In Bhagavad Gita 17.17, Krishna says this threefold austerity practised with supreme faith by steadfast people not desiring reward is called sattvic.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
श्रद्धया परया तप्तं
तपस्तत्त्रिविधं नरैः
अफलाकाङ्क्षिभिर्युक्तैः
सात्त्विकं परिचक्षते ॥ १७-१७ ॥
śraddhayā parayā taptaṃ
tapastattrividhaṃ naraiḥ
aphalākāṅkṣibhiryuktaiḥ
sāttvikaṃ paricakṣate
English transliteration shraddhayaa parayaa taptam
tapastattrividham naraih
aphalaakaankshibhiryuktaih
saattvikam parichakshate ॥ 17.17 ॥
Translation / Meaning
This threefold austerity, practised with supreme faith by steadfast people who do not desire any reward, is called sattvic.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| श्रद्धया śraddhayā | with faith |
| परया parayā | supreme |
| तप्तम् taptam | practised |
| तपः tapaḥ | austerity |
| तत् tat | this |
| त्रिविधम् trividham | threefold |
| नरैः naraiḥ | by people |
| अफलाकाङ्क्षिभिः aphalākāṅkṣibhiḥ | not desiring reward |
| युक्तैः yuktaiḥ | steadfast |
| सात्त्विकम् sāttvikam | sattvic |
| परिचक्षते paricakṣate | is called |
Word-wise Chanting
- śrad–dha–yā pa–ra–yā tap–taṃ 8 syllables shrad-dha-yaa pa-ra-yaa tap-tam
- ta–pas–tat–tri–vi–dhaṃ na–raiḥ | 8 syllables ta-pas-tat-tri-vi-dham na-raih
- a–pha–lā–kāṅ–kṣi–bhir–yuk–taiḥ 8 syllables a-pha-laa-kaan-kshi-bhir-yuk-taih
- sāt–tvi–kaṃ pa–ri–ca–kṣa–te || 17-17 8 syllables saat-tvi-kam pa-ri-cha-ksha-te
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 17
Context
Krishna describes the three kinds of austerity by quality (17.17–17.19).
Meaning
When the threefold austerity of body, speech and mind is practised with parā śraddhā, deep faith, by yukta, steady people who seek no reward, it is sāttvika. Its motive is purification and love, not gain.
Austerity becomes sattvic when it is done for its own sake, with faith, and without expecting rewards.
In Practice
Practise one discipline today purely as an offering, without expecting any benefit.
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.