Chapter 17, Verse 2 (Bhagavad Gita 17.2)
Chapter 17: Śhraddhā Traya Vibhāg Yog – Yoga through Discerning the Three Divisions of Faith
Sanskrit Shloka
श्री भगवानुवाचत्रिविधा भवति श्रद्धा देहिनां सा स्वभावजा।सात्त्विकी राजसी चैव तामसी चेति तां श्रृणु
Transliteration
śhrī-bhagavān uvācha tri-vidhā bhavati śhraddhā dehināṁ sā svabhāva-jā sāttvikī rājasī chaiva tāmasī cheti tāṁ śhṛiṇu
Word Meanings
śhrī-bhagavān uvācha—the Supreme Personality said; tri-vidhā—of three kinds; bhavati—is; śhraddhā—faith; dehinām—embodied beings; sā—which; sva-bhāva-jā—born of one’s innate nature; sāttvikī—of the mode of goodness; rājasī—of the mode of passion; cha—and; eva—certainly; tāmasī—of the mode of ignorance; cha—and; iti—thus; tām—about this; śhṛiṇu—hear
Translation
Shri Krishna said: The faith of the embodied souls is of three kinds, according to their nature—sattvic (pure), rajasic (passionate), and tamasic (dark). Hear of this from Me.
Meaning & Commentary
In this profound revelation, Lord Krishna unveils the hidden architecture of the human heart, explaining that our faith is not merely a belief but a direct expression of our spiritual evolution. As the Supreme Lord, Shri Krishna teaches Arjuna that our worldly choices are governed by the inherent qualities—gunas—that color our consciousness. By categorizing these states of faith, the Lord invites every seeker to introspect and transcend the limitations of matter. Through this divine guidance, one learns that by purifying one’s faith, one moves closer to the Supreme Divine, ultimately breaking the cycle of samsara. It is an invitation from Yogeshwar Krishna to refine our internal nature and align our souls with the eternal light of Truth.