Chapter 17, Verse 3 (Bhagavad Gita 17.3)
Chapter 17: Śhraddhā Traya Vibhāg Yog – Yoga through Discerning the Three Divisions of Faith
Sanskrit Shloka
सत्त्वानुरूपा सर्वस्य श्रद्धा भवति भारत।श्रद्धामयोऽयं पुरुषो यो यच्छ्रद्धः स एव सः
Transliteration
sattvānurūpā sarvasya śhraddhā bhavati bhārata śhraddhā-mayo ‘yaṁ puruṣho yo yach-chhraddhaḥ sa eva saḥ
Word Meanings
sattva-anurūpā—conforming to the nature of one’s mind; sarvasya—all; śhraddhā—faith; bhavati—is; bhārata—Arjun, the scion of Bharat; śhraddhāmayaḥ—possessing faith; ayam—that; puruṣhaḥ—human being; yaḥ—who; yat-śhraddhaḥ—whatever the nature of their faith; saḥ—their; eva—verily; saḥ—they
Translation
O Arjuna, the faith of each individual is in accordance with their nature. A person is made of their faith; as their faith is, so they are.
Meaning & Commentary
In this profound revelation, Lord Krishna explains that our external actions are merely reflections of the internal state of our consciousness, which He calls 'sraddha' or faith. Shri Krishna teaches that what we deeply value, worship, and believe in defines the very fabric of our soul and determines our spiritual trajectory. By observing the nature of one's faith, one can understand their past impressions and future destination. Lord Krishna invites the seeker to purify their faith through devotion, as this alone determines whether one remains bound to the material modes or ascends toward His eternal abode.