अर्जुन उवाचये शास्त्रविधिमुत्सृज्य यजन्ते श्रद्धयाऽन्विताः ।
तेषां निष्ठा तु का कृष्ण सत्त्वमाहो रजस्तमः ॥
तेषां निष्ठा तु का कृष्ण सत्त्वमाहो रजस्तमः ॥
Hindi · हिन्दी
अर्जुन बोले हे कृष्ण जो मनुष्य शास्त्रविधिका त्याग करके श्रद्धापूर्वक देवता आदिका पूजन करते हैं, उनकी निष्ठा फिर कौनसी है सात्त्विकी है अथवा राजसीतामसी ॥
English
Arjuna said: O Krishna, what is the standing of those who worship with faith while setting aside the rules of scripture? Is it sattvic, rajasic, or tamasic?
What this verse means
Arjuna asks what kind of faith people have when they worship without following scripture. He wants to know whether their faith is pure, restless, or confused.
Context & commentary
On the battlefield, Arjuna is still searching for a way to understand human action. Before Krishna answers, he asks about people who worship with faith but ignore scriptural guidance, wanting to know what quality actually rules them.
Why this verse still matters
You watch someone follow a spiritual trend with total sincerity, but something feels off. The question is not whether they mean well — it is what kind of force is shaping their devotion.
The takeaway
It is okay to question what drives belief instead of assuming every sincere act is equally clear.
Word-by-word translation
अर्जुन उवाच (Arjuna said) / ये (who) / शास्त्रविधिम् (scriptural rule) / उत्सृज्य (having set aside) / यजन्ते (worship) / श्रद्धया (with faith) / अन्विताः (endowed with) / तेषाम् (of them) / निष्ठा (standing / conviction) / तु (then) / का (what) / कृष्ण (O Krishna) / सत्त्वम् (sattva) / आहो (or) / रजः (rajas) / तमः (tamas)
This verse is part of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 17: Shraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga — The Three Kinds of Faith, which contains 28 verses.
Explore related themes: shraddha (34 verses)