BHAGAVAD-GITA 17:2

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BHAGAVAD-GITA 17:2

 

sri-bhagavan uvaca

tri-vidha bhavati sraddha

dehinam sa svabhava-ja

sattviki rajasi caiva

tamasi ceti tam srnu

 

WORD FOR WORD

 

sri-bhagavan uvaca--the Supreme Personality of Godhead said;

tri-vidha--of three kinds; bhavati--becomes; sraddha--the faith;

dehinam--of the embodied; sa--that; sva-bhava-ja--according to his

mode of material nature; sattviki--in the mode of goodness; rajasi--in

the mode of passion; ca--also; eva--certainly; tamasi--in the mode of

ignorance; ca--and; iti--thus; tam--that; srnu--hear from Me.

 

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.

 

PURPORT

 

Those who know the rules and regulations of the scriptures but out of

laziness or indolence give up following these rules and regulations

are governed by the modes of material nature. According to their

previous activities in the mode of goodness, passion or ignorance,

they acquire a nature which is of a specific quality. The association

of the living entity with the different modes of nature has been going

on perpetually; since the living entity is in contact with material

nature, he acquires different types of mentality according to his

association with the material modes. But this nature can be changed if

one associates with a bona fide spiritual master and abides by his

rules and the scriptures. Gradually, one can change his position from

ignorance to goodness, or from passion to goodness. The conclusion is

that blind faith in a particular mode of nature cannot help a person

become elevated to the perfectional stage. One has to consider things

carefully, with intelligence, in the association of a bona fide

spiritual master. Thus one can change his position to a higher mode of

nature.

 

Copyright 1983 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International. Used with

permission.