Chapter 17
The Three Types of Faith
Arjuna. If men forsake the holy ordinance, Heedless of Shastras, yet keep faith at heart And worship, what shall be the state of those, Great Krishna! Sattwan, Rajas, Tamas? Say! Krishna. Threefold the faith is of mankind and springs From those three qualities,--becoming "true," Or "passion-stained," or "dark," as thou shalt hear! The faith of each believer, Indian Prince! Conforms itself to what he truly is. Where thou shalt see a worshipper, that one To what he worships lives assimilate, [Such as the shrine, so is the votary,] The "soothfast" souls adore true gods; the souls Obeying Rajas worship Rakshasas…
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Key Quotes & Analysis
"The faith of each believer, Indian Prince! Conforms itself to what he truly is."
Context: Krishna explains why worship reflects inner nature
You become like what you adore; faith reveals character more than creed on paper.
In Today's Words:
Krishna says faith matches who you already are inside, not the banner you wear. People worship what they secretly want to become. Watch which heroes someone praises at work or online and you read their guna before they do. That is why two people can share a creed yet live opposite lives.
"For like as foods are threefold for mankind In nourishing, so is there threefold way Of worship, abstinence, and almsgiving!"
Context: Krishna extends the guna framework to daily practice
One pattern runs through diet, ritual, fasting, and charity; quality and motive matter more than the label.
In Today's Words:
Just as food comes in three kinds, so do worship, fasting, and giving. Krishna gives one scanner for life: is this wholesome, grasping, or deadening? The same person can pray, diet, and donate in three different spirits on three different days. Use the same lens on meals, rituals, and charity before you judge the label.
"A sacrifice not for rewardment made, Offered in rightful wise, when he who vows Sayeth, with heart devout, "This I should do!" Is "Soothfast" rite."
Context: Krishna describes sattvic sacrifice in the middle of the teaching
Right worship is duty without bargaining; inner "I should," not "what do I get?"
In Today's Words:
Pure offering means doing what is right without chasing payoff. At home or on a shift, the sattvic move is the task you finish because it should be done, not because someone will clap or owe you. Finish the chart, file the report, call the parent because it is yours to do.
"The gift lovingly given, when one shall say "Now must I gladly give!" when he who takes Can render nothing back; made in due place, Due time, and to a meet recipient, Is gift of Sattwan, fair and profitable."
Context: Krishna closes with the three kinds of charity
Generosity is measured by joy, timing, recipient, and freedom from expectation, not amount alone.
In Today's Words:
A true gift is given gladly, at the right time and place, with no payback expected. Grudging tips, performative donations, and favors that keep score are another religion entirely, even when the amount looks large. A grudge-gift keeps score; a sattvic gift leaves the ledgers empty.
Thematic Threads
Self-Examination
In This Chapter
Krishna teaches Arjuna to look beyond surface actions and examine the true motivations driving choices
Development
Builds on earlier chapters about duty and action by adding the crucial element of inner motivation
In Your Life:
You might catch yourself doing the 'right thing' for the wrong reasons and need to get honest about your real motives.
Faith
In This Chapter
Faith itself comes in three types—pure, passionate, and dark—each reflecting different inner natures
Development
Introduced here as a new framework for understanding spiritual and moral development
In Your Life:
You might notice that what you put your faith in (money, status, relationships) reveals your current level of spiritual maturity.
Class
In This Chapter
The three types of faith and action transcend traditional religious rules and social boundaries
Development
Continues the theme that spiritual worth isn't determined by birth or social position
In Your Life:
You might realize that your values and motivations matter more than following all the 'right' social expectations.
Personal Growth
In This Chapter
Gradual alignment of actions with highest values through honest self-assessment
Development
Builds on earlier teachings about disciplined action by adding the element of motivation awareness
In Your Life:
You might start catching yourself before acting from ego or ignorance and choose to wait for better motivations.
Human Relationships
In This Chapter
How the quality of our giving, helping, and interacting depends entirely on our inner state
Development
Expands earlier teachings about duty to others by examining the spirit behind our actions
In Your Life:
You might notice how your relationships improve when you act from genuine care rather than trying to get something back.
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
This is not a test. Five prompts guide you through the chapter, from how it opens to how it closes, so you notice context and rhythm rather than facts to memorize. Sit with each question in your own words. When you see "One way to read it," treat it as a starting point, not the only answer.
- 1
What question does Arjuna open the chapter with about men who forsake the Shastras yet keep faith?
analysis • surfaceOne way to read it
He asks whether such worshippers are Sattva, Rajas, or Tamas.
- 2
How does Krishna connect a worshipper to the object of worship in the middle teaching?
analysis • mediumOne way to read it
Faith conforms to what one truly is; as the shrine, so the votary. Soothfast souls adore true gods, rajasic souls fiercer powers, tamasic souls dark spirits.
- 3
When have you done the right thing for a mixed or self-serving motive?
application • mediumOne way to read it
Volunteering for credit, apologizing to end conflict, or donating to be seen can look virtuous while still feeding rajasic hunger for payoff.
- 4
What makes a sacrifice or gift sattvic versus rajasic or tamasic in Krishna's closing categories?
application • deepOne way to read it
Sattvic acts say "this I should do" or "I gladly give" without payback. Rajasic acts bargain for fame or return. Tamasic acts are harsh, faithless, or mistimed.
- 5
What do you worship in practice (status, relief, truth), and how would you know?
reflection • deepOne way to read it
Your heroes, habits, and what you do when no one claps reveal the shrine you feed. One week of honest tracking shows whether you are aligning with duty or with display.
Critical Thinking Exercise
Motivation Detective Work
Think of three recent actions you took that seemed helpful or generous—volunteering for something, giving advice, offering help, making a donation, or posting something positive online. For each action, honestly examine what was really driving you underneath. Write down the surface reason you told yourself, then dig deeper for any hidden motivations.
Consider:
- •Be brutally honest—this is for your eyes only, so you can afford to tell the truth
- •Look for patterns in what motivates you: approval, control, avoiding conflict, genuine care
- •Notice that mixed motivations are normal—most actions have multiple drivers
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when you discovered your real motivation was different from what you initially thought. How did that awareness change how you approached similar situations?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 18: The Ultimate Teaching: Surrender and Liberation
In the final chapter, Arjuna asks Krishna to clarify the difference between renunciation and surrender - two concepts that sound similar but lead to very different ways of living. Krishna's answer will tie together all the teachings of the Gita into a final, practical wisdom for navigating life's challenges.
