sad-bhave sadhu-bhave cha sad ity etat prayujyate। prasaste karmani tatha sac-chabdah partha yujyate॥ 17.26 ॥

O Arjuna, The Absolute Truth is the objective of devotional sacrifice, and it is indicated by the word Sat. The performer of such sacrifice is also called Sat.

yajne tapasi dane cha sthitih sad iti cocyate। karma chaiva tad-arthiyam sad ity evabhidhiyate॥ 17.27 ॥

As are all works of sacrifice, penance and charity which, true to the absolute nature, are performed to please the God.

ashraddhaya hutam dattam tapas taptam kritam cha yat। asad ity ucyate partha na cha tat pretya no iha॥ 17.28 ॥

Sri Krishna said: O Arjuna, Anything done as sacrifice, charity or penance without faith in the God, is impermanent. It is called Asat and is useless both in this life and the next.

Om Tat Sat Iti Srimad Bhagavadgeetaasoopanishatsu Brahmavidyaayaam Yogashaastre Sri Krishnaarjunasamvaade Shraddhaatrayavibhaagayogo Naama Saptadasho’dhyaayah:॥ 17 ॥

Thus in the Upanishads of the glorious Bhagavad Gita, the science of the Eternal, the scripture of Yoga, the dialogue between Sri Krishna and Arjuna, ends the seventeenth discourse entitled.

Description:

This discourse is termed the “Yoga of the Division of the Three Kinds of Faith”. The theme of this discourse arises out of the question asked by Arjuna in Verse 1 with reference to the final and closing advice of Lord Krishna in the previous discourse, contained in the last two verses therein (Verses 23 and 24). Arjuna asks, “What about those who, even though setting aside scriptural injunctions yet perform worship with faith?”

The Lord replies and states that the faith of such men who ignore the injunctions of the scriptures could be either Sattwic, Rajasic or Tamasic. This would be in accordance with the basic nature of the person himself. And, conversely, as is the kind of faith, so develops the nature of the man.

Thus, in all things like sacrifice, worship, charity, penance, etc., these qualities become expressed in accordance with the kind of faith in which the person concerned is based. They produce results in accordance with the quality of the doer’s faith. These acts done with right faith lead to supreme blessedness. When done without any faith whatsoever, all these actions become barren and useless.