Chapter 17 Shloka 1 - 28

Shloka 1

arjuna uvaca 

ye sastra-vidhim utsrjya 
yajante sraddhayanvitah 
tesam nistha tu ka krsna 
sattvam aho rajas tamah

Arjuna said, those who discarding scriptural (Vedic) injunction, worship (with) full faith, what is their standing (situation) O Krsna, satvam, rajas or tamas?

Shloka 2

sri-bhagavan uvaca 

tri-vidha bhavati sraddha 
dehinam sa svabhava-ja 
sattviki rajasi caiva 
tamasi ceti tam srnu

Shri Bhagavan (Krishna) said, three kinds of shraddha (are inherently exhibited by) the embodied, born of their innate nature; satavik, rajasic and tamasic; about these hear (now).

Shloka 3

sattvanurupa sarvasya 

sraddha bhavati bharata 
sraddha-mayo 'yam puruso 
yo yac-chraddhah sa eva sah

According to one's essential nature everyone exhibits shraddha (faith), O (best of) Bharata; shraddha makes a person, whatever one's shraddha, so is he.

Shloka 4

yajante sattvika devan 

yaksa-raksamsi rajasah 
pretan bhuta-ganams canye 
yajante tamasa janah

Satvik worship the Divine, Yaksha and Rakshasa (worshiped by) the rajasic; preta (spirits of dead) bhutagana (ghost-hordes) and (such) others are worshiped by tamasic people.

Shloka 5

asastra-vihitam ghoram 

tapyante ye tapo janah 
dambhahankara-samyuktah 
kama-raga-balanvitah

Not prescribed by scriptures (Vedic), terrible (intense) austerities undertaken by   practitioners, yoked to hypocrisy and egoism and accompanied by desire (lust), anger and (physical) might.

Shloka 6

karsayantah sarira-stham 

bhuta-gramam acetasah 
mam caivantah sarira-stham 
tan viddhy asura-niscayan

(The) mindless, torturing the body-residing elements, (and) me too (who) reside in the body, know them to be of asuric (demonic) resolve.

Shloka 7

aharas tv api sarvasya 

tri-vidho bhavati priyah 
yajnas tapas tatha danam 
tesam bhedam imam srnu

But, food too (that is) dear to everyone is of three kinds, (so are) yagna (sacrifice), tapa (austerities) and dana (charity); their distinction now listen.

Shloka 8

ayuh-sattva-balarogya- 

sukha-priti-vivardhanah 
rasyah snigdhah sthira hrdya 
aharah sattvika-priyah

Longevity, truth (virtue) strength and health, happiness, satisfaction promoting; savory, smooth, firm and pleasant (hearty) food are dear to satvik.

Shloka 9

katv-amla-lavanaty-usna- 

tiksna-ruksa-vidahinah 
ahara rajasasyesta 
duhkha-sokamaya-pradah

Bitter, sour, salty, excessively hot, harsh, dry/astringent scorching food (those of) rajasic (nature) desire; (these food are) pain sorrow and sickness causing.

Shloka 10

yata-yamam gata-rasam 

puti paryusitam ca yat 
ucchistam api camedhyam 
bhojanam tamasa-priyam

Stale, tasteless, putrid, leftover, rejected and unfit for yagna (such) food is desired (by those of) tamasic nature.

Shloka 11

aphalakanksibhir yajno

vidhi-disto ya ijyate

yastavyam eveti manah

samadhaya sa sattvikah

Sacrifice performed without expecting rewards, also following the scriptural rules, and "this is to be sacrificed" as the thought in mind, such yagna is satvika.

Shloka 12

abhisandhaya tu phalam

dambhartham api caiva yat
ijyate bharata-srestha
tam yajnam viddhi rajasam

Yagna performed with some goal/end in mind, and preformed with ostentation and pride, understand that is of rajasic nature, O Chief of the Bharatas.

Shloka 13

vidhi-hinam asrstannam

mantra-hinam adaksinam

sraddha-virahitam yajnam
tamasam paricaksate

Sacrifice not conforming to scriptural injunctions, without appropriate mantras and in where in no dakshina (remunerations) are given to the priests, and which is lacking in faith, such sacrifice is Tamasic.

Shloka 14

deva-dvija-guru-prajna- 

pujanam saucam arjavam 
brahmacaryam ahimsa ca 
sariram tapa ucyate

Worship of the Divine, the twice-born (i.e., brahmanas), the spiritual preceptor, and elders; observing cleanliness, simplicity, celibacy and nonviolence - these comprise of bodily austerities.

Shloka 15

anudvega-karam vakyam 

satyam priya-hitam ca yat 
svadhyayabhyasanam caiva 
van-mayam tapa ucyate

Avoiding offensive speech, and speaking truth, sweetly and beneficially; practicing scriptural texts (Vedic recitation) is considered austerity of speech.

Shloka 16

manah-prasadah saumyatvam 

maunam atma-vinigrahah 
bhava-samsuddhir ity 
etat tapo manasam ucyate

Mind-at-peace, gentleness, self-control and purity of thought are the austerities of the mind.

Shloka 17

sraddhaya paraya taptam 

tapas tat tri-vidham naraih 
aphalakanksibhir yuktaih 
sattvikam paricaksate

With devotion (shraddha) and without expectation of fruits (results) when human undergoes this threefold austerity, see that as of satvik nature.

Shloka 18

satkara-mana-pujartham 

tapo dambhena caiva yat 
kriyate tad iha proktam 
rajasam calam adhruvam

When honor, respect and worship are desired goals, and actions are performed for ostentation and hypocrisy,  such are said to be rajasic. They are unsteady and impermanent.

Shloka 19

mudha-grahenatmano yat 

pidaya kriyate tapah 
parasyotsadanartham va 
tat tamasam udahrtam

With deluded notion of self, and penances performed as obstinate self-torture, or with an aim to destroy or injure others, are said to be tamasic.

Shloka 20 

datavyam iti yad danam 
diyate 'nupakarine 
dese kale ca patre ca 
tad danam sattvikam smrtam

"This is to be given", with that thought when one gives a gift to one who has done no favors (i.e., the gift is not a return of a previously done favor), and one which is aligned with proper time and place and is given to a worthy person that is considered to be satvik.

Shloka 21

yat tu pratyupakarartham 
phalam uddisya va punah 
diyate ca pariklistam 
tad danam rajasam smrtam

One that is given in return or with expectation of some return, or given unwillingly or grudgingly, such gift is considered rajasic..

Shloka 22

adesa-kale yad danam 
apatrebhyas ca diyate 
asat-krtam avajnatam 
tat tamasam udahrtam

Gift given at improper time and place and to one who is not worthy, and given without respect and in contempt is declared to be tamasic.

Shloka 23

om tat sad iti nirdeso 
brahmanas tri-vidhah smrtah 
brahmanas tena vedas ca 

yajnas ca vihitah pura

"Aum tat sat" has been recognized as the three designators of Brahman since the beginning. Using this, the brahmanas have determined (the significance of) the Vedas and Yagnas.

Shloka 24

tasmad om ity udahrtya 
yajna-dana-tapah-kriyah 
pravartante vidhanoktah 
satatam brahma-vadinam

Therefore, expressing "Aum" sacrifices, gifts, austeries are performed by the expounders (one walking in the path) of Brahman.

Shloka 25

tad ity anabhisandhaya 
phalam yajna-tapah-kriyah 
dana-kriyas ca vividhah 
kriyante moksa-kanksibhih

"Tat", (so it is - with this attitude) without expecting fruits; performing sacrifice and austerity and giving gifts etc. are undertaken by one desiring moksha.

Shloka 26

sad-bhave sadhu-bhave ca 
sad ity etat prayujyate 
prasaste karmani tatha 
sac-chabdah partha yujyate

For expressing truth and goodness "Sat" is used. Similarly, for recognizing praiseworthy acts also 'sat' is used, Partha. 

Shloka 27

yajne tapasi dane ca 
sthitih sad iti cocyate 
karma caiva tad-arthiyam 

sad ity evabhidhiyate

Steadfastness in sacrifice, austerity and gifts is said to be "Sat", also, actions undertaken for that purpose too is recognized as "Sat".

Shloka 28

asraddhaya hutam dattam 
tapas taptam krtam ca yat 
asad ity ucyate partha 
na ca tat pretya no iha

Without "shraddha" (i.e., faith and devotion), sacrifice, gifts and austerity is a-Sat (opposite of "Sat") Partha. And it (is of no benefit) either after death, nor here (in this life).