Bhagavad Gita 17.2 — Faith Is of Three Kinds, Born of One's Own Nature
श्रीभगवानुवाच ।
त्रिविधा भवति श्रद्धा देहिनां सा स्वभावजा ।
सात्त्विकी राजसी चैव तामसी चेति तां शृणु ॥ १७.२ ॥
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The Blessed Lord said: The faith of embodied beings, born of their own nature, is of three kinds: sattvic (pure), rajasic (passionate), and tamasic (dull). Now hear about it.
Transliteration (IAST)
Word Separation
The Sanskrit verse is separated into individual words (Padched) for easier study.
Word Meanings
| Line 1 | |
|---|---|
| Sanskrit Word | Meaning |
| trividhā | of three kinds |
| bhavati | is; becomes |
| śhraddhā | faith |
| dehinām | of embodied beings |
| sā | that |
| svabhāvajā | born of one's own nature; arising from inherent disposition |
| Line 2 | |
|---|---|
| Sanskrit Word | Meaning |
| sāttvikī | of the nature of goodness; sattvic |
| rājasī | of the nature of passion; rajasic |
| cha | and |
| eva | indeed |
| tāmasī | of the nature of ignorance; tamasic |
| cha | and |
| iti | thus |
| tām | that |
| śhṛṇu | hear; listen |
| Line 1 | Line 2 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sanskrit Word | Meaning | Sanskrit Word | Meaning |
| trividhā | of three kinds | sāttvikī | of the nature of goodness; sattvic |
| bhavati | is; becomes | rājasī | of the nature of passion; rajasic |
| śhraddhā | faith | cha | and |
| dehinām | of embodied beings | eva | indeed |
| sā | that | tāmasī | of the nature of ignorance; tamasic |
| svabhāvajā | born of one's own nature; arising from inherent disposition | cha | and |
| iti | thus | ||
| tām | that | ||
| śhṛṇu | hear; listen | ||
Detailed Meaning
Introduction
Responding to Arjuna's question, Lord Krishna reveals a fundamental truth: faith is not the same in every person. It arises from one's own inherent nature and therefore appears in three forms, sāttvikī, rājasī, and tāmasī.
Essence
Faith Has Different Colours
Lord Krishna does not answer by simply naming one of the three guṇas for Arjuna's particular group. Instead, he gives a more profound reply: faith is of three kinds, and which kind a person has depends on their nature. Just as light passes through a coloured glass and takes on the colour of the glass, faith takes on the colour of the mind through which it flows.
Svabhāva-jā (born of one's own nature): This word is the key to the verse. A person's faith is not chosen arbitrarily; it grows out of svabhāva, the sum of tendencies and impressions (saṁskāras) gathered from past actions, upbringing, company, and habits. What we trust and revere reveals the kind of mind we have cultivated.
Sāttvikī (pure faith): This faith is clear, calm, and rooted in truth. It seeks the divine for its own sake, without bargaining and without fear.
Rājasī (passionate faith): This faith is driven by desire. It worships in order to obtain power, success, fame, or pleasure, and it often loves display and noise.
Tāmasī (dark faith): This faith is born of ignorance, fear, and delusion. It clings to blind superstition, cruelty, or harmful practices without any real understanding.
Lord Krishna's answer also carries a note of hope. Since faith comes from nature, and nature can be refined through right food, right company, right knowledge, and right practice, a person is not condemned to remain in the lower forms of faith. This chapter will show how that refinement takes place.
Message for Everyday Life (Knowing the Source of Your Convictions)
Our beliefs grow from our inner climate: What we believe in, whether it is a person, an idea, a goal, or a way of life, is shaped by the tendencies we have nurtured. Fear-based beliefs usually come from a fearful mind, and ambition-based beliefs from a restless one.
Practical approach: If you wish to uplift your convictions, begin by uplifting your inner environment. Choose better company, study uplifting texts, and cultivate calm and gratitude. As the mind becomes clearer, faith naturally becomes clearer too.
Faith Has Different Colours
Lord Krishna does not answer by simply naming one of the three guṇas for Arjuna's particular group. Instead, he gives a more profound reply: faith is of three kinds, and which kind a person has depends on their nature. Just as light passes through a coloured glass and takes on the colour of the glass, faith takes on the colour of the mind through which it flows.
Svabhāva-jā (born of one's own nature): This word is the key to the verse. A person's faith is not chosen arbitrarily; it grows out of svabhāva, the sum of tendencies and impressions (saṁskāras) gathered from past actions, upbringing, company, and habits. What we trust and revere reveals the kind of mind we have cultivated.
Sāttvikī (pure faith): This faith is clear, calm, and rooted in truth. It seeks the divine for its own sake, without bargaining and without fear.
Rājasī (passionate faith): This faith is driven by desire. It worships in order to obtain power, success, fame, or pleasure, and it often loves display and noise.
Tāmasī (dark faith): This faith is born of ignorance, fear, and delusion. It clings to blind superstition, cruelty, or harmful practices without any real understanding.
Lord Krishna's answer also carries a note of hope. Since faith comes from nature, and nature can be refined through right food, right company, right knowledge, and right practice, a person is not condemned to remain in the lower forms of faith. This chapter will show how that refinement takes place.
Message for Everyday Life (Knowing the Source of Your Convictions)
Our beliefs grow from our inner climate: What we believe in, whether it is a person, an idea, a goal, or a way of life, is shaped by the tendencies we have nurtured. Fear-based beliefs usually come from a fearful mind, and ambition-based beliefs from a restless one.
Practical approach: If you wish to uplift your convictions, begin by uplifting your inner environment. Choose better company, study uplifting texts, and cultivate calm and gratitude. As the mind becomes clearer, faith naturally becomes clearer too.
Next Topic
Lord Krishna has declared that faith is of three kinds and arises from one's own nature. He now takes this one step further and explains how deeply faith is woven into the very identity of a human being.
Hidden Messages In This Shloka
Reflect on this verse from different perspectives and see which deeper message opens up for you.
Wisdom Nuggets
Our temperament writes the first draft of our beliefs.
What we see clearly, we can gradually change.
Faith is a mirror of the mind that carries it.
A clear mind makes faith a source of light.
Desire can turn even devotion into a transaction.
Unexamined belief can become a habit of the mind.
Classification is the first step toward transformation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 'śhraddhā' (faith) mean in this verse?
What does 'svabhāvajā' (born of one's own nature) mean?
Are 'sāttvikī' (pure), 'rājasī' (passionate) and 'tāmasī' (dull) faith permanent categories?
Why does Krishna say 'tāṁ śhṛṇu' (hear it)?
What is the practical message of this verse in one sentence?
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