Step 4 of 7 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Pick any verse to see what it means and how to use it in your life.

  1. 1Tap a chapter, then a verse
  2. 2Read what it means
  3. 3Try the practice
700 verses37 detailed
Or browse by chapter
Chapter

Chapter 17 · The Divisions of Faith · 28 verses

12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728

Deep profile← → keys move between verses

Nature & guṇasChapter 17 · The Divisions of Faith
17.317.5

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 17.4

Faith shaped by the three guṇas

यजन्ते सात्त्विका देवान्यक्षरक्षांसि राजसा: ।

प्रेतान्भूतगणांश्चान्ये यजन्ते तामसा जना: ॥ ४ ॥

yajante sāttvikā devān

yakṣa-rakṣāṁsi rājasāḥ

pretān bhūta-gaṇāṁś cānye

yajante tāmasā janāḥ

Translation

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.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

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

Worship and the Material Modes

  1. 1People in goodness worship demigods; those in passion worship demons; those in ignorance worship ghosts and spirits.
  2. 2Prabhupāda explains that only the Supreme Personality of Godhead is truly worshipable. Those in pure goodness worship Him beyond the material modes.
  3. 3Associate with spiritually pure persons to become purified of the material modes.

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 17.4 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

The story behind it

Mahābhārata episodes and stories from the purports that shed light on this verse.

All stories for chapter 17 ›
5

Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

BG 17.2Faith shaped by the three guṇasBG 17.3Faith 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.

Ask the study guide

Ask about BG 17.4 — 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.