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Chapter 17: The Divisions of Faith

Bg 17.2
TEXT 2
sri-bhagavan uvaca
tri-vidha bhavati sraddha
dehinam sa svabhava-ja
sattviki rajasi caiva
tamasi ceti tam srnu
SYNONYMS
sri bhagavan uvaca—the Supreme Personality of Godhead said; tri-vidha—three kinds; bhavati—become; sraddha—faith; dehinam—of the embodied; sa—that; sva-bhava-ja—according to his mode of material nature; sattviki—mode of goodness; rajasi—mode of passion; ca—also; eva—certainly; tamasi—mode of ignorance; ca—and; iti—thus; tam—that; srnu—hear from Me.
TRANSLATION
The Supreme Lord said, according to the modes of nature acquired by the embodied soul, one's faith can be of three kinds-goodness, passion or ignorance. Now hear about these.
PURPORT
Those who know the rules and regulations of the scriptures, but, out of laziness or indolence, give up following these rules and regulations, are governed by the modes of material nature. According to their previous activities in the modes of goodness, passion or ignorance, they acquire a nature which is of a specific quality. The association of the living entity with the different modes of nature has been going on perpetually since the living entity is in contact with material nature. Thus he acquires different types of mentality according to his association with the material modes. But this nature can be changed if one associates with a bona fide spiritual master and abides by his rules and the scriptures. Gradually, one can change his position from ignorance to goodness, or from passion to goodness. The conclusion is that blind faith in a particular mode of nature cannot help a person become elevated to the perfectional stage. One has to consider things carefully, with intelligence, in the association of a bona fide spiritual master. Thus one can change his position to a higher mode of nature.

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Copyright (c) 1972 by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada