Verse 17.2 : Sraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga "Three Divisions of Faith"
Verse 2 of 28
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The Translation
“The Supreme Lord said: The faith of the embodied souls is of three kinds, born of their individual nature—good (Sattvik), passionate (Rajasic), and ignorant (Tamasic). Hear about it now.”
Commentary & Insights
Krishna responds to Arjuna's question by introducing a fundamental psychological truth. In Vedic philosophy, faith (śraddhā) is not a uniform, static state of mind, but a dynamic expression of one's svabhāva—the unique psychological configuration formed by past impressions (samskaras).
Practical Application
1
Identify the main source of your faith today: is it driven by a desire for truth, a desire for success, or fear?
Reflections & Notes
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Self-Reflection Prompts
- How is your personal belief system shaped by your environment, childhood, and past experiences (svabhāva)?
- Can a person change the category of their faith through conscious effort?
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17.2
श्रीभगवानुवाच
Shankara comments that 'svabhāva' is the latent impressions of past lives that manifest at the beginning of the current life. The faith of an uneducated person will naturally reflect whichever Guna is dominant in their personality, determining the quality of their actions.