श्रीमद् भगवद्गीता

मूल श्लोकः

arjuna uvāca

yē śāstravidhimutsṛjya yajantē śraddhayā.nvitāḥ.

tēṣāṅ niṣṭhā tu kā kṛṣṇa sattvamāhō rajastamaḥ৷৷17.1৷৷

English Commentary by Swami Sivananda



17.1 yē who, śāstravidhim the ordinances of the scriptures, utsṛjya setting aside, yajantē perform sacrifice, śraddhayā with faith, anvitāḥ endowed, tēṣām their, niṣṭhā condition, tu verily, kā what, kṛṣṇa O Krishna, sattvam Sattva, āhō or, rajaḥ Rajas, tamaḥ Tamas.

Commentary:
This chapter deals with the three kinds of people who are endowed with three kinds of faith. Each of them follows a path in accordance with his inherent nature -- either Sattvic, Rajasic or Tamasic.Arjuna says to Krishna: "It is very difficult to grasp the meaning of the scriptures. It is still more difficult to get a spiritual preceptor who can teach the scriptures. The vast majority of persons are not endowed with a pure, subtle, sharp and one-pointed intellect. The span of life is short. The scriptures are endless. The obstacles on the spiritual path are many. Facilities for learning are not always available.There are conflicting statements in the scriptures which have to be reconciled. Thou hast said that liberation is not possible without a knowledge of the scriptures. An ordinary man, though ignorant of or unable to follow this teaching, does charity, performs rituals, worships the Lord with faith, tries to follow the footsteps of sages and saints just as a child copies letters that have been written out for him as a model, or as a blind man makes hiw way by the aid of another who possesses sight. What faith is his How should the state of such a man be described -- Sattvic, Rajasic or Tamasic What is the fate of the believers who have no knowledge of the scriptures"

English Translation By Swami Sivananda

17.1 Arjuna said Those who, setting aside the ordinances of the scriptures, perform sacrifice with faith, what is their condition, O Krishna? Is is Sattva, Rajas or Tamas?