas, or Tamas?
Meaning & Commentary
In this opening verse of the seventeenth chapter, Arjuna seeks clarity from the Supreme Lord Krishna regarding the nature of faith divorced from scriptural authority. Bhagwan Shri Krishna, the eternal source of all dharma, is here invited to delineate the classification of human devotion that operates outside the Vedic framework. This inquiry is essential for every soul, as it addresses whether 'faith' alone, without the discipline of divine law, can truly lead to spiritual liberation. Shri Krishna through His response reveals how even the most sincere human intentions must be purified by scriptural wisdom to transcend the three modes of material nature. Ultimately, the seeker learns that true devotion is not merely an emotional impulse, but a practice aligned with the eternal will of the Supreme Lord.