Bhagavad Gita 17.3
Spoken by Krishna ★ Essential verse · Verse 3 of 28
सत्त्वानुरूपा सर्वस्य श्रद्धा भवति भारत । श्रद्धामयो ऽयं पुरुषो यो यच्छ्रद्धाः स एव सः ॥
sattvānurūpā sarvasya śraddhā bhavati bhārata | śraddhā-mayo 'yaṃ puruṣo yo yac-chraddhāḥ sa eva saḥ ||
Faith follows one's inner nature. The person IS their śraddhā — whatever one's faith is, that is exactly what one is.
Word by word (3)
- sattvānurūpā sarvasya śraddhā bhavati bhārata
- — the śraddhā (faith) of each person (sarvasya) arises in accordance with (anurūpā) their sattva (here = inner nature/quality of being), O Bharata — śraddhā mirrors one's inner constitution
- śraddhā-mayo 'yaṃ puruṣaḥ
- — this person (ayam puruṣaḥ) is made of/consists of (mayaḥ = full of/made of) śraddhā — the person is their śraddhā at the core
- yo yac-chraddhāḥ sa eva saḥ
- — whoever (yaḥ) has whatever (yat) śraddhā — he is (sa eva saḥ) exactly that — the complete identity equation: person = faith, faith = person
Each person's faith is in accord with their inner nature, O Arjuna. A person is entirely composed of their faith — whatever one's faith is, that is what one truly is.
A modern analogy
A mirror shows exactly what stands before it — nothing more, nothing less. Śraddhā is the mirror of the inner self. You can observe a person's śraddhā — what they sincerely trust, value, and are willing to act from — and you know exactly who they are. Not what they claim to be, not what their family expects, but what they ARE.
Public-domain translations (4) compare all →
MISSING — SH Ch.17 V3 not indexed; Ganguli and Telang used as primary. [1]
The Shraddha of each is according to his natural disposition, O descendant of Bharata. The man consists of his Shraddha; he verily is what his Shraddha is. [4]
The faith of every one, O Arjuna, is conformable to his nature. A person here is full of faith; and whatever is one's faith, one is even that. [9]
The faith of one, O Bharata, is conformable to his own nature. A being here is full of faith; and whatever is one's faith, one is even that. [13]
This verse speaks to
Where this thread continues
Freedom from karma's bonds does not come from inaction. Perfection does not come from mere renunciation.
Where yogeśvara Kṛṣṇa is, where archer Pārtha stands — there abide fortune, victory, flourishing, and steadfast dharma.
Mental tapas: serenity of mind, kindliness, silence, self-restraint, and purity of motive/bhāva.
You grieve for those who should not be grieved for — and call it wisdom.
Arjuna asks: what does the truly wise person look like? How do they speak, sit, and move?
Steady wisdom begins here: when all desires fall away and the Self finds fullness in itself alone.
Verse 3 of 28 · back to Chapter 17