Chapter Seventeen

                  The Threefold Division of Faith

                           Sraddhatraya-vibhag-yoga

 1) Arjuna inquired: O Krsna, what is the position of those who
perform worship with faith, but neglect the injunctions of the
scriptures? Is that considered to be in goodness, passion, or
ignorance?

2) The Supreme Lord said: Such faith is of three types, according
to an embodied soul's previously developed tendencies good,
passionate, or ignorant. Now please hear about this from Me.

3) O Bharata, all men have a particular type of faith according to
their individual mentalities. The very nature of the living being is
based on faith their internal and external nature is modeled
according to their faith. Therefore, their nature may be discerned
according to the manner of worship or reverence in which they
have faith.

4) Persons endowed with the nature of goodness worship the good-
natured demigods; persons of passionate nature worship the
passionate Yaksa demigods and cannibalistic Raksasa demons,
while those of ignorant faith worship the ghosts and the dead, in
the plane of darkness.

5-6) Proud and pretentious fools cause the derangement of the
body's natural elements and torment the indwelling soul, which is
My fragmental spiritual particle. Motivated by intense craving to
display their mental and bodily prowess, they perform
excruciating non-scriptural austerities. You should know them as
first-class confirmed demons.

7) According to the three modes of material nature, there are also
three preferences of food. In the same way, there are three kinds
of sacrifice, three kinds of austerity, and three kinds of charity.
Now hear of all these.

8) Edible or offerable foods which increase longevity, zeal,
strength, health, happiness and satisfaction, and which are
succulent, milky, wholesome, and attractive these are dear to
persons of the nature of goodness.

9) Edibles dear to persons of passionate nature are too bitter
(nimba, etc.), too sour, too salty, too hot, too pungent (chili
pepper, etc,) too dry (dry-roasted chick-peas, etc.), and too
heating (mustard seed, etc.). Such foods cause unhappiness,
distress, and disease.

10) Such food is dear to the ignorant: food which is cold, due to
being cooked more than three hours before; food which is
tasteless, exudes a bad odor, or was cooked the day before; the
remnants of others (with the exception of remnants left by one's
guru); and impure foodstuffs (such as meat, wine, and onions).

11) Sacrifice of the nature of goodness is in accordance with
scriptural injunctions, and performed with a resolute sense of
duty by a person devoid of fruitive desire.

12) But, O Bharata, know that sacrifice which is performed in
fruitive expectation and merely as a display of pomp and
grandeur, to be sacrifice of the nature of passion.

13) And that sacrifice which ignores the injunctions of the
scriptures, which is performed without the distribution of gifts
such as foodstuffs, without uttering the appropriate mantras,
without presentations to the guru, and without faith, is known as
sacrifice in ignorance.

14) Worship of the deity, the brahmanas, the spiritual master, and
the enlightened soul, as well as cleanliness, simplicity, celibacy,
and nonviolence these all constitute austerity of the body.

15) Speech which does not disturb others, which is truthful,
pleasing yet beneficial, as well as regular recitation of the Vedas
all these are known as verbal austerity.

16) Self-satisfaction, graceful gravity, firmness, self-control, and
purification of consciousness are all known as mental austerity.
17) When performed by a desireless, devout soul with sublime
faith in the Supreme Lord, this threefold austerity is of the nature
of goodness.

18) That unenduring and uncertain austerity which is proudly
performed just for the sake of gain, worship, and name and fame,
is known as austerity of the nature of passion.

19) That austerity which is performed with foolish and injudicious
preoccupation, causing self-torture or meant to harm others, is
known as austerity of the nature of ignorance.

20) Charity given without expectation of return, as a matter of
duty, with due consideration of place, time, and recipient, is
considered to be of the nature of goodness.

21) Otherwise, charity given with an agitated mentality, in
anticipation of receiving something in return, or with a desire of
gaining entry into the heavenly plane, is known as charity of the
nature of passion.

22) Charity given disrespectfully and scornfully to an unworthy
recipient at an improper place and time is known as charity of the
nature of ignorance.

23) The phrase 'Om Tat Sat' is mentioned in the scriptures as
indicative of Parabrahman, the Supreme Spirit. At the time of
universal creation, the brahmaas, the Vedas, and sacrifices were
ordained by this threefold combination.

24) For this reason, the followers of the Vedas always begin the
performance of their scripturally enjoined duties based on
sacrifice, charity, and austerity, by uttering the vibration 'Om',
which represents Brahman, the Absolute.

25) Vibrating the word 'Tat', which also represents Brahman, the
Absolute, and rejecting the desire for the fruits of their actions,
the liberation-seekers conduct the performance of different kinds
of sacrifices and austerities, and execute the duty of giving charity.

26) O Partha, the word 'Sat' indicates the truth, as well as persons
who are dedicated servants of truth. It is also applied in the
performance of auspicious activities.

27) The word 'Sat' is employed to indicate both the eternality of
the object of sacrifice, austerity, and charity, as well as duty
performed for the satisfaction of the Supreme Lord.

28) O Partha, sacrifice, charity, and austerity, or any duty
performed without faith in the supreme objective, is known as
'asat', or depraved. Such works can never bestow an auspicious
result, either in this world or the next.



INDEX