Threefold Faith - 17 - 01

The Shloka

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अर्जुन उवाच।

ये शास्त्रविधिमुत्सृज्य यजन्ते श्रद्धयान्विताः ।

तेषां निष्ठा तु का कृष्ण सत्त्वमाहो रजस्तमः ॥

———

arjuna uvāca ।

ye śāstra-vidhim utsṛjya yajante śraddhayānvitāḥ ।

teṣāṁ niṣṭhā tu kā kṛṣṇa sattvam āho rajas tamaḥ ॥

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Meaning / Summary

This verse sets the stage for understanding the different types of faith and actions based on the three gunas (Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas). It highlights the importance of scriptural guidance in spiritual practices and the potential consequences of acting without proper knowledge.

Arjuna asked: O Krishna, what is the state of those who, endowed with faith, perform sacrifices without following the injunctions of the scriptures? Is it Sattva (goodness), Rajas (passion), or Tamas (ignorance)?

Arjuna asks Krishna about the nature of faith and actions of those who perform sacrifices without following scriptural rules, inquiring whether their actions are governed by Sattva, Rajas, or Tamas.

Arjuna initiates a profound inquiry regarding individuals who, driven by faith, engage in acts of sacrifice and worship without adhering to the prescribed scriptural guidelines. He seeks to understand the nature of their devotion and the dominant quality or mode of nature (guna) that characterizes their actions: Sattva (goodness, purity, and enlightenment), Rajas (passion, activity, and desire), or Tamas (ignorance, inertia, and delusion). He wants to know whether their faith, when disconnected from the scriptural injunctions, leads them to actions that are predominantly influenced by one of these three gunas.

Sentence - 1

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अर्जुन उवाच।

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Meaning

Arjuna said.

Meaning of Words

अर्जुनः	arjunaḥ
Arjuna is one of the main characters in the Mahabharata. He is a Pandava prince and a skilled warrior, known for his devotion to Krishna.
उवाच	uvāca
Uvacha means ‘said’ or ‘spoke’. It indicates that Arjuna is about to express his question or statement.

Sentence - 2

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ये शास्त्रविधिमुत्सृज्य यजन्ते श्रद्धयान्विताः ।

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Meaning

Those who, disregarding the injunctions of the scriptures, perform sacrifices endowed with faith.

Meaning of Words

ये	ye
Those who Refers to the people who are being talked about in the context.
शास्त्रविधिम्	śāstra-vidhim
The injunctions of the scriptures Shastra-vidhim refers to the rules and regulations prescribed in the scriptures for performing actions correctly.
शास्त्र	śāstra
Shastra refers to scriptures, sacred texts, or authoritative teachings.
विधिम्	vidhim
injunctions, rules, regulations Vidhi means injunctions, rules, or regulations as prescribed in the scriptures.
उत्सृज्य	utsṛjya
Disregarding, abandoning Utsrijya means ‘having abandoned’ or ‘having disregarded’.
यजन्ते	yajante
They sacrifice, they worship Yajante means ‘they worship’ or ‘they offer sacrifice’. It refers to the act of performing religious rituals.
श्रद्धयान्विताः	śraddhayānvitāḥ
Endowed with faith Shraddhayānvitāḥ means ‘endowed with faith’ or ‘filled with faith’. It refers to people who perform actions with a sense of belief and devotion.
श्रद्धया	śraddhayā	Shraddhaya means with faith or devotion.
अन्विताः	anvitāḥ
endowed, possessed Anvitah means endowed or possessed.

Sentence - 3

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तेषां निष्ठा तु का कृष्ण सत्त्वमाहो रजस्तमः ॥

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Meaning

What is their situation, O Krishna? Is it Sattva, Rajas, or Tamas?

Meaning of Words

तेषां	teṣāṁ	Their
निष्ठा	niṣṭhā
Situation, Steadfastness, Faith Nishtha can mean ‘steadfastness,’ ‘faith,’ or ‘situation’. In this context, it refers to the situation or state of their faith and devotion.
तु	tu	But, Indeed
का	kā
What? Kā means ‘what?’ or ‘which?’ It’s an interrogative pronoun used to inquire about the nature or type of something.
कृष्ण	kṛṣṇa
O Krishna Krishna is a major deity in Hinduism. He is revered as the eighth avatar of Vishnu. Arjuna is addressing Krishna in this shloka.
सत्त्वम्	sattvam
Sattva is one of the three gunas (qualities or modes) of nature. It represents goodness, purity, balance, and enlightenment.
आहो	āho
Or Āho means ‘or’. It introduces an alternative or a question.
रजः	rajas
Rajas is one of the three gunas (qualities or modes) of nature. It represents passion, activity, desire, and ambition.
तमः	tamaḥ
Tamas is one of the three gunas (qualities or modes) of nature. It represents ignorance, inertia, darkness, and delusion.

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