The Bhagavad Gita
Picture Gallery
Search the Gita
Gita in Audio
Email Newsletter

 »  Home  »  The Gita: Chapter 17
Bhagavad Gita 17.2

By Bhagavan Sri Krishna | Published 08/18/2005
Category: The Gita: Chapter 17
Article Viewed 2287 Times
Rating: Unrated

Text 2

sri-bhagavan uvaca
tri-vidha bhavati shraddha
dehinam sa svabhava-ja
sattviki rajasi caiva
tamasi ceti tam shrinu

Translation

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: According to the modes of nature acquired by the embodied soul, one’s faith can be of three kinds—in goodness, in passion or in ignorance. Now hear about this.

Commentary by Srila Prabhupada 

Those who know the rules and regulations of the scriptures but out of laziness or indolence give up following these rules and regulations are governed by the modes of material nature. According to their previous activities in the mode of goodness, passion or ignorance, they acquire a nature which is of a specific quality. The association of the living entity with the different modes of nature has been going on perpetually; since the living entity is in contact with material nature, he acquires different types of mentality according to his association with the material modes. But this nature can be changed if one associates with a bona fide spiritual master and abides by his rules and the scriptures. Gradually, one can change his position from ignorance to goodness, or from passion to goodness. The conclusion is that blind faith in a particular mode of nature cannot help a person become elevated to the perfectional stage. One has to consider things carefully, with intelligence, in the association of a bona fide spiritual master. Thus one can change his position to a higher mode of nature.

Commentary by Sri Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakur

O Arjuna, first hear from me the situation of those who worship without giving up the rules of scripture. After that I will speak to you about the condition of those who give up the rules of scripture. Hear about the three types of faith which arise from svabhavah - particular impressions from previous experiences.


Special Offer: The Bhagavad Gita
beautifully sung on MP3 CD



Now you can listen to the ancient sanskrit chants of Bhagavad Gita, sung in classical melodies by noted devotional singer Sri Vidyabhushana. Listen to all 700 verses of the Gita with a beautiful accompaniment of flute, veena, sitar, mridanga, tabla and tala.

Listen to sample (Bhagavad Gita chapter four):


Special Offer: $24.95
(with free postage to anywhere in the world)


No popular articles found.
No popular authors found.