Chapter 17 · Class prep
A printable handout for teaching this chapter. For each verse with Personal Guidance, you'll see Prabhupāda's translation, the essence, two or three practical applications, and a discussion prompt. Press ⌘P / Ctrl P to print as a handout.
BG 17.1
Arjuna inquired: O Kṛṣṇa, what is the situation of those who do not follow the principles of scripture but worship according to their own imagination? Are they in goodness, in passion or in ignorance?
Essence. Arjuna asks: those who worship with faith but disregard scripture — what is their position? sattva, rajas, or tamas?
- Welcome practical questions about real-world worshipers who don't follow scripture.
- Don't rush to dismiss them; ask Kṛṣṇa.
- Respect Arjuna's pastoral concern.
BG 17.2
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.
Essence. Faith is of three kinds — born of one's nature: sattvic, rajasic, tamasic.
- Recognize that faith itself comes in modes.
- Diagnose your own faith's mode.
- Don't assume all faith is equal.
BG 17.3
O son of Bharata, according to one’s existence under the various modes of nature, one evolves a particular kind of faith. The living being is said to be of a particular faith according to the modes he has acquired.
Essence. According to one's existence under the influence of the modes of nature, one develops a particular kind of faith — a man is made of his faith.
- Recognize: 'a man is made of his faith.' Tend it accordingly.
- Audit the mode-source of your faith.
- Cultivate sattvic faith deliberately.
BG 17.4
Men in the mode of goodness worship the demigods; those in the mode of passion worship the demons; and those in the mode of ignorance worship ghosts and spirits.
Essence. Sattvic worship demigods; rajasic worship demons and Yakṣas; tamasic worship ghosts and spirits.
- Recognize that the object of worship reveals the mode.
- Audit what you actually worship (with your time, attention, money).
- Adjust the object accordingly.
BG 17.5-6
Those who undergo severe austerities and penances not recommended in the scriptures, performing them out of pride and egoism, who are impelled by lust and attachment, who are foolish and who torture the material elements of the body as well as the Supersoul dwelling within, are to be known as demons.
Essence. Those who undergo severe austerities not authorized by scripture — driven by pride and ego, with lust and attachment — torture the bodily organs and Me within the body; know them as demoniac.
- Don't admire austerities not authorized by scripture.
- Recognize that ego-driven austerity is demoniac.
- Honor scripture's standard of austerity.
BG 17.7
Even the food each person prefers is of three kinds, according to the three modes of material nature. The same is true of sacrifices, austerities and charity. Now hear of the distinctions between them.
Essence. Even foods are of three kinds, dear to each of the three classes; sacrifice, austerity, and charity are also of three kinds.
- Recognize that food, sacrifice, austerity, and charity all come in modes.
- Don't reduce 'good food' to one universal standard.
- Identify the mode of each.
BG 17.8
Foods dear to those in the mode of goodness increase the duration of life, purify one’s existence and give strength, health, happiness and satisfaction. Such foods are juicy, fatty, wholesome, and pleasing to the heart.
Essence. Foods dear to those in sattva increase life span, purify, give strength, joy, satisfaction — fresh, juicy, fatty, wholesome.
- Cultivate a sattvic diet — fresh, juicy, fatty (in healthy form), wholesome.
- Track the after-feel of meals; sattva leaves you light and clear.
- Don't romanticize over-restriction.
BG 17.9
Foods that are too bitter, too sour, salty, hot, pungent, dry and burning are dear to those in the mode of passion. Such foods cause distress, misery and disease.
Essence. Foods dear to rajas — too bitter, sour, salty, hot, pungent, dry, burning — cause distress, misery, disease.
- Notice over-stimulating foods and reduce them.
- Track agitation in mood post-meal.
- Reduce caffeine, excessive spice, etc.
BG 17.10
Food prepared more than three hours before being eaten, food that is tasteless, decomposed and putrid, and food consisting of remnants and untouchable things is dear to those in the mode of darkness.
Essence. Food cooked more than three hours before being eaten, tasteless, decomposed, putrid, untouchable — is dear to those in tamas.
- Eat fresh food when possible; stale food is tamasic.
- Don't accumulate leftovers for days.
- Honor freshness as a spiritual quality.
BG 17.11
Of sacrifices, the sacrifice performed according to the directions of scripture, as a matter of duty, by those who desire no reward, is of the nature of goodness.
Essence. Sacrifice is sattvic when performed according to scripture, as a duty, by those who desire no reward — without expectation.
- Treat your sacrifices (worship, service) as duty without reward expectation.
- Honor scripture's specifications.
- Refuse the bargain mode.
BG 17.12
But the sacrifice performed for some material benefit, or for the sake of pride, O chief of the Bhāratas, you should know to be in the mode of passion.
Essence. Sacrifice performed for material benefit or for show — is rajasic.
- Notice when you perform spiritual practice for show or material benefit.
- Stop performing devotion for an audience.
- Refuse benefit-driven practice.
BG 17.13
Any sacrifice performed without regard for the directions of scripture, without distribution of prasādam [spiritual food], without chanting of Vedic hymns and remunerations to the priests, and without faith is considered to be in the mode of ignorance.
Essence. Sacrifice without scripture, food distribution, mantra, charity, or faith — is tamasic.
- Reject 'sacrifice' that lacks the basic elements.
- Don't tolerate degraded ritual.
- Restore the elements.
BG 17.14
Austerity of the body consists in worship of the Supreme Lord, the brāhmaṇas, the spiritual master, and superiors like the father and mother, and in cleanliness, simplicity, celibacy and nonviolence.
Essence. The austerity of the body — worship of the Supreme, the brāhmaṇas, the spiritual master, elders; cleanliness, simplicity, celibacy, nonviolence.
- Audit each of these bodily austerities.
- Pick one to deepen this season.
- Don't reduce 'austerity' to fasting alone.
BG 17.15
Austerity of speech consists in speaking words that are truthful, pleasing, beneficial, and not agitating to others, and also in regularly reciting Vedic literature.
Essence. Austerity of speech — words that cause no agitation, truthful, pleasant, beneficial; regular study of Vedic scripture.
- Audit your speech for the four qualities.
- Address one specific failing.
- Add regular scripture study.
BG 17.16
And satisfaction, simplicity, gravity, self-control and purification of one’s existence are the austerities of the mind.
Essence. Austerity of the mind — satisfaction, simplicity, gravity, self-control, purity of thought.
- Cultivate satisfaction over chronic dissatisfaction.
- Practice gravity over flippancy.
- Honor mental austerity equal with bodily and verbal.
BG 17.17
This threefold austerity, performed with transcendental faith by men not expecting material benefits but engaged only for the sake of the Supreme, is called austerity in goodness.
Essence. These three austerities, performed by the disciplined — without expectation of reward, with faith — are sattvic.
- Perform austerities of body, speech, mind together — not in isolation.
- Pair them with faith and no-reward expectation.
- Audit the alignment.
BG 17.18
Penance performed out of pride and for the sake of gaining respect, honor and worship is said to be in the mode of passion. It is neither stable nor permanent.
Essence. Austerity performed for praise, honor, or worship — out of pride — is rajasic; unsteady, transient.
- Notice when austerity is for an audience.
- Reduce or hide the practice that's becoming public-facing.
- Cultivate hidden austerity.
BG 17.19
Penance performed out of foolishness, with self-torture or to destroy or injure others, is said to be in the mode of ignorance.
Essence. Austerity performed out of foolishness, with self-torture or to harm others — is tamasic.
- Refuse self-tortuous or other-harming practice.
- Don't romanticize masochistic asceticism.
- Honor the body as Kṛṣṇa's temple.
BG 17.20
Charity given out of duty, without expectation of return, at the proper time and place, and to a worthy person is considered to be in the mode of goodness.
Essence. Charity given out of duty, at the proper time and place, without expectation of return — is sattvic.
- Give without expectation of return.
- Time and place matter — give thoughtfully.
- Treat charity as duty, not as performance.
BG 17.21
But charity performed with the expectation of some return, or with a desire for fruitive results, or in a grudging mood is said to be charity in the mode of passion.
Essence. Charity given grudgingly, with hope of return, or seeking a fruitive result — is rajasic.
- Notice grudging in your giving.
- If grudging, give less but more wholeheartedly.
- Don't manufacture giving you can't sustain.
BG 17.22
And charity performed at an impure place, at an improper time, to unworthy persons, or without proper attention and respect is said to be in the mode of ignorance.
Essence. Charity given at improper time and place, to unworthy persons, without respect or proper attention — is tamasic.
- Don't give carelessly; respect the receiver and the moment.
- Don't enable the unworthy.
- Cultivate discernment in charity.
BG 17.23
From the beginning of creation, the three words oṁ tat sat were used to indicate the Supreme Absolute Truth. These three symbolic representations were used by brāhmaṇas while chanting the hymns of the Vedas and during sacrifices for the satisfaction of the Supreme.
Essence. From the beginning of creation, three syllables — Om Tat Sat — have indicated the Supreme.
- Use Om Tat Sat as a mantra of consecration.
- Don't dismiss traditional invocations.
- Honor sacred sound.
BG 17.24
Therefore, transcendentalists undertaking performances of sacrifice, charity and penance in accordance with scriptural regulations begin always with oṁ, to attain the Supreme.
Essence. Sacrifices, charity, austerities according to scripture begin with Om — the way to attain the Supreme.
- Begin spiritual acts with Om audibly when appropriate.
- Use the syllable as gateway.
- Trust the technical specification.
BG 17.25
Without desiring fruitive results, one should perform various kinds of sacrifice, penance and charity with the word tat. The purpose of such transcendental activities is to get free from material entanglement.
Essence. The syllable Tat is uttered without seeking fruit — for those desiring liberation, this practice frees from material entanglement.
- Use Tat to consecrate fruit-renouncing acts.
- Pair the syllable with the actual renunciation.
- Don't speak the word without doing the deed.
BG 17.26-27
The Absolute Truth is the objective of devotional sacrifice, and it is indicated by the word sat. The performer of such sacrifice is also called sat, as are all works of sacrifice, penance and charity which, true to the absolute nature, are performed to please the Supreme Person, O son of Pṛthā.
Essence. Sat indicates the absolute truth, the goal of devotional sacrifice — sacrifice, austerity, and charity in pursuit of the Absolute are also called Sat.
- Use Sat to mark acts oriented toward the Supreme.
- Recognize that Sat is both reality and the practice oriented toward it.
- Cultivate Sat-oriented activity.
BG 17.28
Anything done as sacrifice, charity or penance without faith in the Supreme, O son of Pṛthā, is impermanent. It is called asat and is useless both in this life and the next.
Essence. Anything done as sacrifice, charity, austerity without faith in the Supreme — is asat; useless here, useless hereafter.
- Address faithlessness explicitly; without faith, the action is asat.
- Cultivate faith as the activating principle.
- Don't waste effort on faithless action.