CHAPTER 17: THE YOGA OF THE THREEFOLD DIVISION OF FAITH

About the nature of each type of food intake, austerity and sacrifice.

(1) Arjuna said: 'Those who give up on the regulations of the scriptures, but do worship having full faith - is their faith, oh Krishna, in goodness, passion or in ignorance?'

(2) The Supreme Lord said: 'The faith of the embodied souls takes three forms according to each his love and experience: to goodness, to passion and to ignorance; so thus hear about this from Me. (3) Faith evolves according to everyone's nature, oh son of Bharata; the person ìs the full of this faith and is, with such a faith endowed, thus certain of himself. (4) Those of goodness are in respect with the godly ones, in the mode of passion one deals with the demoniac, while people in ignorance are in respect with the spirits of the dead and with ghosts. (5-6) Those persons who undergo severe austerities not prescribed in the scriptures and who proudly identified with the body are engaged in tormenting the organs of their bodies in a desire of and attachment to their own prowess, are mistaken about Me; consider those who persistently deal that way with themselves as being of an obscure resolve.

(7) Also the food intake one cherishes is assuredly of three kinds; just like with sacrifice, austerity and charity; hear now about how they differ from one another. (8) Food preferred by the ones in goodness increases the duration of life, purifies one's being, gives strength, health, happiness and satisfaction and is juicy, rich, wholesome and a pleasure to the heart. (9) Bitter, sour, salty, very hot, smelly, dried out and burnt is the food of those in the mode of passion; it makes unhappy, miserable and causes disease. (10) That which is spoiled, lacks taste, smells bad, is decomposed, a left over from a previous meal and has impurities in it, is food dear to the ignorant.

(11) Sacrifice that is performed according to the scripture by those who are free from profit motives and is thus surely of an absorbed mind is of goodness. (12) But that what is done in desire for the result and out of pride, oh chief of the Bhâratas, know that sacrifice as being of the mode of passion. (13) Devoid of the principles [of satya, dayâ, tapas, sauca; truth, compassion, austerity and cleanliness], with no offerings of food, in disrespect of mantras, without gifts and with lacking faith, sacrifice is to be considered as of ignorance.

(14) In deeds austerity is said to be of respect for the divinity, the twice-born ones, the spiritual teacher and the wise in cleanliness, sincerity, celibacy and nonviolence. (15) To the voice for sure austerity is said to be of truthful, pleasing and beneficial, inoffensive words that are of Vedic study and practice. (16) To one's thinking this austerity then is said to be of a considerate mind of good faith, gravity, self-control and self-correction. (17) That threefold austerity [of deeds, the voice and the mind] executed by men with faith in the transcendence without longing for the fruit is said to be of goodness. (18) Austerity performed in this world for the sake of respect, honor, veneration and indeed pride is said to be of passion; it is unstable and temporary. (19) Austerity foolishly performed with the intent to torture oneself or with the purpose of destroying others is said to be in the mode of darkness.

(20) Donations given dutifully, irrespective the return, at the proper time and place and to suitable persons - that giving is considered to be of goodness. (21) But that which again is given desiring a return of some result or with resentment; that giving is understood to be of the mode of passion. (22) That charity which is given at the wrong place, the wrong time and to unworthy persons and as well is given without respect and proper attention - that is said to be in the mode of ignorance.

(23) With Om Tat Sat to that the threefold of the spiritual is indicated which the brahmins till now used for as well sacrifices as the Vedic literature. (24) Therewith does Om indicate the beginning of the sacrifices of the transcendentalists of charity and penance according to the scriptural regulations. (25) Next is Tat, to the ones desiring liberation, used when one is not after the results of sacrifice with the various activities of charity and penance. (26-27) To the nature of the Supreme and its devotion is following the resounding of the word Sat used in the agreed upon activities, oh son of Prithâ. In the case of sacrifice, penance and charity, Sat is thus also for sure uttered to indicate the activities meant and the Absolute of the truth.

(28) That which is offered, given and performed with penance without faith in all this, is said to be false oh son of Prithâ, and that is nor useful here nor in the hereafter.'  


 



 

 

 



Filognostic
* understanding of the Bhagavad Gîtâ of Order

Text 1

Arjuna said: 'Those who give up on the regulations of the scriptures, but do worship having full faith - is their faith, oh Krishna, in goodness, passion or in ignorance?'

FILOGNOSTIC TRANSLATION

Arjuna said: 'He who abandons the scriptural regulations but, endowed with faith, is of worship, is he, oh Krishna, in goodness or else in passion or ignorance?' (Sanskrit & tradition)

 

Text 2

The Supreme Lord said: 'The faith of the embodied souls takes three forms according to each his love and experience: to goodness, to passion and to ignorance; so thus hear about this from Me.

FILOGNOSTIC TRANSLATION

The fortunate one said: 'The faith of the one embodied manifests, depending on each his birth, in the three forms of goodness, passion and ignorance; hear about this as well from me. (Sanskrit & tradition)

 

Text 3

Faith evolves according to everyone's nature, oh son of Bharata; the person ìs the full of this faith and is, with such a faith endowed, thus certain of himself.

FILOGNOSTIC TRANSLATION

The evolution of one's faith is a matter of consciousness31 oh descendant of Bharata, the person is the completeness of that faith. and is, with such a faith endowed, thus certain of himself. (Sanskrit & tradition)

 

Text 4

Those of goodness are in respect with the godly ones, in the mode of passion one deals with the demoniac, while people in ignorance are in respect with the spirits of the dead and with ghosts.

FILOGNOSTIC TRANSLATION

Those who are of goodness keep the godly in mind, in passion one bows to the demons, and people in ignorance are devoted to the spirits of the deceased and ghosts and such. (Sanskrit & tradition)

 

Text 5-6

Those persons who undergo severe austerities not prescribed in the scriptures and who proudly identified with the body are engaged in tormenting the organs of their bodies in a desire of and attachment to their own prowess, are mistaken about Me; consider those who persistently deal that way with themselves as being of an obscure resolve.

FILOGNOSTIC TRANSLATION

Those persons who, impelled by the force of lust, egotistically and conceited are engaged in penances executed with violence and not prescribed in the scriptures, are surely of an obscure resolve; they doing harm to the body its material integrity are mistaken about me who, next to themselves, is also situated within that body. (Sanskrit & tradition)

 

Text 7

Also the food intake one cherishes is assuredly of three kinds; just like with sacrifice, austerity and charity; hear now about how they differ from one another.

FILOGNOSTIC TRANSLATION

The way the food one prefers is also of three kinds, there are as well three kinds of charity, sacrifices and austerities; hear now about these differences. (Sanskrit & tradition)

 

Text 8

Food preferred by the ones in goodness increases the duration of life, purifies one's being, gives strength, health, happiness and satisfaction and is juicy, rich, wholesome and a pleasure to the heart.

FILOGNOSTIC TRANSLATION

Food which increases the duration of life, which purifies one's being, gives strength, health, happiness and satisfaction and which is juicy, rich, wholesome and a pleasure to the heart, is food preferred by the ones in goodness. (Sanskrit & tradition)

 

Text 9

Bitter, sour, salty, very hot, smelly, dried out and burnt is the food of those in the mode of passion; it makes unhappy, miserable and causes disease.

FILOGNOSTIC TRANSLATION

Bitter, sour, salty, very hot, smelly, dried out and burned is the food of those in the mode of passion; it makes unhappy, miserable and brings disease. (Sanskrit & tradition)

 

Text 10

That which is spoiled, lacks taste, smells bad, is decomposed, a left over from a previous meal and has impurities in it, is food dear to the ignorant.

FILOGNOSTIC TRANSLATION

That what is cooked too long, lacks taste, smells bad, is decomposed, a leftover from a previous meal and has impurities in it, is food dear to the ignorant. (Sanskrit & tradition)

 

Text 11

Sacrifice that is performed according to the scripture by those who are free from profit motives and is thus surely of an absorbed mind is of goodness.

FILOGNOSTIC TRANSLATION

A sacrifice which according to the scriptural regulations is conducted by souls who, free from profit motives, therewith performed with an absorbed mind, is of goodness. (Sanskrit & tradition)

 

Text 12

But that what is done in desire for the result and out of pride, oh chief of the Bhâratas, know that sacrifice as being of the mode of passion.

FILOGNOSTIC TRANSLATION

But that sacrifice which is performed out of vanity and with the desire for a certain advantage, oh leader of the Kuru line, know that sacrifice to be of the mode of passion. (Sanskrit & tradition)

 

Text 13

Devoid of the principles [of satya, dayâ, tapas, sauca; truth, compassion, austerity and cleanliness], with no offerings of food, in disrespect of mantras, without gifts and with lacking faith, sacrifice is to be considered as of ignorance.

FILOGNOSTIC TRANSLATION

Any sacrifice in defiance of the regulative principles, with no food distributed, with no hymns sung, without any gifts and performed without faith, must be considered a sacrifice in the mode of ignorance. (Sanskrit & tradition)

 

Text 14

In deeds austerity is said to be of respect for the divinity, the twice-born ones , the spiritual teacher and the wise in cleanliness, sincerity, celibacy and nonviolence.

FILOGNOSTIC TRANSLATION

When one in cleanliness, sincerity, celibacy and nonviolence is of respect for the divinity, the twice-born, the spiritual teacher and the wise, one speaks of austerity in the sense of physical actions. (Sanskrit & tradition)

 

Text 15

To the voice for sure austerity is said to be of truthful, pleasing and beneficial, inoffensive words that are of Vedic study and practice.

FILOGNOSTIC TRANSLATION

To the voice austerity is said to be of truthful, pleasing and beneficial, inoffensive words derived from studying the books of spiritual wisdom in a persistent practice. (Sanskrit & tradition)

 

Text 16

To one's thinking this austerity then is said to be of a considerate mind of good faith, gravity, self-control and self-correction.

FILOGNOSTIC TRANSLATION

Austerity of the mind pertains to a mind trained in serenity, good faith, gravity, self-control and self-correction32. (Sanskrit & tradition)

 

Text 17

That threefold austerity [of deeds, the voice and the mind] executed by men with faith in the transcendencc without longing for the fruit is said to be of goodness.

FILOGNOSTIC TRANSLATION

This threefold austerity33 which, free from desiring a certain advantage, is performed by men with faith in the transcendence, is said to be of goodness. (Sanskrit & tradition)

 

Text 18

Austerity performed in this world for the sake of respect, honor, veneration and indeed pride is said to be of passion; it is unstable and temporary.

FILOGNOSTIC TRANSLATION

Austerity which in this world is performed for the sake of respect, honor and veneration and thus is vain, is, unstable and temporary as it is, said to be of the mode of passion. (Sanskrit & tradition)

 

Text 19

Austerity foolishly performed with the intent to torture oneself or with the purpose of destroying others is said to be in the mode of darkness.

FILOGNOSTIC TRANSLATION

Austerity foolishly performed with the intent to torture oneself or bring down others, is said to be of the mode of ignorance. (Sanskrit & tradition)

 

Text 20

Donations given dutifully, irrespective the return, at the proper time and place and to suitable persons - that giving is considered to be of goodness.

FILOGNOSTIC TRANSLATION

That what is given in charity as a gift without expecting anything in return, at the right place, at the right time, and to the right person is a form of charity which is considered to be of goodness. (Sanskrit & tradition)

 

Text 21

But that which again is given desiring a return of some result or with resentment; that giving is understood to be of the mode of passion.

FILOGNOSTIC TRANSLATION

But that which is given with some return in mind, and is given desiring a result, or is given with a grudge, is charity understood to be of passion. (Sanskrit & tradition)

 

Text 22

That charity which is given at the wrong place, the wrong time and to unworthy persons and as well is given without respect and proper attention - that is said to be in the mode of ignorance.

FILOGNOSTIC TRANSLATION

Charity, without respect and proper attention, given at the wrong place, the wrong time and to persons not deserving, is said to be of ignorance. (Sanskrit & tradition)

 

Text 23

With Om Tat Sat to that the threefold of the spiritual is indicated which the brahmins till now used for as well sacrifices as the Vedic literature.

FILOGNOSTIC TRANSLATION

With om tat sat34 the threefold of the spiritual supreme is indicated; these words were since time immemorial used by the twice-born ones with their sacrifices as also with the as with the holy books of prayers and hymns. (Sanskrit & tradition)

 

Text 24

Therewith does Om indicate the beginning of the sacrifices of the transcendentalists of charity and penance according to the scriptural regulations.

FILOGNOSTIC TRANSLATION

For that reason the syllable om always marks the beginning of the performances of the sacrifices, the charity and the penance of the transcendentalists proceeding according to the regulations. (Sanskrit & tradition)

 

Text 25

Next is Tat, to the ones desiring liberation, used when one is not after the results of sacrifice with the various activities of charity and penance.

FILOGNOSTIC TRANSLATION

The word tat in this is used by the ones desiring liberation to refer to the fact that one is not after any result in the various activities of sacrifice, penance and charity. (Sanskrit & tradition)

 

Text 26-27

To the nature of the Supreme and its devotion is following the resounding of the word Sat used in the agreed upon activities, oh son of Prithâ. In the case of sacrifice, penance and charity, Sat is thus also for sure uttered to indicate the activities meant and the Absolute of the truth.

FILOGNOSTIC TRANSLATION

The word sat is used to express the nature of the supreme as also the devotion to the supreme in the activities one agreed upon, oh son of Prithâ. Thus in case of sacrifice, penance and charity the word sat is uttered to indicate the activities in question as also the absolute of the truth. (Sanskrit & tradition)

 

Text 28

That which is offered, given and performed with penance without faith in all this, is said to be false oh son of Prithâ, and that is nor useful here nor in the hereafter.'  

FILOGNOSTIC TRANSLATION

If one makes some sort of offering, donates this or that way, or when one is of some kind of penance, one is completely false if one proceeds without any belief, oh son of Prithâ; to act this way in disbelief is of no use here, nor in the hereafter.' (Sanskrit & tradition)

 

 

 

 

Versions consulted:

- A Song of Fortune One - A modern Gîtâ - the modern version of filognosy (also in mp3-audio).

- A Song of Fortune - A Classical Gîtâ - the classical version of filognosy.

- The Bhagavad Gîta-as-it-is by Swami Bhaktivedânta Prabhupâda (PDF-download).

- The Bhagavad Gîtâ-as-it-is: online (version 1.0).

- The Bhagavad Gita As It Is By His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (pdf-download).

- The Bhagavad Gita by the Bhagavad Gita Trust.

- Bhagavad Gita by Sanderson Beck.

- Bhagavad Gita by Ramanad Prasad (American Gita society).

- Srimad Bhagavad-gita - The Hidden Treasure of the Sweet Absolute (from the Vaishnav' S'rî Caitanya Saraswath math).

Sanskrit dictionary: (Monier-Williams' 'Sanskrit-English Dictionary').

 

   

 

 

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The filognostic translations are of the same author.                   
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