Bhagavad Gita (with commentary) · Chapter 17

iti śrīmat-paramahaṃsa-parivrājakācāryasya śrī-govinda-bhagavat-pūjya-pāda-
śiṣyasya śrīmac-chaṃkara-bhagavataḥ kṛtau śrīmad-bhagavad-gītā-bhāṣye
ṣoḍāśo 'dhyāyaḥ ||
BhG 17
atha śraddhā-traya-vibhāga-yogaḥ
saptadaśo 'dhyāyaḥ
tasmāc chāstraṃ pramāṇaṃ ta [Gītā 16.24] iti bhagavad-vākyāl labdha-praśna-bījo 'rjuna uvāca -
ye śāstra-vidhim utsṛjya yajante śraddhayānvitāḥ |
teṣāṃ niṣṭhā tu kā kṛṣṇa sattvam āho rajas tamaḥ

ye kecid aviśeṣitāḥ śāstra-vidhiṃ śāstra-vidhānaṃ śruti-smṛti-śāstra-codanām utsṛjya parityajya yajante devādīn pūjayanti śraddhayānvitāḥ śraddhayāstikya-buddhyānvitāḥ saṃyuktāḥ santaḥ | śruti-lakṣaṇaṃ smṛti-lakṣaṇaṃ vā kaṃcit śāstra-vidhim apaśyanto vṛddha-vyavahāra-darśanād eva śraddadhānatayā ye devādīn pūjayanti | te iha ye śāstra-vidhim utsṛjya yajante śraddhayānvitā ity evaṃ gṛhyante | ye punaḥ kaṃcit śāstra-vidhiṃ upalabhamānaiva tam utsṛjyāyathā-vidhi devādīn pūjayanti | ta iha ye śāstra-vidhim utsṛjya yajanta iti na parigṛhyante | kasmāt ? śraddhayānvitatva-viśeṣaṇāt | devādi-pūjā-vidhi-paraṃ kiṃcit śāstraṃ paśyanta eva tad utsṛjyāśraddadhānatayā tad-vihitāyāṃ devādi-pūjāyāṃ śraddhayānvitāḥ pravartanta iti na śakyaṃ kalpayituṃ
yasmāt, tasmāt pūrvoktaiva ye śāstra-vidhim utsṛjya yajante śraddhayānvitā ity atra gṛhyante | teṣām evaṃ-bhūtānāṃ niṣṭhā tu kā kṛṣṇa sattvam āho rajas tamaḥ, kiṃ sattvaṃ niṣṭhāvasthānam, āho svit rajaḥ, athavā tama iti | etad uktaṃ bhavati - yā teṣāṃ devādi-viṣayā pūjā, sā kiṃ sāttvikī, āho svit rājasī, uta tāmasīti

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sāmānya-viṣayo 'yaṃ praśno nāpravibhajrya prativacanam arhatīti śrībhagavānuvāca -
tri-vidhā bhavati śraddhā dehināṃ sā svabhāva-jā |
sāttvikī rājasī caiva tāmasī ceti tāṃ śṛṇu

tri-vidhā tri-prakārā bhavati śraddhā | yasyāṃ niṣṭhāyāṃ tvaṃ pṛcchasi | dehināṃ śarīriṇāṃ sā svabhāva-jā | janmāntara-kṛto dharmādi-saṃskāro maraṇa-kāle 'bhivyaktaḥ svabhāva ucyate, tato jātā svabhāva-jā | sāttvikī sattva-nirvṛttā deva-pūjādi-viṣayā | rājasī rajo-nirvṛttā yakṣa-rakṣaḥ-pūjādi-viṣayā | tāmasī tamo-nirvṛttā preta-piśācādi-pūjā-viṣayā | evaṃ tri-vidhāṃ tām ucyamānāṃ śraddhāṃ śṛṇv avadhāraya

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sā iyaṃ trividhā bhavati -
sattvānurūpā sarvasya śraddhā bhavati bhārata |
śraddhā-mayo 'yaṃ puruṣo yo yac-chraddhaḥ sa eva saḥ

sattvānurūpā viśiṣṭa-saṃskāropetāntaḥ-karaṇānurūpā sarvasya prāṇi-jātasya śraddhā bhavati bhārata | yady evaṃ tataḥ kiṃ syāt ? ity ucyate - śraddhā-mayo 'yaṃ śraddhā-prāyaḥ puruṣaḥ saṃsārī jīvaḥ | katham ? yo yac-chraddho yā śraddhā yasya jīvasya sa yac-chraddhaḥ sa eva tac-chraddhānurūpa eva sa jīvaḥ

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tataś ca kāryeṇa liṅgena devādipūjayā sattvādiniṣṭhānumeyā ity āha -
yajante sāttvikā devān yakṣa-rakṣāṃsi rājasāḥ |
pretān bhūta-gaṇāṃś cānye yajante tāmasā janāḥ

yajante pūjayanti sāttvikāḥ sattva-niṣṭhā devān, yakṣa-rakṣāṃsi rājasāḥ, pretān bhūta-gaṇāṃś ca sapta-mātṛkādīṃś cānye yajante tāmasāḥ janāḥ

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evaṃ kāryato nirṇītāḥ sattvādi-niṣṭhāḥ śāstra-vidhy-utsarge | tatra kaścid eva sahasreṣu deva-pūjādi-paraḥ sattva-niṣṭho bhavati, bāhulyena tu rajo-niṣṭhās tamo-niṣṭhāś caiva prāṇino bhavanti | katham ? -
aśāstra-vihitaṃ ghoraṃ tapyante ye tapo janāḥ |
dambhāhaṃkāra-saṃyuktāḥ kāma-rāga-balānvitāḥ

aśāstra-vihitaṃ na śāstra-vihitam aśāstra-vihitaṃ ghoraṃ pīḍā-karaṃ prāṇinām ātmanaś ca tapas tapyante nirvartayanti ye janās te ca dambhāhaṃkāra-saṃyuktāḥ | dambhaś cāhaṃkāraś ca dambhāhaṃkārau, tābhyāṃ saṃyuktāḥ dambhāhaṃkāra-saṃyuktāḥ, kāma-rāga-balānvitāḥ kāmaś ca rāgaś ca kāma-rāgau tat-kṛtaṃ balaṃ kāma-rāga-balaṃ tenānvitāḥ kāma-rāga-balānvitāḥ

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karśayantaḥ śarīra-sthaṃ bhūta-grāmam acetasaḥ |
māṃ caivāntaḥ-śarīra-sthaṃ tān viddhy āsura-niścayān

karśayantaḥ kṛśī-kurvantaḥ śarīra-sthaṃ bhūta-grāmaṃ karaṇa-samudāyam acetaso 'vivekinaḥ māṃ caiva tat-karma-buddhi-sākṣi-bhūtam antaḥ-śarīra-sthaṃ nārāyaṇaṃ karśayantaḥ, mad-anuśāsanākaraṇam eva mat-karśanam | tān viddhy āsura-niścayān āsuro niścayo yeṣāṃ te āsura-niścayās tān pariharaṇārthaṃ viddhīti upadeśaḥ

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āhārāṇāṃ ca rasya-snigdhādi-varga-traya-rūpeṇa bhinnānāṃ yathā-kramaṃ sāttvika-rājasa-tāmasa-puruṣa-priyatva-darśanam iha kriyate rasya-snigdhādiṣu āhāra-viśeṣeṣv ātmanaḥ prīty-atirekeṇa liṅgena sāttvikatvaṃ rājasatvaṃ tāmasatvaṃ ca buddhvā rajas-tamo-liṅgānām āhārāṇāṃ parivarjanārthaṃ sattva-liṅgānāṃ copādānārtham | tathā yajñādīnām api sattvādi-guṇa-bhedena tri-vidhatva-pratipādanam iha rājasa-tāmasān buddhvā kathaṃ nu nāma parityajet, sāttvikān evānutiṣṭhed ity evam artham āha -
āhāras tv api sarvasya trividho bhavati priyaḥ |
yajñas tapas tathā dānaṃ teṣāṃ bhedam imaṃ śṛṇu

āhāras tv api sarvasya bhoktuḥ prāṇinas tri-vidho bhavati priyaḥ iṣṭaḥ | tathā yajñas tathā tapas tathā dānam | teṣām āhārādīnāṃ bhedam imaṃ vakṣyamāṇaṃ sṛṇu

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āyuḥ-sattva-balārogya-sukha-prīti-vivardhanāḥ |
rasyāḥ snigdhāḥ sthirā hṛdyā āhārāḥ sāttvika-priyāḥ

āyuś ca sattvaṃ ca balaṃ ca ārogyaṃ ca sukhaṃ ca prītiś ca āyuḥ-sattva-balārogya-sukha-prītayas tāsāṃ vivardhanāḥ āyuḥ-sattva-balārogya-sukha-prīti-vivardhanāḥ | te ca rasyā rasopetāḥ, snigdhāḥ snehavantaḥ, sthirāś cira-kāla-sthāyino dehe, hṛdyāḥ hṛdaya-priyāḥ, āhārāḥ sāttvika-priyāḥ sāttvikasyeṣṭāḥ

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kaṭv-amla-lavaṇātyuṣṇa-tīkṣṇa-rūkṣa-vidāhinaḥ |
āhārā rājasasyeṣṭā duḥkha-śokāmaya-pradāḥ

kaṭv-amla-lavaṇātyuṣṇa-tīkṣṇa-rūkṣa-vidāhina ity atrāti-śabdaḥ kaṭvādiṣu sarvatra yojyaḥ | atikaṭuḥ atitīkṣṇaḥ ity evam | kaṭuś cāmlaś ca lavaṇaś cātyuṣṇaś ca tīkṣṇaś ca rūkṣaś ca vidāhī ca te āhārā rājasasyeṣṭā duḥkha-śokāmaya-pradāḥ duḥkhaṃ ca śokaṃ cāmayaṃ ca prayacchantīti duḥkha-śokāmaya-pradāḥ

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yāta-yāmaṃ gata-rasaṃ pūti paryuṣitaṃ ca yat |
ucchiṣṭam api cāmedhyaṃ bhojanaṃ tāmasa-priyam

yāta-yāmaṃ manda-pakvam, nirvīryasya gata-rasa-śabdenoktatvāt | gata-rasaṃ rasa-viyuktam, pūti durgandhi, paryuṣitaṃ ca pakvaṃ sad rātry-antaritaṃ ca yat, ucchiṣṭam api bhukta-śiṣṭam ucchiṣṭam, amedhyam ayajñārhaṃ bhojanam īdṛśaṃ tāmasa-priyam

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athedānīṃ yajñas trividha ucyate -
aphalākāṅkṣibhir yajño vidhi-dṛṣṭo ya ijyate |
yaṣṭavyam eveti manaḥ samādhāya sa sāttvikaḥ

aphalākāṅkṣibhir aphalārthibhir yajño vidhi-dṛṣṭaḥ śāstra-codanādṛṣṭau yo yajña ijyate nirvartyate, yaṣṭavyam eveti yajña-svarūpa-nirvartanam eva kāryam iti manaḥ samādhāya, nānena puruṣārtho mama kartavya ity evaṃ niścitya, sa sāttviko yajña ucyate

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abhisaṃdhāya tu phalaṃ dambhārtham api caiva yat |
ijyate bharata-śreṣṭha taṃ yajñaṃ viddhi rājasam

abhisandhāya tu uddiśya phalaṃ dambhārtham api caiva yad ijyate bharata-śreṣṭha taṃ yajñaṃ viddhi rājasam

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vidhi-hīnam asṛṣṭānnaṃ mantra-hīnam adakṣiṇam |
śraddhā-virahitaṃ yajñaṃ tāmasaṃ paricakṣate

vidhi-hīnaṃ yathā-codita-viparītam, asṛṣṭānnaṃ brāhmaṇebhyo na sṛṣṭaṃ na dattam, annaṃ yasmin yajñe so 'sṛṣṭānnas tam asṛṣṭānnam | mantra-hīnaṃ mantrataḥ svarato varṇato vā viyuktaṃ mantra-hīnam, adakṣiṇam ukta-dakṣiṇā-rahitam, śraddhā-virahitaṃ yajñaṃ tāmasaṃ paricakṣate tamo-nirvṛttaṃ kathayanti

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atha idānīṃ tapas tri-vidham ucyate -
deva-dvija-guru-prājña-pūjanaṃ śaucam ārjavam |
brahmacaryam ahiṃsā ca śārīraṃ tapa ucyate

devā ca dvijā ca guravaś ca prājñāś ca deva-dvija-guru-prājñās teṣāṃ pūjanaṃ deva-dvija-guru-prājña-pūjanam | śaucam | ārjavam ṛjutvam | brahmacaryam ahiṃsā ca śarīra-nirvartyaṃ śārīraṃ śarīra-pradhānaiḥ sarvair eva kārya-karaṇaiḥ kartrādibhiḥ sādhyaṃ śārīraṃ tapa ucyate | pañcaite tasya hetavaḥ [Gītā 18.15] iti hi vakṣyati

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anudvega-karaṃ vākyaṃ satyaṃ priya-hitaṃ ca yat |
svādhyāyābhyasanaṃ caiva vāṅ-mayaṃ tapa ucyate

anudvega-karaṃ prāṇinām aduḥkha-karaṃ vākyaṃ satyaṃ priya-hitaṃ ca yat priya-hite dṛṣṭādṛṣṭārthe | anudvega-karatvādibhir dharmair vākyaṃ viśeṣyate | viśeṣaṇa-dharma-samucayārthaś ca-śabdaḥ | para-pratyayārthaṃ prayuktasya vākyasya satya-priya-hitānudvega-karatvānām anyatamena dvābhyāṃ tribhir vā hīnatā syād yadi, na tad vāṅ-mayaṃ tapaḥ | tathā satya-vākyasya itareṣām anyatamena dvābhyāṃ tribhir vā vihīnatāyāṃ na vāṅ-maya-tapastvam | tathā priya-vākyasyāpītareṣām anyatamena dvābhyāṃ tribhir vā vihīnasya na vāṅ-maya-tapastvam | tathā hita-vākyasyāpītareṣām anyatamena dvābhyāṃ tribhir vā vihīnasya na vāṅ-maya-tapastvam | kiṃ punas tat tapaḥ ? yat satyaṃ vākyam anudvega-karaṃ priyaṃ hitaṃ ca, tat tapo vāṅ-mayam | yathā śānto bhava vatsa, svādhyāyaṃ
yogaṃ cānutiṣṭha, tathā te śreyo bhaviṣyatīti | svādhyāyābhyasanaṃ caiva yathā-vidhi vāṅ-mayaṃ tapa ucyate

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manaḥ-prasādaḥ saumyatvaṃ maunam ātma-vinigrahaḥ |
bhāva-saṃśuddhir ity etat tapo mānasam ucyate

manaḥ-prasādaḥ manasaḥ praśāntiḥ svacchatāpādanaṃ prasādaḥ | saumyatvaṃ yat saumanasyam āhuḥ | mukhādi-prasādādi-kāryonneyāntaḥ-karaṇasya vṛttiḥ | maunaṃ vāṅ-niyamo 'pi manaḥ-saṃyama-pūrvako bhavatīti kāryeṇa kāraṇam ucyate manaḥ-saṃyamo maunam iti | ātma-vinigraho mano-nirodhaḥ sarvataḥ sāmānya-rūpa ātma-vinigrahaḥ | vāg-viṣayasyaiva manasaḥ saṃyamaḥ maunam iti viśeṣaḥ | bhāva-saṃśuddhiḥ paraiḥ vyavahāra-kāle 'māyāvitvaṃ bhāva-saṃśuddhiḥ | ity etat tapo mānasam ucyate

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yathoktaṃ kāyikaṃ vācikaṃ mānasaṃ ca tapas taptaṃ naraiḥ sattvādi-guṇa-bhedena kathaṃ tri-vidhaṃ bhavatīti, ucyate -
śraddhayā parayā taptaṃ tapas tat trividhaṃ naraiḥ |
aphalākāṅkṣibhir yuktaiḥ sāttvikaṃ paricakṣate

śraddhayā āstikya-buddhyā parayā prakṛṣṭayā taptam anuṣṭhitaṃ tapas tat prakṛtaṃ tri-vidhaṃ tri-prakāraṃ try-adhiṣṭhānaṃ narair anuṣṭhātṛbhir aphalākāṅkṣibhiḥ phalākāṅkṣā-rahitair yuktaiḥ samāhitair yad īdṛśaṃ tapaḥ, tat sāttvikaṃ sattva-nirvṛttaṃ paricakṣate kathayanti śiṣṭāḥ

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satkāra-māna-pūjārthaṃ tapo dambhena caiva yat |
kriyate tad iha proktaṃ rājasaṃ calam adhruvam

satkāraḥ sādhu-kāraḥ sādhu ayaṃ tapasvī brāhmaṇa ity evam artham | māno mānanaṃ pratyutthānābhivādanādis tad-artham | pūjā pāda-prakṣālanārcanāśayitṛtvādis tad-arthaṃ ca tapaḥ satkāra-māna-pūjārtham | dambhena caiva yat kriyate tapas tad iha proktaṃ kathitaṃ rājasaṃ calaṃ kādācitka-phalatvena adhruvam

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mūḍha-grāheṇātmano yat pīḍayā kriyate tapaḥ |
parasyotsādanārthaṃ vā tat tāmasam udāhṛtam

mūḍha-grāheṇa aviveka-niścayena ātmanaḥ pīḍayā yat kriyate tapaḥ parasya utsādanārthaṃ vināśārthaṃ vā, tat tāmasaṃ tapa udāhṛtam

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idānīṃ dāna-traividhyam ucyate -
dātavyam iti yad dānaṃ dīyate 'nupakāriṇe |
deśe kāle ca pātre ca tad dānaṃ sāttvikaṃ smṛtam

dātavyam iti evaṃ manaḥ kṛtvā yad dānaṃ dīyate 'nupakāriṇe pratyupakārāsamarthāya, samarthāyāpi nirapekṣaṃ dīyate | deśe puṇye kurukṣetrādau | kāle saṃkrānty-ādau | pātre ca ṣaḍ-aṅga-vid veda-pāraga ity ādau | tad dānaṃ sāttvikaṃ smṛtam

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yat tu pratyupakārārthaṃ phalam uddiśya vā punaḥ |
dīyate ca parikliṣṭaṃ tad dānaṃ rājasaṃ smṛtam

yat tu dānaṃ pratyupakārārthaṃ kāle tv ayaṃ māṃ pratyupakariṣyatīty evam artham, phalaṃ vāsya dānasya me bhaviṣyaty adṛṣṭam iti | tad uddiśya punar dīyate ca parikliṣṭaṃ kheda-saṃyuktam, tad dānaṃ rājasaṃ smṛtam

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adeśa-kāle yad dānam apātrebhyaś ca dīyate |
asatkṛtam avajñātaṃ tat tāmasam udāhṛtam

adeśa-kāle 'deśe 'puṇye deśe mlecchāśucy-ādi-saṃkīrṇe | akāle puṇya-hetutvenāprakhyāte saṃkrānty-ādi-viśeṣa-rahite 'pātrebhyaś ca mūrkha-taskarādibhyaḥ | deśādi-saṃpattau vā asatkṛtaṃ priya-vacana-pāda-prakṣālana-pūjādi-rahitam avajñātaṃ pātra-paribhava-yuktaṃ ca yad dānam, tat tāmasam udāhṛtam

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yajña-dāna-tapaḥ-prabhṛtīnāṃ sādguṇya-karaṇāyāyam upadeśa ucyate -
oṃ tat sad iti nirdeśo brahmaṇas trividhaḥ smṛtaḥ |
brāhmaṇās tena vedāś ca yajñāś ca vihitāḥ purā

oṃ tat sad iti evaṃ nirdeśaḥ, nirdiśyate 'neneti nirdeśaḥ | trividho nāma nirdeśo brahmaṇaḥ smṛtaś cintito vedānteṣu brahma-vidbhiḥ | brāhmaṇās tena nirdeśena trividhena vedāś ca yajñāś ca vihitāḥ nirmitāḥ purā pūrvam iti nirdeśa-stuty-artham ucyate

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tasmād om ity udāhṛtya yajña-dāna-tapaḥ-kriyāḥ |
pravartante vidhānoktāḥ satataṃ brahma-vādinām

tasmāt om ity udāhṛtya uccārya yajña-dāna-tapaḥ-kriyā yajñādi-svarūpāḥ kriyāḥ pravartante vidhānoktāḥ śāstra-coditāḥ satataṃ sarvadā brahma-vādināṃ brahma-vadana-śīlānām

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tad ity anabhisaṃdhāya phalaṃ yajña-tapaḥ-kriyāḥ |
dāna-kriyāś ca vividhāḥ kriyante mokṣa-kāṅkṣibhiḥ

tad ity anabhisaṃdhāya | tad iti brahmābhidhānam uccāryānabhisaṃdhāyaś ca yajñādi-karmaṇaḥ phalaṃ yajña-tapaḥ-kriyā yajña-kriyāś ca tapaḥ-kriyāś ca yajña-tapaḥ-kriyā dāna-kriyāś ca vividhāḥ kṣetra-hiraṇya-pradānādi-lakṣaṇāḥ kriyante nirvartyante mokṣa-kāṅkṣibhir mokṣārthibhir mumukṣubhiḥ

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oṃ-tac-chabdayor viniyoga uktaḥ | athedānīṃ sac-chabdasya viniyogaḥ kathyate -
sad-bhāve sādhu-bhāve ca sad ity etat prayujyate |
praśaste karmaṇi tathā sac-chabdaḥ pārtha yujyate

sad-bhāve | asataḥ sad-bhāve yathā-vidyamānasya putrasya janmani | tathā sādhu-bhāve cāsad-vṛttasyāsādhoḥ sad-vṛttatā sādhu-bhāvas tasmin sādhu-bhāve ca | sad ity etad abhidhānaṃ brahmaṇaḥ prayujyate 'bhidhīyate | praśaste karmaṇi vivāhādau ca tathā sac-chabdaḥ pārtha yujyate prayujyata ity etat

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yajñe tapasi dāne ca sthitiḥ sad iti cocyate |
karma caiva tad-arthīyaṃ sad ity evābhidhīyate

yajñe yajña-karmaṇi yā sthitiḥ, tapasi ca yā sthitiḥ, dāne ca yā sthitiḥ, sā sad iti cocyate vidvadbhiḥ | karma caiva tad-arthīyaṃ yajña-dāna-tapo 'rthīyam | athavā, yasyābhidhāna-trayaṃ prakṛtaṃ tad-arthīyaṃ yajña-dāna-tapo 'rthīyam īśvarārthīyam ity etat | sad ity evābhidhīyate | tad etad yajña-dāna-tapa-ādi-karmāsāttvikaṃ viguṇam api śraddhā-pūrvakaṃ brahmaṇo 'bhidhāna-traya-prayogeṇa sa-guṇaṃ sāttvikaṃ saṃpāditaṃ bhavati

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tatra ca sarvatra śraddhā-pradhānatayā sarvaṃ saṃpādyate yasmāt, tasmāt -
aśraddhayā hutaṃ dattaṃ tapas taptaṃ kṛtaṃ ca yat |
asad ity ucyate pārtha na ca tat pretya no iha

aśraddhayā hutaṃ havanaṃ kṛtam | aśraddhayā dattaṃ brāhmaṇebhyaḥ | aśraddhayā tapas taptam anuṣṭhitam | tathāśraddhayaiva kṛtaṃ yat stuti-namaskārādi, tat sarvam asad ity ucyate mat-prāpti-sādhana-mārga-bāhyatvāt pārtha | na ca tad bahulāyāsam api pretya phalāya no apīhārtham, sādhubhir ninditatvād iti