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Chapter 17 · The Divisions of Faith · 28 verses

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Nature & guṇasChapter 17 · The Divisions of Faith
17.117.3

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 17.2

Faith shaped by the three guṇas

श्रीभगवानुवाच

त्रिविधा भवति श्रद्धा देहिनां सा स्वभावजा ।

सात्त्विकी राजसी चैव तामसी चेति तां श‍ृणु ॥ २ ॥

śrī-bhagavān uvāca

tri-vidhā bhavati śraddhā

dehināṁ sā svabhāva-jā

sāttvikī rājasī caiva

tāmasī ceti tāṁ śṛṇu

Translation

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.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

What this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.

Three Kinds of Faith

  1. 1The Supreme Personality of Godhead says that faith is of three kinds: goodness, passion or ignorance, according to one’s acquired modes of nature.
  2. 2Prabhupāda explains that past activities shape one’s nature, but following a genuine spiritual master and the scriptures can gradually raise one to goodness.
  3. 3Do not rely on blind faith. Think carefully with a genuine spiritual master’s guidance and follow his instructions and the scriptures.

Where we are

In the story

Chapter 17, The Divisions of Faith: faith shaped by the three guṇas.

What it teaches

Theme summary

The modes of nature condition behavior.

2

Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Key ideas: prakṛti, guṇa.

3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 17.2 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to nature & guṇas?

Practice

Observe which mode shaped your last decision.

4

Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

BG 17.3Faith shaped by the three guṇasBG 17.4Faith shaped by the three guṇasBG 7.14Crossing beyond māyā

Study notes are editorial summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport.

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Ask about BG 17.2 — get a simple answer linked to related ideas and verses.

Back to step 3The key ideasNext · Step 5 of 7 · 5 minLive the teachingsBring it into your day with a practice and a question, straight from Prabhupāda's purports.