In Bhagavad Gita 17.1, Arjuna asks about those who set aside scriptural injunctions but worship with faith: is their state one of sattva, rajas or tamas?
Sanskrit Verse
अर्जुन उवाच · Arjuna said
ये शास्त्रविधिमुत्सृज्य
यजन्ते श्रद्धयान्विताः
तेषां निष्ठा तु का कृष्ण
सत्त्वमाहो रजस्तमः ॥ १७-१ ॥
ye śāstravidhimutsṛjya
yajante śraddhayānvitāḥ
teṣāṃ niṣṭhā tu kā kṛṣṇa
sattvamāho rajastamaḥ
English transliteration ye shaastravidhimutsrijya
yajante shraddhayaanvitaah
teshaam nishthaa tu kaa krishna
sattvamaaho rajastamah ॥ 17.1 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Arjuna said: Those who set aside the injunctions of scripture yet worship with faith: what is their standing, O Krishna? Is it sattva, rajas or tamas?
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ये ye | who |
| शास्त्रविधिम् śāstravidhim | the injunctions of scripture |
| उत्सृज्य utsṛjya | setting aside |
| यजन्ते yajante | worship |
| श्रद्धया śraddhayā | with faith |
| अन्विताः anvitāḥ | endowed |
| तेषाम् teṣām | their |
| निष्ठा niṣṭhā | standing |
| तु tu | but |
| का kā | what |
| कृष्ण kṛṣṇa | O Kṛṣṇa |
| सत्त्वम् sattvam | sattva |
| आहो āho | or |
| रजः rajaḥ | rajas |
| तमः tamaḥ | tamas |
Word-wise Chanting
- ye śās–tra–vi–dhi–mut–sṛj–ya 8 syllables ye shaas-tra-vi-dhi-mut-srij-ya
- ya–jan–te śrad–dha–yān–vi–tāḥ | 8 syllables ya-jan-te shrad-dha-yaan-vi-taah
- te–ṣāṃ niṣ–ṭhā tu kā kṛṣ–ṇa 8 syllables te-shaam nish-thaa tu kaa krish-na
- sat–tva–mā–ho ra–jas–ta–maḥ || 17-1 8 syllables sat-tva-maa-ho ra-jas-ta-mah
How to read this
How to chant: each line is one pāda (quarter-verse); chant it in one breath. The hyphen (-) divides the syllables, inside a word and across a sandhi join, so every pāda shows its 8 syllables (11 in triṣṭubh verses). A consonant cluster is divided after its first consonant (kar-ma, vet-ti): that syllable is held longer. Mark above a syllable: guru, long (two beats); laghu, short (one beat). | closes the half-verse, || the verse; the number is the syllable count of the pāda.
Deeper Explanation – Chapter 17 Verse 1
Context
Chapter 17, the Yoga of the Threefold Faith, opens with a question arising from 16.23–16.24.
Meaning
Krishna has just said that scripture should guide action. Arjuna asks about sincere people who do not know or follow scripture but still worship with śraddhā, faith. What is their niṣṭhā, condition: sattvic, rajasic or tamasic?
This is a compassionate question. Many people worship sincerely without knowledge of scripture. Krishna’s answer focuses on the quality of their faith.
In Practice
Reflect on your own faith: what is it based on, and what quality does it have?
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 17: Shraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga (The Threefold Nature of Faith). Read the chapter overview, browse every verse of the Gita, or return to the chapter-by-chapter guide. For a reading plan, see how to study the Bhagavad Gita and the study resources.