Chapter 17

Shloka 17.18 “Austerity performed for show, seeking respect, honor, or reverence, unstable and fleeting, is rajasic.” Key Teaching: Rajasic austerity is performed for show and is fleeting. Theme: Guidance, Jnana Yoga, Moksha Sannyasa Yoga, Karma Yoga. Description: Krishna describes rajasic austerity as performed for show, seeking respect, honor, or reverence, being unstable and fleeting. This […]

Shloka 17.17 “This threefold austerity, performed with faith, without desire for reward, by men steadfast in yoga, is sattvic.” Key Teaching: Sattvic austerity is performed with faith and selflessness. Theme: Guidance, Jnana Yoga, Moksha Sannyasa Yoga, Karma Yoga. Description: Krishna states that threefold austerity (body, speech, mind), performed with faith, without desire for reward, by

Shloka 17.16 “Mental serenity, gentleness, silence, selfcontrol, purity of thought—these are austerity of mind.” Key Teaching: Austerity of mind includes serenity, gentleness, and purity. Theme: Guidance, Jnana Yoga, Moksha Sannyasa Yoga, Dhyana Yoga. Description: Krishna defines austerity of mind as mental serenity, gentleness, silence, selfcontrol, and purity of thought. This verse, continuing 17.15, addresses Arjuna’s

Shloka 17.15 “Speech that causes no distress, is truthful, pleasant, beneficial, and recitation of scriptures is austerity of speech.” Key Teaching: Austerity of speech is truthful, pleasant, and beneficial. Theme: Guidance, Jnana Yoga, Moksha Sannyasa Yoga, Karma Yoga. Description: Krishna defines austerity of speech as words that cause no distress, are truthful, pleasant, beneficial, and

Shloka 17.14 “Worship of gods, Brahmins, gurus, and the wise; purity, uprightness, celibacy, nonviolence—these are bodily austerity.” Key Teaching: Bodily austerity includes worship, purity, and nonviolence. Theme: Guidance, Jnana Yoga, Moksha Sannyasa Yoga, Karma Yoga. Description: Krishna defines bodily austerity as worship of gods, Brahmins, gurus, and the wise, along with purity, uprightness, celibacy, and

Shloka 17.13 “Sacrifice without scriptural rules, without mantras, offerings, faith, or proper rites is tamasic.” Key Teaching: Tamasic sacrifice lacks scriptural basis and faith. Theme: Guidance, Jnana Yoga, Moksha Sannyasa Yoga, Karma Yoga. Description: Krishna describes tamasic sacrifice as lacking scriptural rules, mantras, offerings, faith, or proper rites. This verse, continuing 17.12, addresses Arjuna’s quest

Shloka 17.12 “Sacrifice performed for show or with desire for reward, O Bharata, know that to be rajasic.” Key Teaching: Rajasic sacrifice is driven by show or reward. Theme: Guidance, Jnana Yoga, Moksha Sannyasa Yoga, Karma Yoga. Description: Krishna describes rajasic sacrifice as performed for show or with desire for reward. This verse, continuing 17.11,

Shloka 17.11 “Sacrifice performed according to scriptures, with a focused mind, without desire for reward, is sattvic.” Key Teaching: Sattvic sacrifice is scripturally guided, selfless, and focused. Theme: Guidance, Jnana Yoga, Moksha Sannyasa Yoga, Karma Yoga. Description: Krishna describes sattvic sacrifice as performed per scriptures, with a focused mind and no desire for reward. This

Shloka 17.10 “Food that is stale, tasteless, putrid, rotten, impure, or others’ leftovers is dear to the tamasic.” Key Teaching: Tamasic foods are impure and harmful. Theme: Guidance, Jnana Yoga, Moksha Sannyasa Yoga. Description: Krishna describes tamasic foods as stale, tasteless, putrid, rotten, impure, or leftovers, favored by tamasic people. This verse, continuing 17.9, addresses

Shloka 17.9 “Foods that are bitter, sour, salty, hot, pungent, dry, burning, causing pain, grief, and disease, are dear to the rajasic.” Key Teaching: Rajasic foods cause pain and disease. Theme: Guidance, Jnana Yoga, Moksha Sannyasa Yoga. Description: Krishna describes rajasic foods as bitter, sour, salty, hot, pungent, dry, and burning, causing pain, grief, and