In Bhagavad Gita 17.3, Krishna says everyone’s faith accords with their nature; a person is made of faith, and as their faith is, so are they.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
सत्त्वानुरूपा सर्वस्य
श्रद्धा भवति भारत
श्रद्धामयोऽयं पुरुषो
यो यच्छ्रद्धः स एव सः ॥ १७-३ ॥
sattvānurūpā sarvasya
śraddhā bhavati bhārata
śraddhāmayo’yaṃ puruṣo
yo yacchraddhaḥ sa eva saḥ
English transliteration sattvaanuroopaa sarvasya
shraddhaa bhavati bhaarata
shraddhaamayo’yam purusho
yo yachchhraddhah sa eva sah ॥ 17.3 ॥
Translation / Meaning
The faith of each person is in accordance with their nature, O descendant of Bharata. A person consists of faith; whatever their faith is, that indeed they are.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| सत्त्वानुरूपा sattvānurūpā | in accordance with their nature sattva (nature) + anurūpā (in accordance) |
| सर्वस्य sarvasya | of each person |
| श्रद्धा śraddhā | faith |
| भवति bhavati | is |
| भारत bhārata | O descendant of Bharata |
| श्रद्धामयः śraddhāmayaḥ | consisting of faith śraddhā (faith) + mayaḥ (consisting) |
| अयम् ayam | this |
| पुरुषः puruṣaḥ | person |
| यः yaḥ | who |
| यच्छ्रद्धः yacchraddhaḥ | whatever their faith yat (whatever) + śraddhaḥ (faith) |
| सः saḥ | that |
| एव eva | indeed |
| सः saḥ | they |
Word-wise Chanting
- sat–tvā–nu–rū–pā sar–vas–ya 8 syllables sat-tvaa-nu-roo-paa sar-vas-ya
- śrad–dhā bha–va–ti bhā–ra–ta | 8 syllables shrad-dhaa bha-va-ti bhaa-ra-ta
- śrad–dhā–ma–yo–‘yaṃ pu–ru–ṣo 8 syllables shrad-dhaa-ma-yo-‘yam pu-ru-sho
- yo yac–chrad–dhaḥ sa e–va saḥ || 17-3 8 syllables yo yach-chhrad-dhah sa e-va sah
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 3
Context
Krishna continues explaining faith (17.2–17.4).
Meaning
This is one of the Gita’s most profound statements. A human being is śraddhāmaya, made of faith. What we deeply trust and value shapes who we become. Yo yac-chraddhaḥ sa eva saḥ: as our faith is, so are we.
We become what we believe in. Faith in the good makes us good; faith in money or power shapes us accordingly. Choosing our faith is choosing our self.
In Practice
Ask yourself honestly: what do I truly trust most deeply? Is it shaping me into who I want to be?
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.