Gita 17.1
Shraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga
अर्जुन उवाच | ये शास्त्रविधिमुत्सृज्य यजन्ते श्रद्धयान्विताः | तेषां निष्ठा तु का कृष्ण सत्त्वमाहो रजस्तमः ||१||
arjuna uvāca | ye śāstra-vidhim utsṛjya yajante śraddhayānvitāḥ | teṣāṁ niṣṭhā tu kā kṛṣṇa sattvam āho rajas tamaḥ ||1||
In essence: Arjuna asks the profound question: What is the status of those who worship with genuine faith but without following scriptural injunctions - are they in sattva, rajas, or tamas?
A conversation between a seeker and guide to help you feel this verse deeply
Sadhak-Guru Dialogue
Sadhak: "Krishna spoke so strongly against those who disregard scripture. But what about my grandmother who worshipped with such pure love yet never studied the Vedas? What about the simple villager whose faith moves mountains?"
Guru: "Your question touches the heart of spiritual democracy. Arjuna asks the same: does sincere faith count even without scriptural knowledge? Notice he doesn't ask about the faithless who ignore scripture - that was covered. He asks about those with genuine shraddha who simply don't know the rules."
Sadhak: "So faith matters more than following procedures?"
Guru: "Krishna will reveal that faith IS the key - but faith itself is colored by one's inner nature. A person's shraddha reflects their guna. So the question becomes: what is the quality of that faith? Pure, passionate, or deluded? Your grandmother's loving devotion likely reflects sattvic faith, regardless of her scriptural knowledge."
Sadhak: "But then why have scriptures at all if faith alone matters?"
Guru: "Scriptures help purify and elevate faith. A person with rajasic faith, guided by scripture, can gradually develop sattvic faith. Without guidance, they remain stuck. Scripture is the map; faith is the fuel. Both are needed for the journey, but fuel without direction can take you in circles."
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🌅 Daily Practice
Begin the day by examining your faith. Ask yourself: 'What do I truly believe about the nature of reality, the Divine, and my path?' Notice if your faith feels pure and elevating (sattvic), ambitious and result-seeking (rajasic), or confused and habit-based (tamasic).
When you encounter spiritual practices different from your own - whether in others or in your own impulses - suspend immediate judgment. Ask Arjuna's question: what is the quality of faith behind this? Pure devotion can exist in unexpected forms.
Reflect on how your day's actions expressed your faith. Did you act from genuine conviction (shraddha) or mere habit? Did your faith lead toward scripture's wisdom or away from it? Set intention to align your faith with the highest teachings you know.