Complete learning edition. The Sanskrit source remains separate from attributed word meanings, translation, explanation and commentary witnesses. Diagrams and memory aids are study tools, not replacements for the source text.
अर्जुन उवाचये शास्त्रविधिमुत्सृज्य यजन्ते श्रद्धयाऽन्विताः।तेषां निष्ठा तु का कृष्ण सत्त्वमाहो रजस्तमः।।17.1।।
arjuna uvācha ye śhāstra-vidhim utsṛijya yajante śhraddhayānvitāḥ teṣhāṁ niṣhṭhā tu kā kṛiṣhṇa sattvam āho rajas tamaḥ
Arjuna asked, "My Lord, what is the condition of those who perform acts of sacrifice not according to the scriptures, but with implicit faith? Is it one of purity, passion, or ignorance?"
English rendering by Shri Purohit Swami. Each source voice remains named.
Build the sentence from its parts
Read across once, then cover the meanings and recover them from the Sanskrit forms.
| Sanskrit form | Meaning here |
|---|---|
| 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 |
This chapter deals with the three kinds of people who are endowed with three kinds of faith. Each of them follows a path in accordance with his inherent nature: either Sattvic, Rajasic or Tamasic.
Attributed explanatory witness: Swami Sivananda. Chapter lens: Trace how faith, worship, food, sacrifice, austerity and gift are described under the three guṇas.
Three named reading witnesses
Śaṅkara edition witness
Swami GambiranandaArjuna said, But, O Krsna, what is the state of those who, endued with faith, perform sacrifices, distribute wealth, etc. in honour of gods and others, while ignoring the injunctions of the scriptures? Is it sattva, rajas, or tamas?
Rāmānuja edition witness
Swami AdidevanandaArjuna said, "Now, O Krsna, what is the position or basis of those who, despite leaving aside the injunction of the Sastra, still worship with faith? Is it Sattva, Rajas, or Tamas?"
Sivananda commentary witness
Swami SivanandaThis chapter deals with the three kinds of people who are endowed with three kinds of faith. Each of them follows a path in accordance with his inherent nature: either Sattvic, Rajasic or Tamasic.
These are concise, attributed reading witnesses from identified editions. They are presented for comparison and are not merged into one anonymous interpretation.
Meaning map
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- 1
Arjuna asked, "My Lord, what is the condition of those who perform acts of sacrifice not according to the scriptures
- 2
with implicit faith? Is it one of purity, passion, or ignorance?"
- 3
arjunaḥ uvācha: Arjun said
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Trace how faith, worship, food, sacrifice, austerity and gift are described under the three guṇas.
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- 1
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- 2
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- 3
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