CHAPTER 17 THE DIVISIONS OF THE FAITH

LINK;- what about the some people who reject the

scriptures and act out of own , what happens to
them – lord informs that then we need to see in
which mode they are in, he gives the
characteristics to find out in which mode the
person is. Krishna tells various activities in
the different modes, and finally tells whatever
the activity may b e it can be made
transcendental by uttering the Om tat sat.
VERSE 17.1:-
CCP:-

 When the people give up the scriptural

injunctions they are governed by the
impressions of the modes.
LINK; - Krishna answers in enigmatic way.
VERSE 17.2:-
CCP:-

 In theism there is possibility of the

experiential verification but it is not
possible in the atheism.
 Atheism is the faith in faithlessness.
 Prabhupad says one can change the
modes/svabhava by the directions of the
spiritual master.
VERSE 17.3:-
CHAPTER 17 THE DIVISIONS OF THE FAITH
 One's strong faith is supposed to be
productive of works of material goodness.
But in material conditional life, no works
are completely purified.
 The internal organ or antaùkaraëa refers to
the subtle internal organ consisting of the
mind, intelligence, false ego and memory
(citta).] Whose very nature is to hold the
impressions (svabhava).
CCP:-

 Ones faith is as per the ones existence.

 As one has the faith he becomes that.
 As is the faith so is the person.
 Everything about us is determined by the
faith.
 We cannot avoid the faith.
 All of us are shaped by our faith.
 Faith is not external but it is internal to
us.
 Location of the faith-
 Soul’s original faith is in the Krishna
which is transcendental.
VERSE 17.4:-

 the different qualities of the material

modes of nature can be purified through
association with persons who are of
transcendental nature.
CHAPTER 17 THE DIVISIONS OF THE FAITH
 The pretas are fallen brähmaëas who attain
an airy body after death in the form of
ulämukhas, kaöas or pütanas, according to
Manu. The pretas are a type of piçaca (evil
spirit) according to others. Ca indicates
the seven mothers [Note: These are said to
be Brahmäné, Vaiñëavé, Maheçvaré, Kaumäré,
Väräùé, Indräëi and Camuëòé] and other
entities. [Note: The bhüta gaëas are not
explained. According to some commentators
they are the followers of Çiva.

CCP:-

 Faith in the scriptures is itself in the

goodness.
 Faith in Vishnu-goodness goodness, brahma-
goodness passion Siva- goodness ignorance.
 Spiritual life cannot be started in the
animal bodies but it can be continued in the
animal life.
 Both the spiritual and material principle
act together ,spiritual principle whatever
the progress may be done is permanent and
material principle is whatever one may think
at the time of the death he gets that
body,ex-jada bharat due to thinking about
the deer at the death got the deer’s body
but did not lose the spiritual progress and
CHAPTER 17 THE DIVISIONS OF THE FAITH
the inclination for the spiritual quest so
similarly if the devotee is attached to the
animal and at the death he remembers that
animal then he becomes that animal and such
animal shows the devotional inclination and
becomes the devotee animal.
 Every mode has the shades like in the
animals the cow is in the ignorance
goodness.
 Scriptures don’t want to impose on us as per
our inclination the scriptures reveal
themselves.
 Bhutas – soul with just the subtle body not
the gross body.
 The person who commits suicide will not get
the new body as his time in that particular
body is not finished, so he becomes the
ghost.
 Ghosts can perceive but he cannot enjoy due
to not having the gross body.
 Ghost can give the power to the person but
it takes the control of that person.
 Preta- soul with the subtle body and the
transition body.
 With the average punya the person goes to
the pitriloka , with good punya the person
goes to the svarga with the sinful
activities he goes to the hell.
CHAPTER 17 THE DIVISIONS OF THE FAITH
 PANCHOPASANA- before the sankara the
Buddhism and he Jainism spread far and
wide,chanakya cautioned against the spread
of the Buddhism as the this religion
recommends too much of the abnegation of the
world.
 Idea of the panchopasana was that
worshipping these five demigods one will be
able to transcend the matter and go beyond
the spirit.
 Explanation by BVT :-
 SHAKTYA- nature worshippers,(scientists)
think the nature as all in all.this is the
1st stage in the progress of the worship.
 SURYA WORSHIPPERS- understand that the
energy of nature is coming from the sun so
there is evolution from the worship of the
nature to the level of the energy.
 GANPATYA; - consciousness is evolving to the
level of worship like that of the ganesh.
 SHAIVA: - come to the level of the spirit
,impersonalism.
 VAISHNAVISM: - come to understand that the
personality is controlling the nature.
 Bhakti in ignorance – devotees fighting with
each other.
 Bhakti in passion – doing the bhakti for the
name and the fame.
CHAPTER 17 THE DIVISIONS OF THE FAITH
 Bhakti in ignorance- doing the bhakti for
the liberation no tfor the pleasure of the
Krishna.
 Transcendental bhakti – bhakti for the
pleasure of the Krishna.
 Various worships in the world can be
classified in these five types.
LINK; - demoniac austerities.
VERSE 17.5, 6:-
CCP:-

 Such people doing austerities and worship

not following the Vedas they are demons.
 Krishna is speaking with the reference to
the bottom most level they think that the
religion is for the show of their ego.
 Fasting for the religious cause is for
transcendence not for the self torture.
 Austerities for the ego are demoniac.
 Demoniac austerities in the Ramayana
shambhuka doing the austerities for
elevation to the heaven.
 In the Ramayana the death of the person was
connected with the mismanagement in the
kingdom and the correcting with the revival
of the life, sastra tells one to do one’s
own dharma and not the dharma of the others.
CHAPTER 17 THE DIVISIONS OF THE FAITH
 Lord Rama was not castist this can be
understood from the other pastimes like the
lords reciprocation with the guha and the
shabari.
 Lord Rama was reciprocating with the
devotion of the person, Acharyas describe
that the shambhuka wanted to do austerity
and defeat the Indra enjoy sachi that was
the demoniac mentality.
LINK; - three categories of food and the
yagnya, Dana and tapa
VERSE 17.7,8:-

 The purpose of food is to increase the

duration of life, purify the mind and aid
bodily strength.
 Any food cooked more than three hours before
it is eaten (except prasädam, food offered
to the Lord) is considered to be in the mode
of darkness.
 to make food antiseptic, eatable and
palatable for all persons, one should offer
food to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
 foods such as rice, wheat, other grains,
milk and sugar are dear to the sattvic
people, purity should be added as a quality
of sattvic food.
 The word beneficial (hådyä) excludes foods
like jack fruit. Items which are not
CHAPTER 17 THE DIVISIONS OF THE FAITH
beneficial for the stomach and appetite are
called ahådya.
CCP:-

 When the Krishna talks about the yagnya,

Dana and the tapa he is talking about the
faith of the heart expressed in the
particular way.
 Soul is caught in the three circles
psychophysical (subtle body), social
(adhibhautik) and environmental
(adhidaivik).
 In all of them the soul has the obligation
to reciprocate for the things he gets. Tapa
is for the 1st circle; Dana is for the 2nd
circle and yagnya for the 3rd circle.
 These four foods, tapa Dana and the yagnya
indicate the mode in which our faith is
there.
 We all have the duty to take for the body we
can’t say the age is fixed so no use of
caring this fatalistic attitude is not
accepted.
 In the passion one breathes fast and
exhausts the life.
 Whenever we interact with the matter that
interaction affects us, food shapes our
consciousness at the subtle level.
CHAPTER 17 THE DIVISIONS OF THE FAITH
 Food cooked with the love and affection for
the Krishna increases our attraction for the
Krishna.
 If properly made the food has the power to
purify us.
 Food in the passion causes the agitation
hankering for the more and more.
 Slaughter is the way of subhumans.
 Slaughter and the hunting were there but it
was not so terribly organized where the
animal is brutally raised to be killed.
 Today the cows are treated as the
manufacturing units,not loved and cared so
the milk which is obtained is the product of
the violence.
 Milk in itself is not the product of the
violence but in the modern dairy the way
they do milk production is the product of
the violence.
 Excess of anything becomes passionate.
VERSE 17.9:-
CCP:-

 Some people get stimulated with the too hot

too spicy food although the body is reacting
instinctively by sweating and tears as they
are in the passion.
 Food was never industrialized, industry
takes away the human element and they don’t
CHAPTER 17 THE DIVISIONS OF THE FAITH
think of the bad effects on the people and
add too much suger,salt just make them tasty
but it affects the health in very bad way
and causes the problem of the obesity and
other diseases.
VERSE 17.10:-

 one should conclude that those interested in

their own welfare should partake of sattvic
foods. The Vaiñëavas however reject any food
not offered to the Lord, even if it is
sattvic food. Food offered to the Lord is
dear to the devotees who are beyond the
guëas.
CCP:-

 Remnants of anyone other than guru or

exalted devotees are in the mode of
ignorance.
 Primarily the Prasad is in the transcendence
but one should know the ones health and what
food is suitable for one and what is not
suitable.
 Devotee primarily see the food is Prasad or
not but the whether it is in the goodness or
not, is the secondary consideration, one can
consider this also but not as the primary
consideration.
VERSE 17.11:-
CHAPTER 17 THE DIVISIONS OF THE FAITH
 One should go to a temple or church as a
matter of duty, offer respect to the Supreme
Personality of Godhead and offer flowers and
eatables without any purpose of obtaining
material benefit. Everyone thinks that there
is no use in going to the temple just to
worship God. But worship for economic
benefit is not recommended in the scriptural
injunctions. One should go simply to offer
respect to the Deity. That will place one in
the mode of goodness. It is the duty of
every civilized man to obey the injunctions
of the scriptures and offer respect to the
Supreme Personality of Godhead.

CCP:-

 Even the yagnya can be good or not depending

on the whether it is from the scripture and
what is the motive for it to be performed.
VERSE 17.12:-
CCP:-

 When one is attached to the results and

attached to the doer ship then the yagnya is
in the mode of passion.
 If one wants the eating sleeping, mating and
defending through the yagnya then that is
defeating and is in the lower modes.
CHAPTER 17 THE DIVISIONS OF THE FAITH
VERSE 17.13:-

 Faith in the mode of darkness or ignorance

is actually faithlessness.
 In any sacrificial ceremony one should
distribute the Prasad, the priest should be
paid and the sacrifice should be as per the
injunctions of the scriptures.
CCP:-

 Some kind of the food distribution should

always be there, Prabhupad in the earlier
days gave at least the apple as Prasad to
the audience.
VERSE 17.14:-
CCP:-

 Worship means respecting, worship is one of

the aspect of the respect.
 Powerful person may be respected in his area
but he wise earns the respect in every
respect.
 Austerity one may not be like to do but one
has to do it.
 Obedience’s one should offer although one
may not feel like offering, one develop the
feeling gradually.
 It requires the willpower and the
discipline to not to react back when someone
provokes but it is austerity and one has to
CHAPTER 17 THE DIVISIONS OF THE FAITH
it, everyone should develop ones one pause
to not to react in the provocation
situation. We have to find our way and apply
it like remembering the sloka, chanting the
holyname etc.
 More the simpler our living then more the
time we have for the higher thinking.
 We can use things as per the needs we should
not be get carried away by the media and the
advertising and get entangled.
 Too many to dos at the material level take
away the energy.
 One who tries to live at the spiritual
platform is brahmachari.
VERSE 17.15:-

 The process of speaking in spiritual circles

is to say something upheld by the
scriptures. One should at once quote from
scriptural authority to back up what he is
saying. At the same time, such talk should
be very pleasurable to the ear.
CCP:-

 Here Krishna is talking in general in terms

of the austerity of the speech which is
required in general practice.
 Speaking sarcastically may be the sign one
intelligence but it alienates the people
CHAPTER 17 THE DIVISIONS OF THE FAITH
away from us and the Krishna so one should
not sarcastically to hurt others.
 In trying to cut the Anarthas of the people
we may cut their bhakti lata bija.
 Only the good intention is not enough we
should be sensitive to the people.
 Most of the relationship problems come
because of the insensitive speaking.
 One should speak the truth but the palatable
way.
 Chanakya – most important power to rule the
world is the power to speak in proper way,
not just the physical power or military
strength.
 Prabhupad was as a person very compassionate
although there may be philosophical
difference.
 Preaching is not the license to speak
heavily.
 In giving the feedback one should follow the
+ - +formula.
 For the doctor the behavior should be
calming non agitating way.
 Hearing is the passive activity but when we
are asked to speak then we have take the
things seriously.
 Memorizing the verses may be stressing to
the head but it can be very calming and
comforting in the time of the need.
CHAPTER 17 THE DIVISIONS OF THE FAITH
 Knowledge in the memory is like the money in
the bank account we need to access it but
the remembering the slokas is like the
readily accessible money.
VERSE 17.16:-

 To make the mind austere is to detach it

from sense gratification.
 It should be so trained that it can be
always thinking of doing good for others.
 The best training for the mind is gravity in
thought.
 One should not deviate from Kåñëa
consciousness and must always avoid sense
gratification.
 Satisfaction of the mind can be obtained
only by taking the mind away from thoughts
of sense enjoyment.
 The more we think of sense enjoyment, the
more the mind becomes dissatisfied.
 The best course is to divert the mind to the
Vedic literature, which is full of
satisfying stories, as in the Puräëas and
the Mahäbhärata.
 The mind should be devoid of duplicity, and
one should think of the welfare of all.
 Silence means that one is always thinking of
self-realization.
CHAPTER 17 THE DIVISIONS OF THE FAITH
 Control of the mind means detaching the mind
from sense enjoyment.
 One should be straightforward in his
dealings and thereby purify his existence.
CCP:-

 Satisfaction – satisfaction is not just the

emotion but it is also the decision/choice.
We need to be focused on our decision our
values, our ultimate goal.
 In general the mind has the default thinking
about what we don’t have.
 In today’s economy the unsatisfaction of the
consumer is the main fuel for the economy.
 We have to think about something so we
should think about the pastimes of the lord
they are the satisfying objects for the
mind.
 One of the complexities is trying to go in
the philosophical integrity of everything
but we should understand that we not god and
we should be satisfied with what we require.
 Real mauna is not of the speech but of the
mind, people can’t keep quiet as the mind is
in screaming state.
 More we think of the problem more the
problem increases.
 Thinking about the benefit/welfare of the
others is very beneficial for oneself.
CHAPTER 17 THE DIVISIONS OF THE FAITH
 Bringing the constantly wandering mind back
to the good thoughts is very useful.
VERSE 17.17:-
CCP:-

 Non attachment to the result is the

characteristics of the goodness.
 Although the austerity is in the goodness
faith is said to be transcendental as the
one may not be transcendental but one trying
to do due to faith in the pure devotees/
transcendence.
LINK:- austerity in the mode of passion.
VERSE 17.18:-
CCP:-

 Satkara- verbal respect mana- standing up in

respect puja – getting gifts.
 If we are fasting in egoistic way then our
body is fasting but the ego is feasting.
 What we do is important but more important
is why we do what we do.
LINK:- austerity in the mode of ignorance.
VERSE 17.19:-
CCP:-
CHAPTER 17 THE DIVISIONS OF THE FAITH
 Austerity to destroy others is in the mode
of ignorance.
 Vrikasura cutting the own flesh and fro
killing anyone just by touching others.
LINK: - now Krishna will talk about the Dana.
VERSE 17.20:-

 In the Vedic literature, charity given to a

person engaged in spiritual activities is
recommended. There is no recommendation for
giving charity indiscriminately.
 Scripture (Garuòa Puräëa) says that only a
person who can protect the giver by learning
and austerity should accept gifts.]
 Proper place means at a holy place and
proper time means auspicious times such as
the time when the sun moves into a new
zodiac sign.
CCP:-

 Anupkarine – not expecting others to give us

in return.
 Commonality in all the goodness activities
is that it is done without attachment.
 People who are of the sudra mentality when
gets the money they misuse it so one should
give the charity which actually helps others
and they are not misusing it like giving
food instead of the money.
CHAPTER 17 THE DIVISIONS OF THE FAITH
VERSE 17.21:-
CCP:-

 In passion the focus is what I will get in

return.
 People give the charity in the mood that the
god will give ten times in return that is in
the mode passion.
 Grudging mood doesn’t allow us to progress
in spiritual life.
LINK: - charity in the mode of passion.
VERSE 17.22:-
CCP:-

 One should give the charity with the respect

to receiver.
 Idea of charity is that I’m receiving from
the Krishna so I have to give back, to the
person we are giving is also the part and
parcel of the Krishna he also deserves the
respect.
LINK;- how make the activity transcendental.
VERSE 17.23:-

 It has been explained that penance,

sacrifice, charity and foods are divided
into three categories: the modes of
goodness, passion and ignorance. But whether
CHAPTER 17 THE DIVISIONS OF THE FAITH
first class, second class or third class,
they are all conditioned, contaminated by
the material modes of nature. When they are
aimed at the Supreme—oà tat sat, the Supreme
Personality of Godhead, the eternal—they
become means for spiritual elevation. In the
scriptural injunctions such an objective is
indicated. These three words, oà tat sat,
particularly indicate the Absolute Truth,
the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
 oà is well known in all the çrutis as the
name of Brahman.
 The word tat is well known to designate the
cause of the universe, and is also known to
signify the obliterator of what is not tat—
the material world.
 Sat is defined in the çrutis as that which
exists before everything else (eternal): sad
eva saumyam agre asét. (Chändogya Upaniñad
6.2.4)
 The sacrifice, austerity and charity of the
sattvika person are in accordance with
scripture.
 The çruti says om ity etad brahmaëo nediñöaà
näma: Om is another name of the brahman. (Åg
veda) Om is one name.
 Tat is the second name, seen in the çruti
statement tat tvam asi: you are that
brahman. (Chändogya Upaniñad 6.8.7)
CHAPTER 17 THE DIVISIONS OF THE FAITH
 Sat is the third name, mentioned in the
çruti statement sad eva saumya: that brahman
is eternal, O gentle one! (Chändogya
Upaniñad 6.2.1) These are representative
names only, as there are many more.
 If these names are used along with sacrifice
and other acts, these will make up for any
fault in performance of the parts of the
sacrifice, and by uttering these three
sounds one is assured of getting the
results.
 after chanting the name om, the sacrifices,
austerities and other works of the sattvika
people of the three higher castes (brahma
vädinäm) are performed.
 The çüdras were not allowed to chant the
Vedas.
 If there is some irregularity in the
execution, the acts still yield full
results, because of the utterance of om.
CCP:-

 In this chapter the faith in the three modes

is discussed.
 In the 16th chapter the people with the faith
and without the faith were discussed now the
people in between they have the faith but
not in the scriptures so to describe their
faith the lord tells about the modes in
which they are in.
CHAPTER 17 THE DIVISIONS OF THE FAITH
 The chanting of the o tat sat elevates the
faith from the non scriptural to the
scriptural then to the transcendental.
 Krishna is now explained how the things work
in spiritual life.
 Faithless – non scriptural faith –
scriptural faith- transcendental faith.
 Om tat sat is the non personal reference to
the absolute truth.
 Om does not refer to the Krishna,
necessarily.
 Even if people understand that this
utterance is referring to the absolute truth
may not be the particular form
 Om tat sat is the secondary name of the
Krishna, secondary names are those related
with the material world.
 Through this the Krishna is talking about
the potency of the holy name to elevate the
faith of the chanter.
 Our goal is not to spread the organization
but to elevate the global consciousness.
 In every religion there are the fanatic
exclusivist people.
 Exclusivist statements in the scriptures in
the various religions is for creating the
focus in surrendering to the lord.
 As per the mahaprabhu the scriptures of the
Islamic and the Christian faith are not
CHAPTER 17 THE DIVISIONS OF THE FAITH
eternal and they don’t give the
comprehensive knowledge of the lord. This
objective fact not the sectarian thing.
 Many propounders of various religion stated
that the they have much to give but they are
not giving as the level of the followers is
limited.
 Ultimately one should be interested in the
knowledge not to be attached to the
particular path he is following and it is
obvious that the Vedic scriptures give very
profound knowledge of the god.
 Ultimately the elevation depends on the
devotion not the external following of any
particular religion.
 Om tat sat is the universal name of
addressing the god.
VERSE 17.24:-

 Tat is very powerful as it produces the

desire for the liberation when uttered
without any material motive.
CCP:-

 Mayavadi except the maya everything is the

Brahman.
 Brahmavadis don’t offend the lord.
VERSE 17.25:-
CHAPTER 17 THE DIVISIONS OF THE FAITH
 The word sat is used to indicate brahman
(brahma bhäve) and the knower of brahman
(sädhu bhäve), such as in the phrase sad eva
saumya (this is brhaman) and satäà prasaìgät
(from association with the knowers of
brahman). Therefore the word sat is suitable
to use on auspicious actions such as
upanayana and marriage.
CCP:-

 Tat refers to the absolute truth and when

chanted elevates to the liberation.
VERSE 17.26, 27:-

 Any work dedicated to Brahman is called sat.

 The words praçaste karmaëi, or "prescribed
duties," indicate that there are many
activities prescribed in the Vedic
literature which are purificatory processes,
beginning from the time of conception up to
the end of one's life.
 Such purificatory processes are adopted for
the ultimate liberation of the living
entity.
 In all such activities it is recommended
that one vibrate oà tat sat.
 Acting in Kåñëa consciousness is called
sattva.
 one who is fully conscious of the activities
of Kåñëa consciousness is called a sädhu.
CHAPTER 17 THE DIVISIONS OF THE FAITH
 What is permanent (sthitiù) in sacrifice,
austerity and charity in terms of their
objective being permanent, is indicated by
sat.
 Acts for the purpose of the Lord (tad
arthéyam) who is indicated by these three
names, such as building or cleaning His
temple, are called sat.
 These statements must be regarded as
injunctions or orders, however, because of
the rule of uniqueness (apürva) laid down by
Jaimini, in Jaimini Sütra 3.5.21. [Note: If
a statement is unique in its context, even
if it is not in the form of an injunction,
it should be understood as an injunction.
The present statement “The wise remembered
the three names of Viñëu.” can then imply
the following injunction: “We must remember
the three names of Viñëü.”] Another reason
for understanding the statement as an
injunction is that uttering the names during
sacrifice, charity and other actions, is
necessary to remove all obstacles to
attaining the final result.
pramädät kurvatäà karma pracyavetädhvareñu yat
smaraëäd eva tad viñëoù sampürëaà syäd iti
çrutiù

 Whatever mistakes are committed in sacrifice

out of inattention will be rectified by
CHAPTER 17 THE DIVISIONS OF THE FAITH
remembrance of Viñëu. This is the statement
of the çruti.
Garuòa Puräëa 1.230.13
CCP:-

 Prashaste karmani – prescribed duties they

are for various reasons.
 Krishna is telling here that ultimately one
has to come from the non scriptural faith to
the scriptural name and it can be done
uttering the Om tat sat.
LINK: - what happens when one does without the
faith.
VERSE 17.28:-

 Rejecting faith arising from ones

impressions, one who takes shelter of faith
arising from scripture will be qualified for
the highest goal. This is the ordinance of
the seventeenth chapter.
CCP:-

 Faithlessness here means- lack of the faith

in anything spiritual or related to the god,
being adherent to the scriptures.
 Atheist has the faith that there is no god.
 Presence of the patient doesn’t means that
there is no god, so the suffering doesn’t
mean that there is no god.
CHAPTER 17 THE DIVISIONS OF THE FAITH
 Faith is the unshakable confidence in the
transcendence.
 Faith in narrow way also means that the
faith in the Krishna as in CCS it is
mentioned that the faith means by doing
bhakti to Krishna everything will be
achieved.
 At the sraddha the faith is like the banana
tree shakable and at the nishta it is like
banyan tree which is unshakable.
 There can be love without faith the mother
loves the child but may not have the faith
in the child and do not allow him to play
with the fire/knife.
 There can be faith but without the love like
the faith in the doctor but there is no
love.
 Arjuna says not just your will happen but I
will make your will happen.
 Faith is like the muscle we should do the
activities which increase our faith like
doing excercise to build the muscle.
 We should find out what activities increase
our faith and do them.
END OF THE CHAPTER 17
CHAPTER 17 THE DIVISIONS OF THE FAITH