Chapter 17: The Yoga of the Three Kinds of Faith

Verses (28)

1. 17.1

   अर्जुन उवाचये शास्त्रविधिमुत्सृज्य यजन्ते श्रद्धयाऽन्विताः।तेषां निष्ठा तु का कृष्ण सत्त्वमाहो रजस्त...

   Good intentions without proper knowledge and alignment lead to wasted effort. Leaders must combine faith with wisdom and clear principles to create la...

2. 17.2

   श्री भगवानुवाचत्रिविधा भवति श्रद्धा देहिनां सा स्वभावजा।सात्त्विकी राजसी चैव तामसी चेति तां श्रृणु।।...

   Your team's engagement style reflects their natural temperament—some seek clarity and growth, others chase results, some resist change. Lead according...

3. 17.3

   सत्त्वानुरूपा सर्वस्य श्रद्धा भवति भारत।श्रद्धामयोऽयं पुरुषो यो यच्छ्रद्धः स एव सः।।17.3।।

   Your beliefs shape your reality. Cultivate faith in your vision, capabilities, and purpose—you become what you genuinely believe you are.

4. 17.4

   यजन्ते सात्त्विका देवान्यक्षरक्षांसि राजसाः।प्रेतान्भूतगणांश्चान्ये यजन्ते तामसा जनाः।।17.4।।

   Your choices reflect your character. Leaders driven by growth elevate others; those chasing power corrupt; those in denial destroy. Choose your influe...

5. 17.5

   अशास्त्रविहितं घोरं तप्यन्ते ये तपो जनाः।दम्भाहङ्कारसंयुक्ताः कामरागबलान्विताः।।17.5।।

   Ego-driven efforts without principled guidance waste energy and create suffering. True effectiveness comes from humble action aligned with proven wisd...

6. 17.6

   कर्षयन्तः शरीरस्थं भूतग्राममचेतसः।मां चैवान्तःशरीरस्थं तान्विद्ध्यासुरनिश्चयान्।।17.6।।

   Leaders who ignore their team's wellbeing and exploit resources for short-term gains ultimately damage their organization and themselves. Sustainable ...

7. 17.7

   आहारस्त्वपि सर्वस्य त्रिविधो भवति प्रियः।यज्ञस्तपस्तथा दानं तेषां भेदमिमं श्रृणु।।17.7।।

   Quality matters more than quantity in all endeavors. Choose actions aligned with your values—whether work, discipline, or giving—for sustainable succe...

8. 17.8

   आयुःसत्त्वबलारोग्यसुखप्रीतिविवर्धनाः।रस्याः स्निग्धाः स्थिरा हृद्या आहाराः सात्त्विकप्रियाः।।17.8।।

   Choose nourishment—physical, mental, and emotional—that builds clarity, resilience, and well-being. Quality inputs create quality outputs in both body...

9. 17.9

   कट्वम्ललवणात्युष्णतीक्ष्णरूक्षविदाहिनः।आहारा राजसस्येष्टा दुःखशोकामयप्रदाः।।17.9।।

   Leaders driven by ego and ambition pursue harsh, unsustainable strategies that create short-term gains but long-term suffering for themselves and thei...

10. 17.10

    यातयामं गतरसं पूति पर्युषितं च यत्।उच्छिष्टमपि चामेध्यं भोजनं तामसप्रियम्।।17.10।।

    Leaders driven by inertia consume low-quality information and make decisions from outdated, corrupted sources. Choose fresh, nourishing inputs to elev...

11. 17.11

    अफलाकाङ्क्षिभिर्यज्ञो विधिदृष्टो य इज्यते।यष्टव्यमेवेति मनः समाधाय स सात्त्विकः।।17.11।।

    Perform your duties with full commitment, without obsessing over outcomes, and with the conviction that the work itself matters. This mindset builds e...

12. 17.12

    अभिसंधाय तु फलं दम्भार्थमपि चैव यत्।इज्यते भरतश्रेष्ठ तं यज्ञं विद्धि राजसम्।।17.12।।

    Act with genuine purpose, not for recognition or reward. Self-serving motives corrupt even good work and diminish its true value.

13. 17.13

    विधिहीनमसृष्टान्नं मन्त्रहीनमदक्षिणम्।श्रद्धाविरहितं यज्ञं तामसं परिचक्षते।।17.13।।

    Meaningful work requires proper structure, resources, and genuine commitment. Half-hearted efforts without clear purpose, fair compensation, or shared...

14. 17.14

    देवद्विजगुरुप्राज्ञपूजनं शौचमार्जवम्।ब्रह्मचर्यमहिंसा च शारीरं तप उच्यते।।17.14।।

    Discipline your actions through integrity, respect for expertise, and thoughtful restraint—these habits strengthen your character and leadership effec...

15. 17.15

    अनुद्वेगकरं वाक्यं सत्यं प्रियहितं च यत्।स्वाध्यायाभ्यसनं चैव वाङ्मयं तप उच्यते।।17.15।।

    Speak truth with kindness and purpose. Your words shape culture; choose them to inform, not harm, and inspire growth in others.

16. 17.16

    मनःप्रसादः सौम्यत्वं मौनमात्मविनिग्रहः।भावसंशुद्धिरित्येतत्तपो मानसमुच्यते।।17.16।।

    Master your mind through calm focus, thoughtful silence, and emotional discipline. These practices build the mental resilience leaders need for wise d...

17. 17.17

    श्रद्धया परया तप्तं तपस्तत्ित्रविधं नरैः।अफलाकाङ्क्षिभिर्युक्तैः सात्त्विकं परिचक्षते।।17.17।।

    Pursue excellence through disciplined effort without obsessing over outcomes, guided by genuine conviction rather than ego or reward-seeking.

18. 17.18

    सत्कारमानपूजार्थं तपो दम्भेन चैव यत्।क्रियते तदिह प्रोक्तं राजसं चलमध्रुवम्।।17.18।।

    Actions driven by ego, status, or public image create hollow results that fade quickly. Lead with genuine purpose instead.

19. 17.19

    मूढग्राहेणात्मनो यत्पीडया क्रियते तपः।परस्योत्सादनार्थं वा तत्तामसमुदाहृतम्।।17.19।।

    Self-discipline rooted in ego or harm—whether to yourself or others—destroys value. True strength builds, never demolishes.

20. 17.20

    दातव्यमिति यद्दानं दीयतेऽनुपकारिणे।देशे काले च पात्रे च तद्दानं सात्त्विकं स्मृतम्।।17.20।।

    Give without expectation of return, choosing the right recipient, timing, and context. True generosity creates lasting value.

21. 17.21

    यत्तु प्रत्युपकारार्थं फलमुद्दिश्य वा पुनः।दीयते च परिक्लिष्टं तद्दानं राजसं स्मृतम्।।17.21।।

    Give generously without expecting returns or recognition. True value comes from selfless contribution, not transactional exchanges or reluctant giving...

22. 17.22

    अदेशकाले यद्दानमपात्रेभ्यश्च दीयते।असत्कृतमवज्ञातं तत्तामसमुदाहृतम्।।17.22।।

    Giving without thoughtfulness—wrong timing, wrong recipient, wrong attitude—wastes resources and creates harm. Strategic generosity requires discernme...

23. 17.23

    तत्सदिति निर्देशो ब्रह्मणस्त्रिविधः स्मृतः।ब्राह्मणास्तेन वेदाश्च यज्ञाश्च विहिताः पुरा।।17.23।।

    Align your work with timeless principles and universal values—this foundation ensures sustainable success and meaningful impact across generations.

24. 17.24

    तस्मादोमित्युदाहृत्य यज्ञदानतपःक्रियाः।प्रवर्तन्ते विधानोक्ताः सततं ब्रह्मवादिनाम्।।17.24।।

    Begin important work with clear intention and mindfulness. Purposeful preparation, whether through ritual or reflection, aligns effort with meaningful...

25. 17.25

    तदित्यनभिसन्धाय फलं यज्ञतपःक्रियाः।दानक्रियाश्च विविधाः क्रियन्ते मोक्षकाङ्क्षि।।17.25।।

    Perform your work with full commitment, release attachment to outcomes, and find freedom through disciplined action without expecting rewards.

26. 17.26

    सद्भावे साधुभावे च सदित्येतत्प्रयुज्यते।प्रशस्ते कर्मणि तथा सच्छब्दः पार्थ युज्यते।।17.26।।

    Focus your energy on actions and outcomes that create lasting positive value. What endures and benefits others defines meaningful work and leadership.

27. 17.27

    यज्ञे तपसि दाने च स्थितिः सदिति चोच्यते।कर्म चैव तदर्थीयं सदित्येवाभिधीयते।।17.27।।

    Sustainable success comes from consistent commitment to meaningful work, disciplined effort, and generous contribution—not from occasional grand gestu...

28. 17.28

    अश्रद्धया हुतं दत्तं तपस्तप्तं कृतं च यत्।असदित्युच्यते पार्थ न च तत्प्रेत्य नो इह।।17.28।।

    Authenticity matters more than action. Work, generosity, and effort without genuine conviction yield hollow results and fail to create lasting impact ...