In Bhagavad Gita 17.7, Krishna says the food dear to each is also of three kinds, as are sacrifice, austerity and charity; he asks Arjuna to hear the distinction.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
आहारस्त्वपि सर्वस्य
त्रिविधो भवति प्रियः
यज्ञस्तपस्तथा दानं
तेषां भेदमिमं शृणु ॥ १७-७ ॥
āhārastvapi sarvasya
trividho bhavati priyaḥ
yajñastapastathā dānaṃ
teṣāṃ bhedamimaṃ śṛṇu
English transliteration aahaarastvapi sarvasya
trividho bhavati priyah
yajnastapastathaa daanam
teshaam bhedamimam shrinu ॥ 17.7 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Even the food that is dear to each person is of three kinds, as are sacrifice, austerity and charity. Hear the distinction between them.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| आहारः āhāraḥ | food |
| तु tu | even |
| अपि api | also |
| सर्वस्य sarvasya | of each |
| त्रिविधः trividhaḥ | of three kinds |
| भवति bhavati | is |
| प्रियः priyaḥ | dear |
| यज्ञः yajñaḥ | sacrifice |
| तपः tapaḥ | austerity |
| तथा tathā | also |
| दानम् dānam | charity |
| तेषाम् teṣām | of them |
| भेदम् bhedam | distinction |
| इमम् imam | this |
| शृणु śṛṇu | hear |
Word-wise Chanting
- ā–hā–ras–tva–pi sar–vas–ya 8 syllables aa-haa-ras-tva-pi sar-vas-ya
- tri–vi–dho bha–va–ti pri–yaḥ | 8 syllables tri-vi-dho bha-va-ti pri-yah
- ya–jñas–ta–pas–ta–thā dā–naṃ 8 syllables ya-jnas-ta-pas-ta-thaa daa-nam
- te–ṣāṃ bhe–da–mi–maṃ śṛ–ṇu || 17-7 8 syllables te-shaam bhe-da-mi-mam shri-nu
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 7
Context
Krishna introduces the threefold classification of food, sacrifice, austerity and charity (17.7–17.22).
Meaning
The guṇas show themselves even in our tastes and practices. Āhāra, food; yajña, worship; tapas, discipline; and dāna, giving, each take three forms. By examining these, we can understand and refine our own nature.
Everyday choices such as what we eat reveal and shape our inner state. Spirituality includes the kitchen as much as the temple.
In Practice
Pay attention to what foods you are drawn to today and what that might reveal about your state of mind.
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.