Chapter 17, Verse 17 (Bhagavad Gita 17.17)
Chapter 17: Śhraddhā Traya Vibhāg Yog – Yoga through Discerning the Three Divisions of Faith
Sanskrit Shloka
श्रद्धया परया तप्तं तपस्तत्ित्रविधं नरैः।अफलाकाङ्क्षिभिर्युक्तैः सात्त्विकं परिचक्षते
Transliteration
śhraddhayā parayā taptaṁ tapas tat tri-vidhaṁ naraiḥ aphalākāṅkṣhibhir yuktaiḥ sāttvikaṁ parichakṣhate
Word Meanings
śhraddhayā—with faith; parayā—transcendental; taptam—practiced; tapaḥ—austerity; tat—that; tri-vidham—three-fold; naraiḥ—by persons; aphala-ākāṅkṣhibhiḥ—without yearning for material rewards; yuktaiḥ—steadfast; sāttvikam—in the mode of goodness; parichakṣhate—are designated
Translation
This threefold austerity, performed with utmost faith by men who are steadfast, without desire for any fruit, is declared to be Sattvic.
Meaning & Commentary
Lord Krishna here reveals the pinnacle of spiritual practice: the performance of duties solely for the pleasure of the Divine. When a devotee acts with steadfast faith and abandons the thirst for personal gain, their very actions become a form of transcendental worship. By detaching from the fruits of labor, one cleanses the heart of ego, allowing the sattvic nature of the soul to shine forth. Bhagwan Shri Krishna teaches that this purity is the essential foundation for liberation, as it aligns the seeker's will with the eternal cosmic order. Through this selfless discipline, the soul gradually transcends the material modes and moves closer to the lotus feet of Yogeshwar Krishna.