Bhagavad Gita Chapter 17

Chapter 17 

End of chapter 16 - essentially the end of the teaching of Gita

Chapter 17 deals with 

Guidance for our day to day sadhana free from the illusion
3 gunas - sattva, rajas, tamas,

How does people in 3 modes worship?
Arjuna does not want to do his duty - 
arjunan delima and dispondency 
all his sorry and delusion 
to remove sorry and delusion and confusion 
clarity about our identity 
Karma young  
Bhagthy yoga
divinity is not different 
Ch 15 bhagwhan give the highest knowledge -highty dinity is revealed.
CH 16 and Ch17 deals with our lifestyle - Pre requisit of the Hightest Knowlege
Mind fill with DaviSampat - Asurity Sampat  

preparation of the mind and lifestyle 
person who gives up and lives according no sashra is 

Shashra should be your authoriy 
Society should not be our Authority.

Arjuna's Question

Arjun said: O Krishna, where do they stand who disregard the injunctions of the scriptures, but still worship with faith? Is their faith in the mode of goodness, passion, or ignorance?

Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 17, Verse 1

अर्जुन उवाच |
ये शास्त्रविधिमुत्सृज्य यजन्ते श्रद्धयान्विता: |
तेषां निष्ठा तु का कृष्ण सत्त्वमाहो रजस्तम: || 1||

arjuna uvācha
ye śhāstra-vidhim utsṛijya yajante śhraddhayānvitāḥ
teṣhāṁ niṣhṭhā tu kā kṛiṣhṇa sattvam āho rajas tamaḥ

arjunaḥ uvācha—Arjun said; ye—who; śhāstra-vidhim—scriptural injunctions; utsṛijya—disregard; yajante—worship; śhraddhayā-anvitāḥ—with faith; teṣhām—their; niṣhṭhā—faith; tu—indeed; kā—what; kṛiṣhṇa—Krishna; sattvam—mode of goodness; āho—or; rajaḥ—mode of passion; tamaḥ—mode of ignorance

arjuna uvacha
ye shastra-vidhim utsrijya yajante shraddhayanvitah
tesham nishtha tu ka krishna sattvam aho rajas tamah

Translation

BG 17.1: Arjun said: O Krishna, where do they stand who disregard the injunctions of the scriptures, but still worship with faith? Is their faith in the mode of goodness, passion, or ignorance?

Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 17, Verse 2

श्रीभगवानुवाच |
त्रिविधा भवति श्रद्धा देहिनां सा स्वभावजा |
सात्त्विकी राजसी चैव तामसी चेति तां शृणु || 2||

śhrī-bhagavān uvācha
tri-vidhā bhavati śhraddhā dehināṁ sā svabhāva-jā
sāttvikī rājasī chaiva tāmasī cheti tāṁ śhṛiṇu

śhrī-bhagavān uvācha—the Supreme Personality said; tri-vidhā—of three kinds; bhavati—is; śhraddhā—faith; dehinām—embodied beings; sā—which; sva-bhāva-jā—born of one’s innate nature; sāttvikī—of the mode of goodness; rājasī—of the mode of passion; cha—and; eva—certainly; tāmasī—of the mode of ignorance; cha—and; iti—thus; tām—about this; śhṛiṇu—hear

shri-bhagavan uvacha
tri-vidha bhavati shraddha dehinam sa svabhava-ja
sattviki rajasi chaiva tamasi cheti tam shrinu

Translation

BG 17.2: The Supreme Divine Personality said: Every human being is born with innate faith, which can be of three kinds—sāttvic, rājasic, or tāmasic. Now hear about this from Me.

Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 17, Verse 3

सत्त्वानुरूपा सर्वस्य श्रद्धा भवति भारत |
श्रद्धामयोऽयं पुरुषो यो यच्छ्रद्ध: स एव स: || 3||

sattvānurūpā sarvasya śhraddhā bhavati bhārata
śhraddhā-mayo ‘yaṁ puruṣho yo yach-chhraddhaḥ sa eva saḥ

sattva-anurūpā—conforming to the nature of one’s mind; sarvasya—all; śhraddhā—faith; bhavati—is; bhārata—Arjun, the scion of Bharat; śhraddhāmayaḥ—possessing faith; ayam—that; puruṣhaḥ—human being; yaḥ—who; yat-śhraddhaḥ—whatever the nature of their faith; saḥ—their; eva—verily; saḥ—they

sattvanurupa sarvasya shraddha bhavati bharata
shraddha-mayo ‘yam purusho yo yach-chhraddhah sa eva sah

Translation

BG 17.3: The faith of all humans conforms to the nature of their mind. All people possess faith, and whatever the nature of their faith, that is verily what they are.

Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 17, Verse 4

यजन्ते सात्त्विका देवान्यक्षरक्षांसि राजसा: |
प्रेतान्भूतगणांश्चान्ये यजन्ते तामसा जना: || 4||

yajante sāttvikā devān yakṣha-rakṣhānsi rājasāḥ
pretān bhūta-gaṇānśh chānye yajante tāmasā janāḥ

yajante—worship; sāttvikāḥ—those in the mode of goodness; devān—celestial gods; yakṣha—semi-celestial beings who exude power and wealth; rakṣhānsi—powerful beings who embody sensual enjoyment, revenge, and wrath; rājasāḥ—those in the mode of passion; pretān-bhūta-gaṇān—ghosts and spirits; cha—and; anye—others; yajante—worship; tāmasāḥ—those in the mode of ignorance; janāḥ—persons

yajante sattvika devan yaksha-rakshansi rajasah
pretan bhuta-ganansh chanye yajante tamasa janah

Translation

BG 17.4: Those in the mode of goodness worship the celestial gods; those in the mode of passion worship the yakṣhas and rākṣhasas; those in the mode of ignorance worship ghosts and spirits.

How does people in 3 modes worship?
What food do they eat?
What kind of sacrifices do they do?
How can we understand and improve our mode?

who am I, what is God,  - answers in Vedas, Upanishads, gita recognize yourself in the deep state of mediation
When the mind goes in a state of meditation, the mind become silent, we recognize ourselves as we are .. 
in order to silent the mind, we need lots of perparation

mind can  be silent with proper understanding, emotions, attitude - other wise mind never become silent.  

Verse 5-6-7

Bhagavad Gita - Ch 17 vs 7 - Food
Food =>  (SRT Food - Satvic, Rajasic, Tamasic)
1. Quality  - Supply  and purecurement of your food
2. Quantity -  1/2 stomach of food, 1/4 of liquid, 1/4 empty - it allows some space for your food to churn in stomach)
3. Frequency -> 2 or 3 times per day we should eat food  (Yogi 1/day,Bhogi 2/day, Rogi more than 2/day) 
4. Manner  -> Sit and consume your food, 
5. Attributes of our food 


What is the state of mind when we prepare our food?

What are we eating?
How we are eating?
How can we be more control about out food?
Practicable and Tangable?

Supply of our food?
- Organic, Non-GMO, Farmars market, garden vegetables, Locally Produced with little or ono perscides or herbicide. 

The attiude of your food, it nurishes your physical body, suttle part of food  nurishes prana - the Mind
When we consume our food, user or sensec- touch, smell, taste and sight of it 
we should eat 2 or 3 times per day 
while sit and eat 
offer your food to Bhagwan - It becomes persadam.
Eat 1/2 belly food of food, 1/4 liquid (soup), and 1/4 should left for space.

"Satvic food" in one's diet, which is vegetarian and free from items like onions and garlic. He also highlighted the need for a pure and serene mind when consuming food, suggesting offering it to God as a form of prasad (consecrated offering)

Food we eat impacts our mental state, emphasizing the importance of choosing foods that promote a calm and peaceful mind. 

Satvic Food: Avoids meat, onions, and garlic, helps purify the mind and body. 
Prayer and Prasad: Offer food to God in prayer, transforming it into prasad, which further purify the food and the mind. 
Mind-Body Connection: Food we eat affects our mental state, choose foods that promote a peaceful and calm mind. 
Moderation: In food intake, excessive consumption of fatty or salty foods, which he believed could negatively impact both physical and mental health. 
Avoidance of Irritants: against eating meat, smoking, and drinking alcohol, as he believed these habits can negatively affect the subtle bodies of the individual. 
Food, the Heart and the Mind
Care should be taken to see that the food consumed does not have much fat content, for fats consumed in large quantity are detrime...

Food Prayer partake food with a pure, serene (satvic) mind.  

importance of carefully monitoring the food we eat.  

Life Lesson
Your faith shapes your character and action
Choose your food wisely; it affects your body, mind and spiritual well-being
True sacrifice is performed without expectation of reward or recognition
Avoid Selfish actions; perform your duty with sincerity and humility
The quality of your intention,  determines the spiritual value of your action. 

There are people who make things happen, then they are people who ... and  others would say what happened?

These 3 Qualities Sattwic- intelentenge, order, predictability,  Rajas-movement, Tamas- stationary, Inertia are defined in details in Ch14

ch 17
vs 8  Sattwic Food  These 3 Qualities are defined in details in Ch14
vs 9  Rajas Food
vs 10 tamas food

vs 11 Sattvic  yagna =  scriptural service  without expectation of rewards
vs 12 Rajasic yagna =  scriptural performed for material benefit
vs 13 Tamas yagna - Pick and choose which part of spiritual practice to observe

āyuḥ-sattva-balārogya-sukha-prīti-vivardhanāḥ
rasyāḥ snigdhāḥ sthirā hṛidyā āhārāḥ sāttvika-priyāḥ

āyuḥ sattva—which promote longevity; bala—strength; ārogya—health; sukha—happiness; prīti—satisfaction; vivardhanāḥ—increase; rasyāḥ—juicy; snigdhāḥ—succulent; sthirāḥ—nourishing; hṛidyāḥ—pleasing to the heart; āhārāḥ—food; sāttvika-priyāḥ—dear to those in the mode of goodness

BG 17.8: Persons in the mode of goodness prefer foods that promote life span, and increase virtue, strength, health, happiness, and satisfaction. Such foods are juicy, succulent, nourishing, and naturally tasteful.

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kaṭv-amla-lavaṇāty-uṣhṇa- tīkṣhṇa-rūkṣha-vidāhinaḥ
āhārā rājasasyeṣhṭā duḥkha-śhokāmaya-pradāḥ

kaṭu—bitter; amla—sour; lavaṇa—salty; ati-uṣhṇa—very hot; tīkṣhṇa—pungent; rūkṣha—dry; vidāhinaḥ—full of chillies; āhārāḥ—food; rājasasya—to persons in the mode of passion; iṣhṭāḥ—dear; duḥkha—pain; śhoka—grief; āmaya—disease; pradāḥ—produce

BG 17.9: Foods that are too bitter, too sour, salty, very hot, pungent, dry, and full of chillies, are dear to persons in the mode of passion. Such foods produce pain, grief, and disease.

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yāta-yāmaṁ gata-rasaṁ pūti paryuṣhitaṁ cha yat
uchchhiṣhṭam api chāmedhyaṁ bhojanaṁ tāmasa-priyam

yāta-yāmam—stale foods; gata-rasam—tasteless; pūti—putrid; paryuṣhitam—polluted; cha—and; yat—which; uchchhiṣhṭam—left over; api—also; cha—and; amedhyam—impure; bhojanam—foods; tāmasa—to persons in the mode of ignorance; priyam—dear

BG 17.10: Foods that are overcooked, stale, putrid, polluted, and impure are dear to persons in the mode of ignorance.

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sattvic  =  scriptural service  without expectation of rewards

aphalākāṅkṣhibhir yajño vidhi-driṣhṭo ya ijyate
yaṣhṭavyam eveti manaḥ samādhāya sa sāttvikaḥ

aphala-ākāṅkṣhibhiḥ—without expectation of any reward; yajñaḥ—sacrifice; vidhi-driṣhṭaḥ—that is in accordance with the scriptural injunctions; yaḥ—which; ijyate—is performed; yaṣhṭavyam-eva-iti—ought to be offered; manaḥ—mind; samādhāya—with conviction; saḥ—that; sāttvikaḥ—of the nature of goodness

aphalakankshibhir yajno vidhi-drishto ya ijyate
yashtavyam eveti manah samadhaya sa sattvikah

Translation

BG 17.11: Sacrifice that is performed according to scriptural injunctions without expectation of rewards, with the firm conviction of the mind that it is a matter of duty, is of the nature of goodness.

Rajic = sacrifice performed for material benefit,

abhisandhāya tu phalaṁ dambhārtham api chaiva yat

ijyate bharata-śhreṣhṭha taṁ yajñaṁ viddhi rājasam

abhisandhāya—motivated by; tu—but; phalam—the result; dambha—pride; artham—for the sake of; api—also; cha—and; eva—certainly; yat—that which; ijyate—is performed; bharata-śhreṣhṭha—Arjun, the best of the Bharatas; tam—that; yajñam—sacrifice; viddhi—know; rājasam—in the mode of passion

BG 17.12: O best of the Bharatas, know that sacrifice performed for material benefit, or with a hypocritical aim, is in the mode of passion.

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BG 17.13: Tamas yagna- Pick and choose which part of spiritual practice to observe 

vidhi-hīnam asṛiṣhṭānnaṁ mantra-hīnam a-dakṣhiṇam

śhraddhā-virahitaṁ yajñaṁ tāmasaṁ parichakṣhate

vidhi-hīnam—without scriptural direction; asṛiṣhṭa-annam—without distribution of prasad; mantra-hīnam—with no chanting of the Vedic hymns; adakṣhiṇam—with no remunerations to the priests; śhraddhā—faith; virahitam—without; yajñam—sacrifice; tāmasam—in the mode of ignorance; parichakṣhate—is to be considered

BG 17.13: Sacrifice devoid of faith and contrary to the injunctions of the scriptures, in which no food is offered, no mantras chanted, and no donation made, is to be considered in the mode of ignorance.

BG 17.13  Physical Tapas (body)

Tapas - Physical body, vaak tapas speech , mind 

deva-dwija-guru-prājña- pūjanaṁ śhaucham ārjavam
brahmacharyam ahinsā cha śhārīraṁ tapa uchyate

deva—the Supreme Lord; dwija—the Brahmins; guru—the spiritual master; prājña—the elders; pūjanam—worship; śhaucham—cleanliness; ārjavam—simplicity; brahmacharyam—celibacy; ahinsā—non-violence; cha—and; śhārīram—of the body; tapaḥ—austerity; uchyate—is declared as

BG 17.14: When worship of the Supreme Lord, the Brahmins, the spiritual master, the wise, and the elders is done with the observance of cleanliness, simplicity, celibacy, and non-violence then this worship is declared as the austerity of the body.