Bhagavad Gita Chapter 17 Explained: Three Kinds of Faith

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 17, known as Shraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga, explains that faith (shraddha) is of three kinds—sattvic, rajasic, and tamasic—determined by one’s inherent nature (svabhava), and that this threefold distinction extends to food, sacrifice, austerity, and charity. Arjuna opens the chapter with a question: What is the fate of those who have faith but do not follow scriptural injunctions? Krishna responds that faith arises from one’s natural disposition, shaped by past impressions, and that a person is literally “made of faith”—whatever one’s faith, that is what one becomes . The chapter then applies this threefold classification to daily life, culminating in the sacred formula “Om Tat Sat” as the designation of the Supreme and the means of sanctifying all action . In one line: You are what your faith makes you—and the quality of your faith determines whether you rise toward liberation or descend into bondage.

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Part 1: Arjuna’s Question and the Threefold Faith (Verses 1-3)

The Question of Unscriptural Faith

Arjuna asks:

“Those who, neglecting the ordinances of scripture, yet worship with faith—what is their state, O Krishna? Is it sattva, rajas, or tamas?”

Arjuna is asking about sincere seekers who have faith but lack knowledge of the scriptures. Are their practices valid? What determines the quality of their faith?

Faith Born of Nature

Krishna’s answer is direct:

“The faith of embodied beings is of three kinds, born of their own nature—sattvic, rajasic, and tamasic. Hear about it.” (17.2)

Faith does not arise arbitrarily. It is shaped by svabhava—one’s inherent disposition, formed by the accumulated impressions of past actions . The antahkarana (inner instrument) may be predominantly sattvic, rajasic, or tamasic, and one’s faith corresponds to its quality .

You Are What You Believe

Verse 3 is the chapter’s central declaration:

“One’s faith conforms to one’s nature, O Bharata. A person is made of faith. Whatever his faith, that indeed he becomes.”

This is a profound teaching. Shraddhamayo’yam purushah—”man is made of faith.” Faith is not merely a belief one holds; it is the very substance of one’s personality. The object of one’s faith shapes one’s character, destiny, and ultimate destination .

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Part 2: The Objects of Worship (Verse 4)

Who Worships Whom

Krishna then describes the objects of worship according to the dominant guna:

Guna	Object of Worship	Verse
Sattvic	The gods (devas)	17.4
Rajasic	The Yakshas and Rakshasas (demigods and demons)	17.4
Tamasic	Ghosts and spirits (pretan bhuta-ganan)	17.4

The sattvic worship the divine powers for purification of mind. The rajasic worship powerful beings for material gain. The tamasic worship spirits and ghosts, often engaging in harmful practices .

The Demonical Austerities (Verses 5-6)

Krishna warns against those who perform severe austerities not sanctioned by scripture:

“Those who practice severe austerities not enjoined by scripture, full of hypocrisy and egotism, impelled by desire and attachment, they torture the elements in their body and Me who dwells within.” (17.5-6)

Such practices are demonic (asuri). They do not purify; they torture the body and the Divine within it.

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Part 3: The Threefold Food (Verses 8-10)

Food and the Gunas

Krishna then applies the threefold distinction to ahara (food), showing that diet shapes and reflects one’s nature :

Guna	Type of Food	Verse
Sattvic	Juicy, smooth, substantial, nourishing—promotes longevity, strength, health, happiness	17.8
Rajasic	Bitter, sour, salty, hot, pungent, dry, burning—causes pain, grief, disease	17.9
Tamasic	Stale, tasteless, putrid, rotten, impure	17.10

Swami Sivananda explains: “The mind is formed of the subtlest portion of food. If you eat sattvic food, the mind will be sattvic. If you eat rajasic or tamasic food, the mind will be rajasic or tamasic” .

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Part 4: The Threefold Sacrifice, Austerity, and Charity (Verses 11-22)

Sacrifice (Yajna)

Guna	Sacrifice	Verse
Sattvic	Performed according to scripture, without desire for reward, with conviction of duty	17.11
Rajasic	Performed for show, with expectation of reward	17.12
Tamasic	Performed without scriptural rule, without faith, without distribution of food or gifts	17.13

Threefold Austerity (Tapas)

Krishna describes three types of austerity—of body, speech, and mind :

Austerity of Body (17.14): Worship of the Divine, the twice-born, teachers, and the wise; purity, straightforwardness, celibacy, and non-violence.

Austerity of Speech (17.15): Speech that is truthful, pleasing, beneficial, and non-agitating; regular study of scriptures.

Austerity of Mind (17.16): Serenity, gentleness, silence, self-control, purity of being.

Swami Krishnananda comments: “The discipline of speech is considered to be that which is pleasing, which does not agitate the mind of the person who hears it, which is very beneficial, kind and sweet, and is also truthful” .

These threefold austerities, when performed with faith and without expectation of reward, are sattvic (17.17). Performed for respect or fame, they are rajasic (17.18). Performed with foolish stubbornness or self-torture, they are tamasic (17.19).

Charity (Dana)

Guna	Charity	Verse
Sattvic	Given at the right place and time, to a deserving person, as a matter of duty, without expectation of return	17.20
Rajasic	Given unwillingly, or with expectation of return, or for a reward	17.21
Tamasic	Given at the wrong place and time, to unworthy persons, without respect, or with contempt	17.22

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Part 5: Om Tat Sat – The Threefold Designation of Brahman (Verses 23-28)

The Sacred Formula

The chapter concludes with the revelation of the sacred formula:

“Om Tat Sat—this is said to be the threefold designation of Brahman. By this were sanctified the Brahmanas, the Vedas, and the sacrifices in ancient times.” (17.23)

The Meaning of Each Syllable

Syllable	Meaning	Application
Om	The primordial sound, Brahman in its inclusive aspect	Uttered at the beginning of all sacrifice, charity, and austerity (17.24)
Tat	“That”—the transcendent Brahman	Uttered by seekers of liberation, without expectation of reward (17.25)
Sat	“Being” or “Goodness”—the immanent Brahman	Uttered in auspicious actions, in sacrifice, austerity, and charity (17.26-27)

Swami Krishnananda explains: “The Supreme Being—Brahman, the Absolute—is designated as Om Tat Sat in a threefold definition. Knowers of the Vedas, the Veda mantras, and the yajnas are all purified and consecrated by the recitation of this mystic symbol” .

The Unifying Principle

The chapter’s teaching is that all action—sacrifice, austerity, charity—must be performed with faith, according to scripture, without expectation of reward, and sanctified by the remembrance of the Supreme. When these conditions are met, action becomes a means of purification and a path to liberation .

Faith Without Sanctification (Verse 28)

“Whatever is performed without faith—whether sacrifice, charity, or austerity—is called asat, O Partha. It is of no consequence here or hereafter.” (17.28)

Without faith and without sanctification by Om Tat Sat, even the most elaborate religious performances are asat—unreal, without fruit. The chapter closes with this warning, underscoring that the quality of faith determines the quality of action, and the quality of action determines one’s destiny .

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Common Questions

Q1: What is the main message of Chapter 17?
The chapter teaches that faith (shraddha) is of three kinds—sattvic, rajasic, and tamasic—determined by one’s inherent nature. This threefold distinction applies to food, sacrifice, austerity, and charity. The chapter culminates in the sacred formula “Om Tat Sat” as the means of sanctifying all action .

Q2: What determines the quality of one’s faith?
Faith arises from svabhava—one’s inherent disposition, shaped by past impressions. The antahkarana (inner instrument) may be predominantly sattvic, rajasic, or tamasic, and one’s faith corresponds to its quality .

Q3: What are the three types of austerity?
Austerity of body (worship, purity, straightforwardness, celibacy, non-violence), austerity of speech (truthful, pleasing, beneficial speech; study of scriptures), and austerity of mind (serenity, gentleness, silence, self-control, purity) .

Q4: What does “Om Tat Sat” mean?
Om Tat Sat is the threefold designation of Brahman. “Om” is the primordial sound, “Tat” is the transcendent aspect, and “Sat” is the immanent aspect of the Supreme. These syllables sanctify all religious action .

Q5: What happens to those who perform religious acts without faith?
Krishna declares that whatever is performed without faith—sacrifice, charity, or austerity—is asat (unreal) and is of no consequence in this life or the next (17.28) .

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Summary

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 17 reveals that faith is the fabric of human personality—”man is made of faith.” This faith is of three kinds, determined by the three gunas: sattvic faith, which is pure and selfless; rajasic faith, which is driven by desire and expectation; and tamasic faith, which is deluded and harmful. Krishna applies this threefold distinction to food, sacrifice, austerity, and charity, showing that the quality of one’s daily life reflects the quality of one’s faith. The chapter culminates in the sacred formula “Om Tat Sat,” the threefold designation of Brahman, which sanctifies all action and transforms the ordinary into the sacred. That realization—that every act, every word, every meal, and every offering is an expression of the faith that shapes your being—is the gift of Chapter 17 and the foundation of spiritual life.

Om Shanti Shanti Shanti