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?
— Arjuna
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Bhagavad Gita · 17.1
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 ॥
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Tap a word to focus on it.
अर्जुन उवाचArjuna saidयेwhoशास्त्रविधिम्scriptural ruleउत्सृज्यhaving set asideयजन्तेworshipश्रद्धयाwith faithअन्विताःendowed withतेषाम्of themतुthenकाwhatकृष्णO Krishnaसत्त्वम्sattvaआहोorरजःrajasतमःtamas
Read literallyArjuna said · who · scriptural rule · having set aside · worship · with faith · endowed with · of them · then · what · O Krishna · sattva · or · rajas · tamas
Understanding the verse
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Arjuna raises a fair case: people who worship with faith yet skip the rules. Which guna rules them?
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.
02
On the battlefield
Context & commentary
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 rules them.
03
In your life
What it looks like today
A grandmother who never learned the proper mantras still lights a lamp every evening with complete faith. Arjuna asks about people like her: what is their standing, and which guna is at work?
The takeaway
“It is okay to question what drives belief instead of assuming every sincere act is equally clear.”
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.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 17.1?
Arjuna speaks this verse, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, in the chapter titled "Shraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga" (The Three Kinds of Faith).
Which chapter of the Bhagavad Gita contains verse 17.1?
Verse 1 sits in Chapter 17 of the Bhagavad Gita — Shraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga, "The Three Kinds of Faith". The chapter has 28 verses in total.
Why does Bhagavad Gita 17.1 matter today?
A grandmother who never learned the proper mantras still lights a lamp every evening with complete faith. Arjuna asks about people like her: what is their standing, and which guna is at work?
Arjuna raises a fair case: people who worship with faith yet skip the rules. Which guna rules them?
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
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 rules them.
What it looks like today
A grandmother who never learned the proper mantras still lights a lamp every evening with complete faith. Arjuna asks about people like her: what is their standing, and which guna is at work?
“It is okay to question what drives belief instead of assuming every sincere act is equally clear.”
Explore related themes: shraddha (34 verses)