Bhagavad Gita Chapter 17, Verse 8

Chapter 17 – Shraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

आयुःसत्त्वबलारोग्यसुखप्रीतिविवर्धनाः ।
रस्याः स्निग्धाः स्थिरा हृद्या आहाराः सात्त्विकप्रियाः ॥

Transliteration

āyuḥsattvabalārogyasukhaprītivivardhanāḥ .
rasyāḥ snigdhāḥ sthirā hṛdyā āhārāḥ sāttvikapriyāḥ ॥

Meaning

Foods that promote long life, purity of mind, strength, health, happiness and cheerfulness, and that are juicy, rich, nourishing and pleasing to the heart, are dear to the sattvic.

Word meanings

आयुः – life, longevity
सत्त्व – purity and clarity of mind
बल – strength
आरोग्य – health
सुख – happiness, satisfaction
प्रीति – cheerfulness, delight
विवर्धनाः – that increase
रस्याः – juicy, flavourful
स्निग्धाः – rich, containing healthy fats
स्थिराः – substantial, long-nourishing
हृद्याः – pleasing to the heart
आहाराः – foods
सात्त्विकप्रियाः – dear to the sattvic

Anvaya (word order)

आयुःसत्त्वबलारोग्यसुखप्रीतिविवर्धनाः रस्याः स्निग्धाः स्थिराः हृद्याः आहाराः सात्त्विकप्रियाः (भवन्ति) ।

Explanation

Krishna begins His description of the three kinds of food with sattvic food. Notice that He first gives the effects of the food and only then its qualities. This is a sound approach: the value of food is judged by its results.

Sattvic food increases six things: ayu, length of life; sattva, purity, clarity and calm of mind; bala, physical and mental strength; arogya, health and freedom from disease; sukha, contentment and lightness after eating; and priti, cheerfulness and zest for life. Sattvic food thus nourishes both body and mind.

Its four qualities follow: rasyah, juicy and flavourful, such as fruits, milk and grains; snigdhah, containing a suitable amount of ghee or oil rather than being dry; sthirah, substantial, staying in the body and nourishing it for a long time, as grains and pulses do; and hridyah, pleasing to look at, smell and eat.

The verse shows that sattvic food is not dull or harsh. It is tasty, nourishing and enjoyable. Sattvic living does not mean renouncing flavour; it means balance and purity. The spirit in which food is cooked and eaten, with cleanliness, love and as an offering to God, also adds to its sattvic quality.

Context

The previous verse introduced the threefold division of food, sacrifice, austerity and charity; this verse describes sattvic food. The next two verses describe rajasic and tamasic food.

Life lesson

Judge food more by its effects than by its taste: does it increase life, health, strength and cheerfulness? Fresh, balanced food prepared with love is truly sattvic.

Key terms

Sattvic ahara: Food that promotes longevity, mental purity, strength, health and cheerfulness
Snigdha: Rich, containing healthy fats, not dry
Sthira: Substantial and long-nourishing
Hridya: Pleasing to the heart and mind